The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-20

IIS hA1S hEVGA1ED THE EACG OF Mx Ot-
 PONENT. to the floor even as 1 struck him with the lantern. Then it was naked hands. the fellow clawing wildly for my throat, while drove my list vi- ciousiy into his face. had an advan- tage in this even in that darkness. for l knew how to handle my arms and had him sufficiently located to make undercuts efficient. 1 landed twice. the second blow sending him stagger- ing back against the wall But what he lacked in science he made up in savagery. and he came back. cla wing at me in the darkness and kicking vii ciOusly at my body. Had l been able to see would have known 1 had the fellow whipped. but in that hole. fear ing treachery or the use of some weapon. l kept remorselessiy at him until he sank at my feet. begging for mercy under punishment. soon relit the lantern, and it's rays revealed the face of my opponent. I loosened my grip. staring at him in amaZement His whiskers were torn in the struggle. his face blOOdstained. but l could not doubt his identity-Daniels the noun taineer.
 r The woman had disappeared-yan- ished as mysteriously as she had come but here was this man creeping into the house through the tunnel. knife in hand. urged by the same spirit of hat red. the same insanity of revenge could have trampled on him as upon a snake. Even as he recognized me he read the truth in my eyes and shrank back against the rock wall. his arms uplifted as if for protection.
 Was it you. leftenant? By God. didn't knowr'
 Ut makes no difference what you knew" l returned hotly. "You made no effort to find out. You tried mur- der. and there has been too much of that done here already"
 "What is it you mean-murder here?"
 ''Yes. and I have no doubt you kno more about it than 1 do. Three m have been assasSinated here in t dark-stricken down by the knife. an the fourth barely escaped with a seri ous wound"
 ''Three killed? Who were they?"
 ''A Confederate lieutenant. a priva- of the Third Ohio cavalry and Judg Dunn, The man injured but not kill, ed was Jem Donald"
 1t seemed to me new light almost of exultation leaped into the gray eyes. but 1t vanished instantly.
 fu E0Gf hxN l@s~ lously. "Who did it?"
 l caught his wrist, staring straight down into his face.
 .'That is what l want you to tell me. Daniels" l said sterniy. "That feud of yours is at the bottom of this thing. l am going to have the truth out of you if1 have to choke it out.'
 ''As God is my witness. ieftenant. know nothing 1 didn't even know of the murders until you told me. I've known of this passage a long while. and I've got reason enough to feel hard against ther or judge. as we'll as Jem Donald. but I've fought 'em fair that is. fair accordin' ter ther way we light sfch things out in ther m0untingS ] ain't no murderer. an l don't come freepin' long in ther dark ter knife anybody. went fer yer. but yer he'd me trapped we're in this hole. an s'posed yer was one O thet outfit"
 The evident earnestness of the mau brought me certain measure of faith Yet could not entirely free him from suspicion.
 Where were you yesterday and last night?"
 'Scoutin' Lost Crick." he answered promptly e4.~-sn. Las night I took notion to look up my own people"
 l said nothing. and he went on.
 "They're purity well cleaned out leftenant--killed an skipped. Some oi 'em are hidin' out in ther mountings Cn' some hev gone inter ther army Dern if 1 ain't bout all thet's left fi. ter keep matters bilin'. 'Twixt thel war an hard luck, thet Donald crowd has just bout cleaned us up. Burnt my cabin too" He got up upon his feet. his gray eyes burning like. two COalS of fire 'Hut hv God sir I'm