Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-07-06


what seemed 10 me days, my heart
humping like q steam hammer. /
had seen q ghost.
Compelled By some strange in
ssigation, l crawIed timidly out Of
bed. lighted q candle and wrote
down-.sTen miles west, Laffan's
Ran, shepherds hat. six yards to
the rear, six feet Deep and then
crept back between the blankets,
where / lay sweltering between fear
and indecision. At one moment /
resolved to have nothing to do with
the vision, at another / decided to
follow Martins direction and to
stand my chances. After hours Of
miserable hesitation, / reused the
men, but took no one into my
confidence it was surely another
voice than mine, which boldly ad-
dressed my amazed comrades.
Prepare to start for Laffan's
Run in half an hour. Take q spare
horse-Martin's mare will do--a
piece of rope, . pair Of handouts
and couple Of spades
As q matter OF course i was a
good deal chaffed, but received all
witticisms with inflexible compos-
ure. you seem very cure Of your
bird, boss 4? Did you get your hint
by telegram? suppose Martin is
expecting us to breakfast?
1t was barely seven o'clock when
we surrounded the hut, the hut ]
had been desired to seek. Laffan's
shepherd was a ticket of leave, who
had been several years on the sta
ton. His name was Henderson,.
A man with a somewhat villainous
expression, an impediment in his
speech and an unusually powerful
frame. He was STOPPING over the
fire engrossed in frying a bit of
mutton for his breakfast when
entered, followed by four troopers
'Hullo ? he stammered, looking
back over his shoulder. Whats
up? Sheep stealing or blacks ?
What do You want he-e?'
Il want you ? | answered prompt
ly. Il arrest you,' producing the
handcuffs, for the murder Of
Trooper Martini
He turned on me fiercely, almost
ere l had ceased speaking, and
DASHED the frying pan in my face.
'Handcuff him. / said.
'Handcuff me- struggling like
wild beast, 'and for what? Where
is your proof?' he suffered. /
swear never saw Martin since
Christmas. You'll suffer for this
rot for it-swing for it, he
screamed, when the bracelets were
locked.
l was going, recklessly and trust
fully Oh information received from
a spirit; and | felt desperately ner-
vous, as ] gave my orders for two
troopers to hobble horses and fetch
spades Meanwhile measured with
shaking hands six good yards from
the back of the hut, and desired the
men to set to work on the ground
Immediately.
The soil was loose--a suspicious,
and to me, encouraging sign-nev-
ertheless the job was by no means
an easy one. When the men had
dug down to depth of five feet, |
shook as il with ague whilst each
spadeful was thrown upon the grass
and as yet there was no sign.
Suddenly one of the diggers
shouted
Look, there's body here =
And a troopers boot added his
cOmrade. axcikedlv
They now made frenzied squirt.
and presently called out with one
breath : Its Martha p Then al
ternately: 'He's been done for
he 10 dead--this ten days.
| called to the troopers within
doors to bring ont the prisoner. At
frat | believe he struggled violent
~, but ultimately submitted to be
conducted to where he had inferred
his victim. He stood motionless
and looked down into the grave;
then ne raised his eyes and fastened
them on me.
Blast you ? he s;ammered in a
low choked voice. How did you
know? Who told You ? Not q soul
saw it-not even the dog. l had
an old grudge against that hound
there
Mind, / caution you against