Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-14

firm lip, but this suspense was un-
nerving.
He concealed his fears from his
daughter, however, and affected to
make light of the whole matter,
though she, with the keen eye of
love, saw plainly that he was ill at
ease.
Upon rising next morning he found
to his surprise small square of paper
pinned on to the coverlet of his bed,
just over his chest. On it was print
ed, in bold, struggling letters:
"Twenty-nine days are given you
for amendment and then"
The dash was more fear-inspiring
than any threat could have been.
How this warning came into his room
puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for his
servants slept in an clubhouse, and
the doors and windows had all been
secured. -.
|. He crumpled the paper up and said
nothing to his daughter, but the Incl
dent struck chill to his heart.
The twenty-nine days were evident
| ly the balance of the month which
Young had promised.
What strength or courage could
avail against an enemy armed with
such mysterious powers?
The hand which fastened that pin
might have struck him to the heart,
and he could never have known who
had slain him.
Still more shaken was he next
morning. They had sat down to
breakfast when Lucy, with a cry of
surprise, pointed upward.
In the center of the ceiling was
scrawled, with a burnt stick, appar-
emily, the number %. To his daugh-
ter it was unintelligible, and he did
enlighten her.
That night he sat up with his gun
and kept watch and ward. He saw
and heard nothing, and yet in the
morning a great 27 had been painted
upon the outside OF mis- door.
Thus day followed day and as
sure as morning came he found that
his unseen enemies had kept their
register, and had marked up in some
conspicuous position how many days
were still left to him out of the
month of grace. Sometimes the ia
tai number appeared upon the walls,
sometimes upon the floors; occasion
ally they were on small placards
stuck upon the garden gate Or the
railings.
With all his vigilance John Ferrier
could not discover whence these daily
warnings proceeded.
A horror, which was almost super.
stitious, came upon him at sight OF
them. He became haggard and rest
less, and his eyes had the troubled
look of some hunted creature.
He had but one hope in life now
and that was for the arrival of the
young hunter from Nevada.
Twenty had changed to fifteen, and
fifteen to ten, but there was no news
of the absentee. One by one the
number dwindled down, and still
there came no sign of him.
Whenever horseman clattered
down the road or driver shouted al
his team, the old farmer hurried tc
the gate, thinking that help had ar
rived at last.
At last, when he saw five give way
to four and that again to three, he
lost heart, and abandoned all hope Of
escape. Single-handed, and with his
limited knowledge of the mountains
which surrounded the settlement, he
knew that he was powerless.
The more frequented roads were
strictly watched and guarded, ant
none could pass along them withou
an order from the COUNCIL. 1urI
which way he would, there appeared
to be no avoiding the blow which
hung over him.
Yet the old man never wavered II
his resolution to part with life itsel
before he consented to what he re
sarded as his daughters dishonor.
He was sitting alone one evening
pondering deeply over his troubles
and searching vainly for some wa!
out of them.
That morning had shown the fig
ure two upon the wall of his house
and the next day would be the las
. of the allotted time. What was t.
happen then?
All manner of vague and terrible
fancies filled his imagination.
And his daughter-what was t.
!. become of her after he was gone
.. Was there no escape from the invis
ible network which was drawn al
around them?
,, He sunk his head upon the tabl
, and sobbed at the thought of his owl
impotence.
What was that? In the silence h
heard gentle scratchingg sound
; low. but very distinct, in the quiet o
; the night. 1t came from the door o
the house.