Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-28
NUMBER 3.

tious man. and, though he undoubtedly
sympathized with me, did not sympar
thixe with the frightful fiction which
be believed l was trying 10 weave.
AZ wish 10 ask this man few ques-
tions. be- said. and the universal Ne.
spect felt for the officer Of the law caus-
ed hush to fall upon the angry throng.
I bowed, suspecting what was coming.
"You don't deny that you rode mp 70
this hotel this afternoon Oh the chestnut
gelding which Mr.. Bulfinch put into
his stable at your requesty'
II have already admitted that. aft
erward crossed To the postofiice and got
q letter which was mailed from New
York and addressed TO me. Edward
Kenmore.
And any of rs might have. done the
same by asking for II, having arranged
that little matter beforehand" aid
tho squire. brushing aside this cobweb.
"but when 'ou came and sat down on
the porch and talked with me and Nj.
Bulfinch we both addressed you ~ Hank
Boyer"
"You did" replied, and the land
lord nodded his head in scquiesoence.
"You talked with rs as IL you were
Hank Boyer You spoke about your IA
ther and asked questions OF as. Why
didn't you deny You were Hank Boyer
1T that timer
II was driving nail into my coffin,
and knew my explanation would not
be accepted by a single one Of my hear
ers.
II did foolish thing. was amused
by the mistake, and by way VI fun I
humored it, You will recall that my
questions showed my ignorance, not
only of your affairs but Of Hank
Beyer's."
Il believe you pretended something
OF the kind"
The squire mournfully shook his
head. He was through, having SEN
fenced me, ~ may be said, TO capital
punishment.
II do not deny. gentlemen, that the
case looks bad against me. You have
noticed that the man whom l pointed
out by the door resembles me, except
that wear mustache and he does not
He had one today. but shaved it on
after we parted, probably foreseeing
something like this. But l have the
right 10 ask that before executing me
you make sure that ] am really Hank
Boyer. the horse thief"
(Which the same is what we have
done with the help You have given IA, F"
replied Jim DUNCAN, with significant
grin in which the others joined.
1T looks that way. but You are In
error. Now. it is easy for you TO tele-
graph to certain parties whom l will
name in New York and by whom can
establish my identity. You will do me
that justice. II I fail to convince You
that | am what claim, then do with
me as you wish"
'That request sounds fair" inter-
posed the squire, "but I'm sorry to say
that the nearest telegraph station Is at
Southseld ard with our bad roads it
will take two days to go there and
back. I'm afraid" he added. looking
round ut the savage countenances,
THAT my friends will not be willing to
wait that long"
mo, no"' came from nearly every
one in the room. "A good deal might
happen in that time"
lie wants u chance to give you the
Slip" added the real Hank Boyer from
his station by the door. why not let
him have a chance for his life?'
At that moment nothing was moro
evident than that every man crowded
into the room was my enemy. ! looked
around into the Implying faces and
braced myself for the final struggle.
which believed could not be deferred.
The mob were impatient that they had