Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-21
PART u-Chapter IV-Continued.

PART II-Chapter IV-Continued.
Ferrier crept into the hall and lis
tened intently. There was a pause
for a few moments, and then the low,
insidious sound was repeated.
Some one was evidently tapping
very gently upon one of the pannels
of the door. Was it some midnight
assassin who had come to carry out
the murderous order of the secret
tribunal? Or was it some agent who
was marking up that the last day OF
grace had arrived?
John Ferrier felt that instant death
would be better than the suspense
which shook MS nerves and chilled his
heart. Springing forward, he drew
the bolt and threw the door open.
Outside all was calm and quiet.
The night was fine, and the stars
were twinkling brightly overhead.
The little front garden lay before
the farmers eyes, bounded by the
fence and gate, but neither there nor
on the road was any human being to
be seen.
With a sigh of relief Ferrier looked
to the right and to left, until happen
ing to glance straight down at his
feet he saw, to his astonishment,
man lying fiat upon his face upon
the ground, with his arms and legs
all 1asprawl.
So unnerved was he at the sight
that he leaned up against the wall
with his hand to his throat to stifie
his inclination to call out.
His first thought was that the
PROSTATE figure was that of some
wounded or dying man, but as he
watched it he saw it writhe along the
ground and into the hall with the ra-
pidity and noiselessness of serpent.
Once within the house, the man
sprang to his feet, closed the door,
and revealed to the astonished farmer
the fierce face and resolute express
sion of Jefferson Hope.
Good God!" gasped John Ferrier.
"How you scared me! What made
you come in like that?"
."Give me food" the other said,
hoarsely. l have had no time for
bite or sup for eight and forty hours" }"
He flung himself upon the cold meat
and bread which were still lying up
on the table from his hosts supper,
and devoured them voraciously.
Does Lucy bear up well?" he asked,
when he had satisfied his hunger.
"Yes. She does not know the dan
GER" her father answered.
THAT is well. The house Is
watched on every side. That is why
I crawled my way up to it. They
may be darned sharp, but they're not
sharp enough to catch Washoe
hunter" -
John Ferrier felt deterrent man
now that he realized that he had a
devoted ally. He seized the young
mans leathery hand and wrung it
cordially.
You're a man to be proud Of" he
said. There are not many who
our troubles"
you've hit it there, pard," the
young hunter answered. 81 have a
respect for you, but if you were alone
in this business I'd think twice be-
fore / put my head into such a hor-
nets nest. It's Lucy that brings me
here, and before harm comes on her
l guess there will be one less o the
Hope family in Utah."
What are we to do?"
Tomorrow is your last day, and
unless you act tonight you are lost
l have a mule and two horses wait
ing in the Eagle ravine. How much
money have you?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars in gold and
five in notes."
THAT will do. I have as much
more to add to it. We must push
for Carson City through the noun
tains. You had best wake Lucy. II
is as we'll that the servants do not
sleep in the house."
While Ferrier was absent prepar
ing his daughter for the approaching
journey Jefferson Hope packed al
the eatables that he could find into q
small parcel and filled stoneware
jar with water, for he knew by ex
perience that the mountain wells
were few and far between.
He had hardly completed his ar
rangement before the farmer return
ed with his daughter all dressed and
ready for start.
The greeting between the lovers
was warm but brief for minutes were
precious and there was much to be
done.
I'VE must make our start at once,
said Jefferson Hope, speaking in g
low but resolute voice, like one wht
realizes the greatness of the peril
but has steeled his heart to meet it
"The front and back entrances are
WdLCnSu, DuC WIFI GdullOh we 1uo.
get away through the side window:
and across the fields. Once on the
road, we are only two miles from the
ravine where the horses are waiting
BY daybreak we should be half wa!
through the mountains.
What If we are stopped?" asked
Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver but
which protruded from the front o
his tunic.
IF they are too many for us W.
shall take two or three of them witt
u.s." he said, with sinister smile.
The lights inside the house ha,
all been extinguished, and from tn
darkened window Ferrier peeret
over the fields which had been hi
own, and which he was now about t.
abandon forever.
He had long nerved himself to tn
sacrifice, however, and the though
of the honor and happiness of hi
daughter outweighed any regret a
his ruined fortunes.
All looked so peaceful and happy
the rustling trees and the broad, s.
lent stretch of grain land, that
was difficult to realize that the spiri
of murder lurked through it all.
Yet the white face and set expires
sion Of the young hunter showed tina
In his approach to the house he ha
seen enough to satisfy him upon tina