Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-22
"HERE. FERGUsoNl HERES YouR MAN!l

and yet, because Of the chance that after
all they might go out as they had come, !
could SO far keep my terror within bounds.
Not So when ! heard Ferguson bid the
man mount and fetch THE keg. Had he
come without a light ] might still have
controlled myself and kept quiet; and, hold
ing my breath, though ] We're suffocated
and silencing my heart though ! died, might
have lain and let him pass in the darkness
Nay, had ! crouched low he need not have
observed me, with light; for ] was little
beside the stairhead, and to enter the room
whence ! had broken out he need not face
me. But when l heard him stumbling up
wards q sudden sense lof the loneliness of
the house in that far Corner of the town
came on me; and with 1t an overwhelming
perception of my helplessness and Of the
life and death struggle toN which the men
below were comrnitted-so that death seemed
TO be in the air; which together so far over
came me that did the last thing ! should
have expected. AS the man came up the
stairs, the light in his hand, / rose up and
stood gasping at him.
He paused and held up the light. The
devil!'' he said, staring. And then, who
the - are you? Here Ferguson! Here's
your man.
The-only answer from below was a roar
for liquor.
What are you doing here?" he went OF,
puzzled as much by my silence as my
presence.
Il am-going," I stammered a desperate
hope rising in my breast at sight of the
mans perplexity. He might let me pass.
For aught ! know he would have done SO
and 1t is possible that l might have gone
unseen by the open door below and gained
the street. But he stood staring a sec
ond man came into the passage, and looked
up and saw me. "Hallo!" he said, Who is
that"
"Ferguson's man. Keyes answered But
hpiI ma I lvanE xxhu Il fbn 3+k
him.
The other called Ferguson, and he came
out and saw me, looked, and, with a scream
Of rage, sprang up the stairs. In the fury
Of his wrath he threw himself on me so
suddenly and with so much violence and in
tentiop that ! was a child in his hands
and but for the others exertions who, not
understanding the matter tore him from
me, ] must have been choked out of hand.
AS II was, ! was black in the face, dizzy
and scarcely conscious when they freed me
from him, nor in much better case for the
respite. For with all they could do he would
not release my shoulder, but, dragging me
down, cried breathlessly and continuously
TO the others to listen-to listeui That he
had the traitor. that ! was the informer,
the spy, the blood seller! And with that,
and as he partly forced and partly tugged me
down, the men thickened around me, until
dragged into the lighted room found myself
hemmed in by circle Of lowering faces
and gloomy eyes, q circle that look where ]
might presented no breach or chance OF es-
cape, no face that pitied or understood. He
who seemed TO be IN the highest authority
among them-afterwards ! knew him for
Charnock, the unfrocked fellow of Magde-
len. who suffered with King and Keyes
did indeed make Ferguson let me go,
thrustirg him back and calling on him 10
tell his tale, and have done with the bias
phemy. But though ] turned that way In
momentery hope Of aid. read no encourage
ment in a face as stern and relentless as
ii was fanaticAl. A lamp hooked high on
one wall, and so that il threw its light down
ward, ohscured half the circle and flung 3
bright glare on the other half but in light
or shade, seen or unseen. and whether drink
flushed it, or passion blanched it, every face
that met NV shrinking gaze seemed to be
instinct with coming doom.
In such situations fear switch spurs some
minds paralyzes others; sainly ] tried TO
think The glare OF thesismp dazzled and
confused me. To Fergison's passionate tier
ations. The Lord has delivered him into
our hands There is your informer, j swear
II! can prove it." ] could find no answer
except feeble, Il am not! am mott" which
continued 10 repeat-while one plucked
ne this way that he might see me better.
snd another that way-untIl Keyes struck
me on the mouth, and thrusting me back
bade me be silent.
And you. too. Mr.. Ferguson" Charnock
ssld, raising his hand 10 Still the tumut
have done with your elReEhemy And talk
plainly Say what you know; and have DO
fear; II what you allege be proved We will
do Justice on him. $50
"Ay, by" cried Cassels, the sweare-,
"A life for life" f aA
But first what do you know" Chsrnoek
continued hras0uely. Speak TO the point.
we must have gone by midnight if We are
IN save ourselves"
Then and then only ] think. Ferguson
hitherto blinded by rage, became sensible
OF the fact that he stood himself in
dubious position; and that 10 tell all. and
particularly TO reveal the visit which the
secretary had paid 10 him at his lodgings.
would even with the addition OF the attempt
he had made on the dukes life place his
conduct in a light far from favorable. Not
only were the men before him in no mood
TO draw fine distinctions or take all for
granted, but II wac on the credit OF his
name and as his tool that had come to be
mixed up in the matter snd gained my
knowledge OF IL II to9k no great acute
ness. therefore, 10 toresee that their bus-
pieions once reused they would punish