The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-28

He was, indeed, a different man. He
had lived to see Stingaree In action, and
now he modelled himself from the life.
The only doubt was as to whether at
the Last Of that business he had &c
tually avowed himself Sungaree or
not. There might have been trouble
about the horse, but fortunately for
the enthusiastic prisoner the man who
had been thrown was allowed 10 pro
coed on pressing Journey to the Bar.
coo. There was n plethora Of evidence
without his; besides, the hide aud bone
mare was called BARNARD, after the
original, and Il was known that Os
valid had tried TO teach the old crea
ture tricks; above all, the prisoner had
never pretended to deny his guilt. stu
this matter OF the horses gave him a
certain sense Of insecurity in his coy
cell.
He had awakened TO find himself
not only deliciously notorious, but ac-
tualIy more OF man than In his heart
of hearts he had dared to hope. The
tenacity and consistency of his pose
were alike remarkable. Even In the
overweening cause OF egoism he had
never shown so much character In his
life. Yet he shuddered to realize that,
given the usual time for reflection be.
fore his great moment, that moment
might have proved as mean as many
another when the spirit had been wine
and the flesh water. There was In
fine but one feature Of the affair which
even Oswald Melvin, drunk with no
toriety and secretly sanguine Of nom
inal punishment, could not contemplate
with absolute satisfaction. But that
feature followed the others into the
papers which kept him intoxicated, and
a bundle Of these papers found their
adventurous way to the latest fast
ness of Stingaree in the malice.
The real villain dropped his eyeglass,
clapped 1t in again and did his best to
crack 1t with his stare. Student of
character as he was, he could not have
conceived such a development I'm such
character He read on, more en-
lightened than amused. ITO think he
had the pluckv he murmured as he
ludl uhh lOOh ~
the next weeks. He was filled with
admiration, but soon n frown, and then
an oath came to put an end to it,
"The little beastr' he cried Hell
kill that woman! He can't have kept
1t rp!" He sorted the papers for the
latest OF ala sinful publican saved
them for him-and therein read that
Oswald Melvin had been committed
for trial and that his only concern was
for the condition OF his mother, which
was still unchanged, and had seemed
latterly to distress the prisoner very
much.
Riding all night and rs much as he
dared by day, 1t was some hundred
hours before Stingaree paid his third
and last visit to the Melvins' music
shop He rode boldly to the door, but
he rode a piebald mare not to be con-
fused IN the most suspicious mind with
the no more conspicuous Barmaid.
There were no lighted windows be-
hind the shop tonight. The whole place
was I'm darkness. and Stingaree knock
ed in vain. A nelghbor appeared upon
the next veranda.
"Who Is It you want?" he asked.
Mrs. Melvin"
"It's no use knocking for her."
as she dead?"
"Not that ! know OF. but she can't
be long for this world"
"Where IL she nOwT
Bishops lodge. They say Miss
Methuen's with her day and night"
For It was In the days OF the bish-
Dps daughter, who had a strong mind,
but no sense of humOr and a heart
only tickle in its own affairs. Miss
Methuen made an admirable II a
somewhat too assiduous and dictatorial
nurse. Sitting with rather ostenta-
tious patience I'm the dark at the open
window until her patient should fall
or pretend to be asleep, she saw a
man ride piebald horse In at the gate
and then, halfway up the drive, sus-
piciously dismount and lead his horse
into a tempting shrubbery.
In the bright frame of the French
windows, which stood open, sat the
bishop with his Bible on his knees.
Eyes, 1 know you" said he. putting
his marker in the place as Stlngaree
entered II thought we should meet
again"
Stingaree smiled as he took his re-
volver by the barrel and carried 1t
across the room to DR.. Methuen.
whats that for2 | don't want it.
Put 1t in your own pocket At least
ran trust you not to take my life in
cold blood"
81 don't come to take anything,
much less life" he said. II come to
save It,"
ITO save life-hereT
an your house"
But whom do you know OF my
householder
MRS. Melvin. / have had the honor
If meeting her twice. though each time
she was unaware OF the dishonor or
meeting me. The last time ! promised
TO try to save her unhappy son from
himself. found him waiting to way
lay the coach. told him who was and
had ten minutes 10 try 10 cure him In.
He wouldn't listen to reason; insult
ran like water or his back. did my
best to show him what a life It was he
lOnged to lead and how much more
there was In II than a loaded revolver.
He wouldn't take my word for II, how
ever, so put him out OF harms way
M In a tree-and when the coach came