Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-08-12
MASTER OF THE NINE
By Robert Buchanan.
BY Robert Buchanan.
0Goo

culieQ. Inc man VINO Uuu HFSI anuEesA-
ed me, looked at me with a rim smile.
YOU'RE a bold chap be said; but
it's no use. You'd have done much
better to have come along quietly. Vow
lookee here. I've got to tell you that
whatever you say, from this moment for
yard. viii be used in evidence against
you"
''For heavens sake. explain.r / an
syyered. What does it all mean? Who
is murderedT'
How innocent we are! You'll be tell
ing us next1Hhat your name amt Hugh
Trelawney, late oYerseer Of the St. Cur
lott mine"
t'Trelay7Iey is my name. but
"Of course It is; and Trelawney's the
name of the mar We want-the name on
this here warrant. My duty is to appre-
bend you for the murder Of Mr.. Ephraim
s. johnson. the new oyefseer. who took
your place"
"Johnson,-murderedr' / cried. lit is
impossible!"
''Oh, no, it amt" returned the imper-
turbable Official. Deceased was found
at the foot Of the cliffs, with his brains
knocked out. aud bearing ON his body
signs Of violence; worse than that. he'd
been stabbed with a knife; and once
more. you're the party We want for hay-
ing dope the job"
Utterly amazed and Mortified, | stag
gered and fell into a chair. AS for An
ME, she seemed completely petrihed. |
can see her white face now-frozen, tear
less and aghastl
Il viii go with you" / said. but | am
perfectly innocent. Until this moment !
never even heard Of this horrible affair.
l left 81. Guriott's two 1a5s ago"
"Exaetly,' was the dry retort; 't.hou
hooked II the very night of the prrder.
The body was found early on the morn
ing Of the 23d, and the warrant was is,
sued Yesterday"
AS be spoke. | seemed to feel the net
closing round me. At first the very aeeu-
sation had seemed prenosterous; now. /
began IL understand that my position
was one cf extreme peril. If johnson
had really beSu murdered, and ON that
night, as now seemed clear, 1 could not
escape suspicion nv a mere alibf. | re-
~membered, with q thrill Of horror, my
meeting with the murdered man,
just before my departure, and my heart
sank within me.
| knew my own i~nnocence-but who
was guilty? AS | asked myself the ques-
ton, / looked again at Annie. who was
still watching me intently and in a mo-
ment, as IL by an inspiration. | thought
Of her father Had John Pendragon. ia
a moment Of madness, taken the life Of
the man whom he suspected of causing
daughters fight? The thought was
almost too horrible fo belief-yet, alas!
II was not unreasonable.
Now, then, are you ready r. said the
placing his hand upon my shout
der.
Hugh, lear Hugh! tell me yin did not
do Il! | cannot-cannot believe that you
are %guiltyt' cried Annie.
when the time comes" / said, sol
may you be as well able to an
for your deeds as | shall answer
for mine. The trouble began with you.
If murder has been done. II Is your do
ing also-remember thatl''
They were cruel words, and afterwards
I bitterly regretted them; but was
thinking Of her father, and remember
ing how bitter must be her blame, If,
by any possibility, be had been driven
crime and violence as a consequence
OF her conduct. Whether she understood
me or not, ! cannot tell: but. hiding her
face In her hands, she sank on a couch.
hyste. u uy sobhing.
VIII followed seemed more like an ex-
traord.nary dream han cruel waking re-
alltyl | was led from the house, placed
In a cab. and driven away. That very
afternoon | left London by train, and late
that night was handed over, handcufFed
and helpless. TO the authorities Of Fal
mouth jail.
My suspense did not last long. The
very next day | was taken from the pris.
and placed in a ~dog-eart. with a po-
at my side and another on the
seat beside the driver. An inquest Oh the
body Of the murdered mar was to take
place that day at st. Gurlott's, and, Of
course. my presence was necessary.
As we dashed through the village. l
saw several Of the miners hanging about;
hut | carefully ayeTtfa my eyes from
A little furtaer on. we passed the
door Of the cottage where | bad dwelt
so happily and so long; aud | saw, with
a sigh Of Feliaf. ttst there was no sign
of any one about. We trotted ON. tn we
Redrtth House. Here. TO my
surprise, the horse was pulled up.
"Now, then, get down. said my cora.
paniou, aud | alighted. As | did so.
one pressed forward. aud / met tae
honest eyes Of John Ruad. The poor
fellow thrust out bis hand 10 seize mine.
then, finding that | was handcnifed, drew
the hand hastily back and placed il on
nay shoulder.
"Dawu't be d~awnhearted. Master
he cried. There be not a sawl
in st. Gurlott's believes ZEE killed 'un.
So cheer up. lad; they'll soon set zee
| thanked him. with tears standing in
my eyes. for his kindness touched me.
Then | was led into the house. and in a
little while was facing the coroner. in
the great old.fashioned dining hall, where
the inquest was being held.
| forget many Of the details Of that
miserable day. Only ene thing : wildly
remember-the sight Of the dead mans
body. stretched out for Inspection in the
Why | was taken TO see it |
de not know; hut l felt that | was close
y watched as | ben, over it. Poor john
son, | freely forgaye him all the troi-
he bad ever caused me, seeing the
hloedstained and dishgnred mass which
had once been his living self!
As the inquest proceeded ! realized the
fall exteat Of my peril Several Of the
men came forward and testified 10 my
quarreled with the murdered man
and knocked him down. Then the young
master. George RpdratA. gave his sesti-
mony-to the effect that l had been dis
from the overseershir, n that l