Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-28
CHAPTER III.

feeling was strong upon me that a
grotcsque mistake had been made. Why
should these people wish tn do me bodi.
" harm? had committed no crime
since my entrance into the state of Mis-.
sissippi. and men could not be stirred
to such violence by any cause other than
an outrIl.r ous violation Of law.
But tho peril was imminent, and ]
had scarcely time TO draw my weapon
and back against the wall when the
mob swarmod in after the landlord. As
the foremost were making for me lev
eled my weapon aud called out:
"fiaIt; the first one lays hand on
me Will be- dead mani
The hravest 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 bang forced against me.
The countenances were like those Of the
canaille during the commune. Anger,
fierce resolve and an almost irresistible
ycarping TO clutch my throat were
stamped on the faces, some Of which
were bearded. sons clean shaven, while
among the savage group were several
who were not yet out Of their teens.
Their attire was coarse and sloyonly.
Mos, Of them were in slouch 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.
II a hand io hand contest opened,
night shoot down a number, but /
,ould not hold out against determined
stack
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.
stra,iye. The landlord was struggling
to keep back the rush and begging his
friends not TO b. too hasty. He only par
tally succeeded in restraining them.
The thiri man had come through the
door and moved q 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
ng that had seen him before. but
could not recall the time or place, and
the terrifying circumstances prevented
my giving the matter further thought
fixed my eyes on the foremost man
~ the leader. and when something like
q hush had been restored. 20 that moth
ing but tn. hurried breathing and an
occasional muttered imprecation were
heard, said. addressing him:
From your looks and actions you
mean me harm. l demand 10 know the
cause for spch treatment
The savage faces broke into meering
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 for rogue ever
since you was boy. but we never got
II dead TO rights on to you till today.
SCOT what dead to rights on me?'
asked. glimmering Of light beginning
to break through my muddled brain.
1.-THE horse you stole from Colonel
Mansley 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.
don't suppose you've ever heerd OF this
before; Of course not.
The truth flashed upon me. The ami
NAL which had bought that afternoon
from the stranger ut the crossroads had
been stolen by him. ! had ridden the
horse to Aldine without q suspicion OF
the truth and in my stupidity had
helped on che fearful blunder by allow
ing myself to be addressed by his name
without protest. As IL tkat inape busi.
ness was not enough, had virtually
admitted that my name was Hank
Boyer in my conversation with Land.
lord Bulfinch and Squire eager. Boyer
was my double. and the resemblance be-
tween us was so perfect that our OWE
mothers might have been puzzled.
II would be idle for me to attempt tt
bluff it through. / was in the graves'
peril. Many an innocent man has been
hanged by mob, and unless these head
Ion. yeomen could be convinced OF
their blunder my life was likely to pay
the forfeit.
With this conviction upon me another
startling truth became manifest. The
real thief YVES in the room. He was the
young man standing near the door, with
his back against the wall, silently ant
intently watching me. He had shaved
of his musiache since our meeting ant
his dress had been changed. He bac
still respectable appearance, but un
questionably he was the criminal. NJ
wonder he WINS interested in me.
"My friends" / said, speaking ear
nestly, and instantly the hush became
profound "you have made q great mis-
take. Yea take me for man whom yor
call Hank Beyer, but assure you
am not be'--
At that moment 1t seemed as II bed
lam had broken loose. The whole
crowd, numbering fully Is, broke int
uprcarious laughter. Some slapped 9th
ers ON their shoulders, one man BEN
nearly double, and, flinging his hat on
the floor, stamped on it, while al
thought it the best joke Of the season
Landlord Bulfinch may have had sym
pathy for me, as he had proved at first,
but be made matters still worse by call
ing out:
"Don't show the white feather
Hank! Try some other tackP'
"This strikes you as very funny"
added, when partial quiet had been re
stored. "but il You will give me time
I'll prove it. and
"That won't do, Hank," interrupted
| the man whom had fixed upon as thu
leader and whose name ] 'afterwart
found to be Jim DUNCAN. IF you aim
Hank Boyer, who are you?'
"I am Edward Kenmore, and m!
home is in New York city. ! reaches
Southfeid yesterday on the steamer
New Orleans and started to walk to AL
dine
"What business brought you to Al
diner again interrupted DUNCAN.
~ am bookkeepeh in bank. On
cashier ran away some weeks ago witt
: large amount Of the bank y funds. anf
| we heard he was hiding ut Aldine.
| xraa sonf n, arrest him. buf II seerns h