The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-26

| drawing pistol and pursuing the
fugitive. "Head him or he will
escape hy the other door," shouted
Ernest, who was in the posse. "By
St. Pathrick J" exclaimed Pat Nc
Cleary, taking circuit around the
old porch, with shillelah in hand,
"Ye're an ould bird, but not quite
up to trap this time, if ye did slip
through our fingers before" Mel
had by this time made good his
escape from the house, by door in
the west end; but McCleary had
also gained the steps that led down
from the high porch to the ground,
cutting off his retreat in that
direction.
"Surrender! ye ould baby thafe,
or by all the divils in purgatory,
I'll lay two feet an an inch o.
hickary over yer ould rougish
patel" said the Irishman, standing
prepared to receive his opponent.
Mel, however, did not feel dis
posed to comply with Pats request.
The fugitive, finding his retreat
cut off in this direction. bethought
him of the balustrade on the back
side, over which he might leap to
the ground without incurring much
injury. Thither the flying Mel
turned, with Pat advancing on him
from the outside, while the con-
stable and Ernest, with their posse,
were pressing him hotly on the
other flank. But, in attempting to
gain the desired point, the fugitive
stepped on a detached plank placed
loosely over hole in the decayed
floor, and was precipitated into a
stone stairway, ten feet beneath.
"Howly Mother! Are We kilt,
Misther Riley?'' exclaimed Pat,
whose relenting nature moved him
to sympathy the moment misfortune
had overtaken his enemy.
A deep, heavy groan from below
was all the answer McCleary re-
ceived.
"Howly Saints!" continued the
son of Erin, crossing himself rev.
erently. "The man has broke his
neck /! Misther Ernest, bring light
till we get the poor creathur up"
and Pat hurried down to rescue
the unfortunate Mel.
Lights were procured, and the
victim of crime and misfortune re
moved into the old hall where pre-
viOusly he had spent many a jovial
night in drinking and revelry. The
unfortunate wretch had broken a
blood vessel by the fall, and his
debauched and decayed constitu-
ton gave no hope of recovery.
From his mouth and nostrils the
blood was streaming; and in addi-
tion to other injuries sustained by
the fall, a shoulder blade had been
broken. The bleeding victim lay
quiet for some time, where his con-
ductOrs had placed him while they
stood around in silence, gazing on
the wretched being whose life had
been stained in forming schemes of
villainy, and who seemed now
about to expiate his crimes by so
sudden and terrible a death.
Ernest proposed sending for a
physician, but Mel, who had re-
vived little, shook his head in
despair. He motioned to have his
head held up, endeavoring to
speak, but the power failed him
he sunk back and casting one rue
ful, one remorseful look of anguish
and unutterable despair on all
around-gave a few convulsive
struggles, and lay cramped in the
cold power of death. Thus passed
the spirit of Mel; by this sudden
stroke of death snatched away from
earth and its tribunals-shrouded
in the dark mantle of his crimes,
verifying the promise made to the
Wicked-"He that hardeneth his
neck shall be destroyed suddenly