The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-08
PERCALE AND FLANELETT WRAPPERS, MUSLIN
UNDERWEAR, &c.

man. Thar's Il stranger cuu,r 10 town
who tells he saw Gurth murdered that
night we guessed he ran away"
''Wel, what is his story or the stranger
to me-"
"Oh, Martin" answered Stephen
gloomily. II know it's a lie, but he says
We did it. and the men are mad after
yer life. Yer must run for it,
Rum" cried Martin. "An innocent
man sneak away like a guilty dog?
Neverw
"But they've found ye guilty already"
pleaded Stephen.
81 don't care. They can hang me, but
they can't make me run"
Stephen was silent for a moment, and
then. with tears in his eyes he blurted
out:
"Thcn. pard, I'll die with ye.'
They looked into each others eyes.
they graspcd each others hand. Even
then they heard hoarsc shouts in the dis
lance and knew that the avengers were
coming.
They assembled to the second story,
Martin first securing the door below.
Their faces were stern with determined
purpose as they waited for the coming of
the angry mob.
Nor had they long to wait. Soon, like
madmcn, the crowd surgcd round the
building. TIoarse and loud rose the cry:
Martin Baird, we want you"
Martin would have stepped to the win
dow, but Stephen staid him, saying:
Let me go. It's safer"
Stephen shuddcrcd when he saw the
-, l,oI f,lI
and bright and showed the upturncd
faces of rs many angry devils as there
were men. They clamorcd for the life
they sought as bloodhounds bay for
blood. 1t seemed a hopeless task to
strive to stem this remorseless tide by
either words or deeds.
Stephen held up his hand, and the
voices were stilled to hear him
"Mcn," he cried, what do ye want
kcre?"
Like the sound of raging sea came
the answer
Martin Baird"
'For WHAT" he shouted again.
The reply meant death.
"I'or the murder of Henry Gurth!"
Stephen turned and said word or
two to Martin of the hopclessness of CON
tending against such mob. Then he ad-
dressed the crowd again
Martin Baird is as innocent as any
man among ye, but if yell give him the
chance ter face the man as says he's
guilty, he'll give himself up. Eff he don't
prove the scoundrel liar, ye can hang
him"
The leaders held a hurried consultation,
hpf I,o With hn
handkerchief upon his neck opposed the
proposition. but he was overruled, and
they answered:
"All right. We agree. Let him come
out here"
Martin was no sooner among them than
he was bound hand and foot. A rope was
adjusted around his neck. He could not
reprcss a shudder as he felt it lying
snakclikc there.
"Now," said one, "what hev We got
ter say?"
81 want the villain" answered Mar
tin sternly. who dares to accuse me Of
this crime to let me see his face"
The accuser stepped forward quickly,
yet Stephen could see he quailed before
the eyes OF the man he had sought to
doom.
"Friends," cried Martin "for you were
my friends an hour ago, do honest men
cover their faces like that? Let him take
off his hat"
Stephen stepped forward and knocked
it off and, starting with surprise whs-
percd word in his friends ears, Mar
tins face lit with hope, and his clear,
ringing voice was in strong contrast
with the mans faint replies.
"You accuse me of the murder of one
Henry Gurth?"
II do"
GAS your life will pay the forfeit if you
speak falsely, you say that Henry Gurth
is dcad?"
eyes. saw his body. What more do
you want?"
"Thcn l say you liew shouted Martin.
"Men, you remember Henry Gurth?
say he is not dead, for have found him.
He had a scar upon his neck, given him
by my faithful friend here, Stephen. See
this man here accuses me of the muir
der of himself! Tear that handkerchief
from his neck and prove that speak the
truth
In moment the villain was covering
in abject fear. AS they tore from him
that which hid the proof of his identity
he prayed for mercy.
In vain. They saw the scar. they saw
the devilish plot against the life of an
innocent man, and he was doomed.
Martin. generous always, pleaded for
the scoundrel's life. but they hardly lis
tened.
The CHASTITY figure of Henry Gurth.
dead, swung to and fro in the moonlit
air.-New York Weekly.