The Delta independent., 1897-03-17

on the writing-table in his room at
the hotel; and. picking his way through
the obstructed streets, he was soon in
the neighborhood OF the courthouse.
Under the branches of a water-oak. AT
. point where the light from the cleo
trio lamps at the crossings made a
garish twilight. he stumbled over the
body Of . man lying across the side
walk. Before he could recover him.
self he WAS promptly garroted. thrown
down and held by two footpads while
third rified his pockets. The assault
was well planned and deftly executed.
and when his assailants had left him
Thorndyke was nstonished to find tina:
they had taken none Of his valuables.
Then It came to him like a sudden
stroke of illness that their object had
been 70 secure the forged deed. and he
grew cold with dismay when he re-
membered where he had left it The
next moment he was racing n,adly
toward the hotel. stumbling and fall
ing over heaps of building material and
paving-stones. and colliding blindly
with chance pedestrians who happened
to get in his way.
He breathed freely again when he
reached his room and found that the
papers were undisturbed. but the dis
auieting experience taught him the
lesson of prudence which he might
otherwise have gone wanting. Button
ing the papers into an inside pocket OF
his coat, he went out again, taking care
to keep in the wcll-lighted and fire.
Guented streets until be reached hard
ware store where he could buy q re-
volver. With the weapon in his pocket
he felt safer; and, leaving broadway.
he once more turned his steps toward
the Jail. Pragmore had not been
found; and, after assuring himself that
n description Of the missing notary had
been telsgraphed to the neighboring
towns on the railway. Thorndyke went
back TO the hotel. Approaching the
building by walk through the
grounds which led him beneath the
windows Of his own room in ono OF
the southern gables, he WINS surprised
to see them brilliantly lighted; and,
bolting up the stairway at the end OF
the corridor. he was barely in time to
save the Johannisberg from destruc-
tion. In his absence the room had
been thoroughly and ruthlessly ran
sacked, and one Of the gas jets-wheth-
er by accident or design he never knew
had been swung around against the
mosquito netting, which was blazing
and dropping = shower Of small FIRE
brands upon the white counterpane b
meath it.
When he had put out the hrs and
gathered up his scattered belonSinss.
Philip began to have q juster apprecia-
tion of the desperate character Of the
men with whom he had 10 deal. and
he determined to take no more risks.
After having his room changed. he
tclephoned to the stable for his horse
and rode out to the Duncan farm, slesP-
ing that night in the attic bedroon
with the forged dssd under his pillow.
Nv. .---' q
ON THE MOUNTAIN.
The Level rays Of the morning sun
were shooting across the eastern
spur of Johns mountain, pour.
ing noiseless voIley Of radi-
ance against the opposite cliffs
of the Bull. and bridging the valley Of
the Little Chiwassee with bands Of yel-
low light that made the shadows blue
and cool by comparison. Up among the
topmost twigs Of the tree the breeze
whispered steadily. with the sound like
the patter of gentle rain; but In the
depths of the forest, where the path
from Duncan's to the plateau wound
upward through the tangled under
growth, the air was still and resonant,
giving back sharply the snsrl Of the
gravel and the rustic Of dry leaves
under the feet Of the two men who
climbed slowly toward the mountain
top. Notwithstanding the approach OF
autumn and the youth Of the day. the
heat was great enough to make the
steep ascent laborious and exhaustinR;
and Thorndyke stopped at the base Of
the upper tier Of cliffs while Duncan
went down on his hands and knees
to drink from q spriRg bubbling clear
and cold from the shelf Of sandstone.
I'm no disputin' yer courage, ye
understand that" he said, after he had
slsked his thirst. "Ye're bonny fight
er, Master horndyke-I maun say that
for ye-but ye'll no win wi such . man
a. sharpless at that gait"
'.No, I'm pretty we'll satisfied Of that,
now; though stiIl think there will be
more fighting than parleying In the
case, from the way they have begun on
me-"
Philip had been giving his compan-
ion . succinct account Of the events
Of the previous day a. they climbed
the mountain, AMI Duncan had con-
sented TO take charge Of the deed until
II should be needed.
"Hae ye made up yer mind what yell
do next7"
"Not definitely. Az told you awhile
ago. IL depends very much upon Whist
Kilgrow says. Yesterday I intended To
prosecute Immediately in both the civil