The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-03
CHAPTER LII

CHAPTER III.
Amid the fright of that moment tn
feeling was strong upon me that
grotesluo mistake had been made. VIII,
should these people wish to do me bodi
ly harm? had committed no Grim,
since my entrance into tho state of Mis-
sissippi, and men could not be stirred
to such violence by any cause other thar
an outrageous violation of law.
But the peril was imminent, and
had scarcely time to draw my weapon
and back against the wall when the
mob swarmed in after the landlord. Al
the foremost were making for me lev.
eled my weapon and called out:
Halt; the first one lays a hand on
me will be dead man
The bravest persons do not rush to
certain death. There was a pause, al.
though the men in the door kept push
ing forward until there was danger of
the leaders being forced against me.
The countenances were like those of the
canaille during the commune. Anger,
fierce resolve and an almost irresistible
yearning to clutch my throat were
stamped on the faces, some Of which
were bearded, some clean shaven, while
among the savage group were several
who were not yet out Of their teens.
Their attire was coarse and slovenly.
Most of them were in SLOUGH hats, with
out coat Or vest, with trousers tucked
in their boots. Two had rifles in their
hands, three carried revolvers, while as
many more grasped short, thick clubs,
and fourth gripped fence paling.
If a hand to hand contest opened, I
might shoot down number, but I
could not hold out against determined
attack.
Three persons in the group attracted
my attention. Aunt Meg had fed before
the mob, but her husband and Squire
eager remained. They were powerfully
excited, like the Others but less demon
strative. The landlord was struggling
to keep back the rush and begging his
friends not to be too hasty. He only par
TALLY succeeded in restraining them.
The third man had come through the
door and moved couple of PAGES aside,
where he stood with his back against
the wall, silent, but intently scrutiniz-
ing me. His face was smooth shaven,
and he had dark hair and eyes. The Pc
culiarity Of the situation was the feel
ing that had seen him before, but
could not recall the time or place, and
the terrifying circumstances prevented
my giving the matter further thought.
I fixed my eyes on the foremost man
as the leader, and when something like
a hush had been restored, 80 that moth
ing but the hurried breathing and an
occasional muttered imprecation were
heard, said, addressing him:
From your looks and actions you
mean me harm. demand to know the
cause for such treatment.
The savage faces broke into sneering
grins, and one or two guffawed. The
man to whom I spoke and who held a
Winchester in his grasp replied:
Hank Boyer, you've got cheek. /
We've all knowed you fer rogue ever
since you was boy, but we never got
it dead to rights on to you till today"
"Got what dead to rights on me?" I
Ssked, glimmoring of light beginning
= break through my muddled brain.
"The horse you stole from Colonel
is in Tom Bulfinch's barn.
You've kept clear Of the law SO long
that you thought you was in no danger.
You rid the animal here and had Tom
put him in his stable. He was stole
from Colonel Mansley last night. I
don't suppose you've ever heerd of this
before; Of course not.
The truth flashed upon me. The ami
NAL which I had bought that afternoon
from the stranger at the crossroads had
been stolen by him. had ridden the
horse to Aldine without suspicion Of
the truth and in my stupidity had
helped OH the fearful blunder by allow
ing myself to be addressed by his name
without protest. As if that inane bust.
ness was not enough, had virtually
that my name was Hank
Boyer in my conversation with Land
ord Bulfnch and Squire eager. Boyer
was my double. aud the resemblance be-
;ween us was so perfect that our own
mothers might have been puzzled.
1t would be idle for me to attempt to
bluff it through. was in the gravest
peril. Many an innocent man has been
hanged bya mob, and unless these head
ong yeomen could be convinced Of
heir blunder my life was likely to pay
he forfeit.
With this conviction upon mo another
startling truth became manifest. The
cal thief was in the room. He was the
'oung man standing near the door, with
lis back against the wall, silently and
ntently watching me. He had shaved
If his mustache since our meeting and 6
lis dress had been changed. He had
till q respectable appearance, but I'M {
uestionably he was the criminal. No
7onder he was interested in me.
"My friends" I said, speaking ear l.
estIy, and instantly the hush became '
rofound, "you have made great mis-
axe. You take me for man whom you
all Hank Boyer, but assure you I \
NJ not he''- b
At that moment it seemed as if bed
IN had broken loose. The whole 1
rowtl, numbering fully Is, broke into 4
proarious laughter. Some slapped 9TH
rs on their shoulders, one man bent d
early double, and, flinging his hat on a
10 floor, stamped on it, while all o
fought it the best joke of the season.
andlord Bultinch may have had SYM "
lthy for me, as he had proved at first,
at he made matters still worse by call b
e out: 81
"Don't show the white feather, II
ank Try some other tack" tt
"This strikes you as very funny Ii
lded, when partial quiet had been re- q
ored, "but if You will give mo time l
II prove it, and''- IL
"Ihat won't do, Hank" interrupted
% man whom had fixed upon as the b
ader and whose name 1 afterward IL
md IN br Tim nunpan rTf ynu oiu't q