The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18
THE SNAKES MARK.
Reing an Account of the Finding
of the Lost Treasure of the Hal
lowell Family.
BY. p. Y. Black.

1 CHAPIE II.
a Sudden Flight with Dixey Lynch.
The young man hooked on the stranger
with complete dismay, and again on the
motionless body with horror-looked on
the sim lump on the shingle, a black
| shadow that was moment before so brisk.
Night had fairly fallen now, and all about
was silent and dark. The lights Of Bos-
ton town lay not far away, and there came
family from the streets the hum of
voices, but. nearer there was no person
save themselves, and no sound except Of
| the rush and crash and backward wash
of waves breaking on the shore
justin said no further word, but stood
all of a tremble. Ozel went up to him
and placed his strong arm round the lads
shoulder, and Justin slid his hand in the
other. gripping hard
~" he repeated at last. Il did not
strike him.
AT that the stranger broke once more
into his ugly laugh, cackle in his throat
which seemed less of mirth than malice.
Have no shame, my boy, for the blow, -
said he. "'Twas prettily timed, and
/
but I did not strike it," cried Justin
again. passionately. "On my honor as
gentleman, Oziel, did not 1 hated him,
and was hot at his word. but would not
kill him."
Oziel felt the sweat break out at the
word on the hand within his.
| .'FallalahT' sang out the tail man, with
great cheerfulness what matter 1t
whether you did or not? None saw but
us three, and Dixey Lynch had no such
passing love for old Gabriel here, who was
but a skinfiint trader as ever shaved a
hide. as to start a hue and cry after his
murderer
The vile name aroused Oziel, ever ready
to stand by his friend, fair Marian Halo
| wells cousin.
you go too fast, sir" cried he. in an
get. 'If Justin says he did not strike
why he did not and there's an ehd 10 It.
| Who says he did-lies!
"Ho-la! What big woodsman have we
| here that sings so eavalierly?' cried DiXey
Lynch, and stepped up to peer more close
| lv al the huge American. He looked win
a most ferocious glare straight at Ozieis
eve. his hand seeking his belt, where peep
| ed a pistol, but Haskell faced him square
", nor quailed, and the seaman growing
in his lean throat, turned quickly from
him and spoke to Justin.
sfYoung Master Halloweh," said he, ana
with no apparent effort, but with COM
nlete naturalness, he dropped the bum
| coarseness of his manner and spoke most
ciyilly. young Master HalloWeh, II II
he YOUR pleasure to disown stout mex
as neatly placed as might be on oaIh
evening, so let ii be. Twill matter Mt
tie 20 Gabriel now who struck MN, 20
twas done. For thy big friend, 'tWere
wen for him to give the lie less Sharply
until ne knows to whom he speaks.
am not art to forgive the hke-nor TO
| forget. But, indeed, young sir, there Is
| no time to quarrel over the blow now.
There lies Gabriel, and if he be not dead
he will soon be without a poChecaIy'
whom our broilng win not fetch. Nothing
care | for the matter, save that VIII
NOT stand bv and see your fathers son
framed by these Boston magistrates, who
ike YOU not too wei o. 1 know some
thing of how matters 60 with you, and
YOU can burn my eyes out II see Roger
Hallowens boy come TO hurt"
So frankly and sincerely did he speak
that Justin spoke up impulsvely.
'T thank you, SIR he said, and
would be glad to know more of my poor
fathers friend"
'eThen be steered by an old hand and a
true heart" said Lynch bluffly. First
bear old Gabriel home out of sight Of
chance passers, and let him have secret
aid II he be not past it, and, for your
self. I should counsel you to cut hawsers,
up-sai. and bear away with the wind, for
if all I hear be true, the good folks
round here viii be glad enough to have
this cord to hang you with"
Whether the stranger had got his gos-
sip from old Murrin himself, who was well
filed with the chatter OF the town, or
from ale-house scandal-mongers. neither
Justin nor Oziel paused to ask, for it was
deadly true Justins friends were few,
and the mutterers against him many and
this assault upon his guardian would end
for the lad one way alone. Oziel, indeed.
could not look with favor on the man who
had q moment since tried to stare him
down b.usteringly and threatened him
| with pistol but his advice was without
doubt good. Justin must fly, whether he
struck the blow or not, for even Oziel
himself could not swear who raised the
stick in the scuffle in the dark.
wen bear him home" said Oziel, land
then consider"
Justin and he took the little scrimped
form of the trader and between them
bore him off, while DiXey Lynch swung
| along by their side, softly whistlng as
though on not so strange an errand. Half
way to the Murrin House, which the rich
! man had lately built on the outskirts of
]
go on, Oziel. and make ready. and this
gentleman viii doubtless help me on.
said Justin, for the same thought had
come 10 both. that Mistress Marian was
! alone save for two servants whom IL were
well 10 get out Of the way. The stranger
stopped whstling and approved, but Oziel
went forward with some reluctance In
the first place he saw no great reason TO
have the company OF Master Lynch. who,
J ne thought, had more probably showed his
good win TO Justin by going OF ard keep
ing silence about n blow which the New
| Highlander felt assured he had, Tor some
! mysterious reason. dealt himself And,
/ in the second place. he was 10Th 10 np-
| proach che farest maid ln Boston with
such bad news Of the cousin She was 40
fond o. why hide D.. since hc did not
from himselfg Fan would Oziei have had
Mistress Marian smile on him for DIS Own
J sake, and not Tor che poor service ne was