Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-11-13
rART II-Chapter IV-Continued.


insidious sound was repeated.
Some one was evidently tapping
very gently upon one of the pannels
OF the door. Was il some midnight
assassin who had come 10 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 AS 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 10
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, a
man lying fiat upon his face upon
the ground, with his arms and legs
all asprawl.
So unnerved was he at the sight
that he leaned up against the wall
with his hand to his throat to stifle
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 a 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. | 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
l crawled my way up to it. They
may be darned sharp. but they're not
sharp enough to catch a Washoe
hunter"
John Ferrier felt a deterrent man
now that he realized that he had
devoted ally He seized the young
mans leathery hand and wrung il
cordially.
You're a man to be proud Of" he
said. There are not many who
would come to share our danger and
our troubles"
You've hit 1t there. pard," the
young hunter answered. 81 have
respect for you, but if you were alone
in this business I'd think twice be-
fore l put my head into such a hor-
nets nest. It's Lucy that brings me
here, and before harm comes on her
I 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.
| 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. 1t
is as well that the servants do not
sleep in the house"
While Ferrier was absent prepar-
ing his daughter for the approaching
journey Jefferson Hope packed all
the eatables that he could find into
small parcel and filled a stoneware
jar with water, for he knew by ex-
perience that the mountain wells
were few and far between.
He had hardly competed 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 a
low but resolute voice, like one who
realizes the greatness of the peril.
H..
"The front and back entrances are
watched, but with caution We may
get away through the side windows
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 way
through the mountains.
What if we are stopped?" asked
Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt
which protruded from the front of
his tunic.
IF they are too many for us we
shall take two or three of them with
U.S." he said, with a sinister smile.
The lights inside the house had
all been extinguished. and from the
darkened window Ferrier peered
over the fields which had been his
own, and which he was now about to
abandon forever.
He had long nerved himself to the
sacrifice, however, and the thought
OF the honor and happiness of his
daughter outweighed any regret at
his ruined fortunes.
All looked so peaceful and happy,
fhn r1tCtlinU fraac ond thn hrOod ct