The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-26
THE FARMER: JANUARY 26, 1911

HE El supper had been carefully laid out on the table for him. He lit lamp, and discovered a note lying on his plate. and saft smile came into his eyes as he recognized Mary's handwriting. He picked it up, and held it for some moments without reading it. Then he opened it, and at the sight of its heading he thrilled. and his eyes shone with great happiness.
 Dearest Ferman," it ran, 'I should have preferred to await your return, but Saturdag insists. and your note is imperative, I have taken all my valuables, and saturdag has taken all the. arms. except your pistols and rifle, which are on the .sideboard fully loaded. The supper is in ease you are hungry and have time to eat it. Take care of yourself. and join us as soon as possible. I am very anxious.
 NARY"
 He read the little note twice; then he carefully folded it and placed it in an inner pocket. And his face for once clearly indexed the delight it's rossession gave him. He proceeded at once to strap his pistols about his waist, and dropped his magazine rifle against the dining-table. Then he sat down to his meal.
 He ate quickly, ner did he reldx his vigilance for moment. In ten minutes he had satisfied his hunger and quenched his thirst with the cold coffee he had not troubled to heat up. Then, habit prompting him, he filled his pipe and rose from the table to get "a match from the sideboard.
 But his progress was arrested half way. He stood. his head half-turn- ed, listening. Ordinary hearing would have detected nothing but the sigh ing of the gentle night breezes. But his more experienced ears caught the sound of something else. something he had been expecting to hear. sofne- thing which suggested danger.
 He thrust his pipe away, and went at once to the window and drew the curtains; then, having satisfied him. self that though they shut out view of the room the light of the lamp was in no way obscured from the out side. he swiftly passed down the passage and so out through the kitchen.
 The time had come for action. There must be no mistake. He had heard the distant sound of horses hoofs upon the hard road which led to the drift below the house.
 He rode out little to the east of the house and took up position whence he had perfect view of the buildings, while he was yet invisible to any one in that direction, .FIis rifle was lying across his knees, and his pistol-holsters were open. He hardly knew what he expected, ex- cept that those who were now clearly galloping down upon the drift from the opposite slope must pass near his house before going elsewhere.
 He heard the rush of horses feet as they splashed inte the river and scrambled up the hither side. He heard them come up the rise. The dying moonlight revealed g small army of mounted men. three and four abreast, riding on. towards the house. They came on, but drew rein as they reached the fringe of bush bounding the river-bank. Here they dismount- ed and moved forward on foot. and he realized at once that their objec- tive was his house.
 And now the scene enacted before bis eyes might we'll have filled him with despair. for he was powerless to stay it's progress.
 He saw the men form themselves into cordon about the house, while others went to the stables, For ztha moment the object of the latter was uncertain to him, but presently. as they returned laden with straw. he understood, He watched them bank the fire about the foundations of the building; but saw them light it, and, by the lurid blaze that shot up at once, he saw that those standing opposite the doors and windows had their rifles ready at their shoulders.
 His stern face relaxed. Something very like a smile lowered about his eyes for second, They were draw ing the badger. We'll he knew that no badger would be drawn that night.
 The tongues of flame licked up the walls to the roof. The blaze caught the inflammable thatch and roared into perfect sea of hissing, crack ling flame. He had seen enough; more than enough. With a fierce ejaculation he turned his horse away and was quickly swallowed up by the black shadows of the location.
 The fury of those who carried out the wanton destruction of Elwood's farm knew no bounds when they found that their plans had been fore