The Lamar register., 1902-09-24

hA0 ceased ana tne exclted 3nOut1ngS
the grind of carriage and wagon whee..
and the fierce tattoo of roofs had give n
place to churchyard quiet. There
were many people on the street. but
their hats were pulled moodily down
over their brows and they converse6
With one another In hushed tones. The
stunning effects of the calamity had
set in.
Going over to the Lisbon House. Guy
passed through the deserted Office &c
the dining-room. A waiter served him
his breakfast In an agitated and alb
sent-minded manner, and when the
young man had finished his meal he
went up to his room, packed . few ar.
ticles in a satche, and then left the
hotel and made his way to the livery
stable. There were many citizens clus-
tered about the site of the courthouse.
but they vouehsafed Guy no attention
whatever. Lem Bilkins was there, sit
ting forlornly on one of the four posts
that had supported the stolen bui.d-
ing. Mr.. Biggs. the register of deeds.
was circiing sadly about the spot, be.
weiling the loss of his records. Mr..
Ghmmer, reposing on the steps of the
Emporium, was cleaning a huge. old
fashioned horse pistol, pausing now
and then In his work to glare across
ths street through his heavy-rimmed
glasses. Children were as hopelessly
cast down as were their elders, and
even the dogs took upon themselves the
general air Of detection.
Another stable boy had been en-
ployed in the place Of Barney. His
name was Herkimer and he had wan.
dersd into Concord, A. he expressedit.
ION his uppers." Lefhngwell had inn
msdiately hired him and put him to
work, Being . newcomer, Herkimer
had not had tims to acquire any Of the
prejudices of the town. Not knowing
Guy from Adam. he made ready . sad
die horse without question, and the
young man, after swinging his sstchel
from the saddle-horn, mounted and
gathered up the reins.
"Please tell Mr.. Lehhngweu that I
may not be back for two or three days..
said he, "As I am leaving Concord ON
business appertaining to the county
seat"
what namsr Inquired the nav
hand.
HERBERT
"waiti s4opi Idon't think you can
have that horssi" cried the hostler.
who was familiar with Guys name II
not with his face.
But Guy WAS well away by this time
and gave NO heed 70 Herkimer's sum
mona.
There were two roads isading to
Amityville. The shortest road paral-
leled the railroad track and led directly
through Harmony. In order to follow
this route II would have been necessary
for Guy to traverse the main street Of
Concord and bear west from the depot.
He did not care TO do this, or 70 run
the risk OF being halted in Harmony,
so he debouched southwark along the
other road and angled toward Amity-
Vile by way of Lake Elizabeth.
This latter course had been the one
taken by the men who had spirited
away the courthouse and Guy saw,
stretching out before him, the broad,
deep wheel marks of the gigantic truck
which had been improvised by the Har-
monyitss.
When near Lake Elizabeth he sud-
denly glimpsed half a dozen horsemen
galloping rapidly toward him. 1t was
TOO late to beat . retreat, or to gain
unnoticed the friendly shelter of the
trees on the bank OF the lake. He had
been SO deep In his thoughts that the
horsemen were within q short quarter
of a mile of him before he discovered
their approach.
He was soon able to distinguish Pet
tibone. and Pinney, and Leffingwell.
but the remaining three were unknown
70 him. Drawing rein, he quietly watt
ed.
.rhunderi" shouted the sheriff; ats
Herbert"
The next moment Guy was surround
ed by sig angry and baf3ed men.
"well, gentlemen, said Guy, his eyes
twinkling, "did you hnd the court
house7"
"You be blamedi" returned Petit
bone. sourly. "How did you get out7"
.rhat doesn't matter, Pettibone.
I'm out, and that's enough. As you
gentlemen appear to be in anything but
an agreeable frame of mind, kindly
ride out of my way and let me pass on"
"Not muchl" cried Pinney. you've
escaped and you've got to go back with
u.s."
That's the ticket" said Lsfhngwell.
glancing sharply at the horse Guy was
riding.
The three others, whom Guy did not
know, were equally as positive that he
should go back to Concord. Pettibone
knitted his sbrows over the problem
but said nothing. His horse stood
directly in front of Guys and as he re-
fected he snapped his quirt absently
against his boot leg.
"Hear me a minute, gentlemen"
said Guy. "T don't want to have clash