Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-12-10


membered that Mary had often of late
taken a stroll in the garden at dusk.
Was this the explanation?
Phineas had been glaring at the cOu-
pie from behind the peasticks for ten
minutes or so, when he saw his wife
take a rosebud from his favorite tree
and hand it over the hedge with a
charming smile to the delighted Herr
Schmidt. Then, with a pleasant good
night" Mrs. Peel trippcd lightly into
the house.
you villain!" Kissed Phineas, saw
agely, jumping from his seat and shak-
ing his fist after the retreating figure
in the next garden, III pay you for
this"
The rage of Mr.. Peel was something
to be remembered. Nothing but blood,
he vowed, would obliterate his wrongs.
But he would smile and smile and muir
der while he smiled. Selling a peastick
he tragically buried it in the heart of
an unoffending cabbage, and played
havoc with a stately row of sunflowers.
Half an hour later Mary saw him
take down an old-faShioned duck gun
from the hook in the hall.
There's a German vulture in the
neighborhood," he volunteered, impress
sively, "and I'm going to bag him at the
first opportunity"
However, as nothing short of an
| 90 ,tb IN 10 pra,,1l L,ro ;ol,ool Al. la
gun to go off in any circumstance-and
Phineas had made assurances doubly
sure by dropping in the shot first and
powder .afterward-the "vulture" in
question vas not likely to be seriously
damaged, and Mary contented herself
with expressing n hope that her hus-
band would not hurt himself.
On the following evening Phineas
took up his old position in the garden,
with murder in his heart. Herr Schmidt,
however, did not put in an appearance.
After waiting some time, Phineas re-
entered the house and reared his duck
gun up in the hall in Il conspicuous po-
sition.
He had almost decided to run up to
town and consult his brother John, the
detective, with a view to having the
movements Of Herr Schmidt watched,
when he was startled by the click Of
the letter box.
A scrap of paper lay on the mat.
Picking it up, Phineas glanced at 1t,
turned deadly pale, her hurried into
the garden. Scrubbed in lead pencil
on dirty paper was the following:
Peel has discovered everything. We
have not Il moment to lose and must
clear out tonight. The front door Is
unsafe. VIII meet you at the back
1890 sharp"
There was no signature.
Good gracious!" calculated Phineas,
after reading the note for the third
time. I'D 40 idea matters had gone
so far. Oh, yes, Mr.. Schmidt" he add
ed grimly, IN meet you at 1890
sharp
1t was about 1915, and raining heav-
lily. Phineas Peel, seated on a well
overlooking the back Of Rhyd cottage,
with his duck gun laid across his knees,
was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
The note said 1890" he muttered.
ut must be after that time now. What's
that?"
Phineas had caught the sound Of
heavy feet moving cautiously over the
gravel. He grasped his gun and peered
into the gloom, but could distinguish
nothing.
Suddenly he heard voices, evidently
at the front of the house. He was about
to quit his position under the impress
sion that Herr Schmidt was leaving by
the front door after all, when one of
the back windows was cautiously rails
ed and the 1.-THE form Of the naturalist
dropped lightly to the ground.
Creeping along the side of the wall on
which Phineas lay, he presented an ex.
cellent mark. Mr.. Peel, however, could
not bring himself to shoot a man down
in cold blood. He would give him a
chance.
stop, you scoundrel!' he shouted.
The effect of the challenge was
scarcely what Phineas had anticipated
Herr Schmidt darted forward and seiz.
ed the barrel of the gun
He was much the stronger of the two
and Phineas was pulled from the wal
: in a ~twinkling. Lying on the broad OF
his back on the gravel, in a half-dazet
. condition, he saw the tall form OF
Schmidt standing over him with tn,
gun raised.
Keep your tongue still, you fool" h,
Kissed, 'or I'll brain YOU. Now, quick
help me over the wall"
Phineas heSitated, but the threaten