Year: 1864

on fire the previous evening, by whio


so much waste of property, and war


ton sacrifice Of lives had occurred.


Tho warrant was issued, and place


in the hands of the constable for ser,
ling; and while this official was abser


in search Of Clyde the young ma


himself came into the Squire's ofIic,


and entered like complaint agains


Gray, but was informed that Gray ha


first appeared, and obtained warran
for his arrest, which was then in th
hands OF tho constable.


lie seemed taken aback when h
was first informed of this, but prom
ising the Squire he would be preson
ut one o'clock that afternoon, to un
dorgoSan OK lnlination, he departed =
Word ae-s cent to Gray TO be presen
at the ~ sointeG tino; and as tho cas-
was ar unusual QUO, the room of tn,
Justice was crowded TO hear tho state
ment5 of the two.


Gray's story was short.


Ho swore that, having wolf-tral
set some distance out in tho prairie
no had taken up his lodgings near by
it tho night of the FIRE, and abou
twelve o'clock he was aroused by the
howls and snarls of wolf, which had
been caught in tho trap. He arose
to go TO il, when he discovered a
horseman near by, who dismounted
from his steod, drew out steel, flint
and tinder from his pocket, and strlk-
ing light thrust it in the dry grass,
which instantly blazed up, and favor
ed by strong Southern wind, sped
away towards the settlement, and in
the exact direction of Mr. Fishers
house. That the horseman, whom no
recognized as Mr.. Clyde, then mount
ed his horse, and rode away.


This statement had been listened to
with brcathloss attention, and as Gray
delivered IL apparently III cool ana
truthful manner, it had considerable
weight upon David Clyde. The fea-
lures of the young man were as calm
rs ever and his countenance under
went no change during the recital of
Gray. When the latter was done he
arose to his feet, and exclaimed:


"My statement of the facts as they
occurred upon the evening Of that
most deplorable fire, will be much
more minute than that Of my accuser,
and will occupy more time; but / hope
that not only the Justice but the audi
ence also, will listen patiently to what
l have to say. 1t is well known to
many here that l have a brother re-
siding in Walnut Grove, and upon
the night Of the fire l was returning
from q visit to him. When about ten
miles tho other side Of Mr.: Ejsher's,
a man a short distance ahead of me,
kneeling by the road side, and appar-
emily endeavoring TO light fire with
q steel and tinder / started my horse
into q gallop, at the Same instant Civ
ing shout, and tho man sprung to
his feet, but dropped a burning lock
of grass, as he did SO, into the prai-
ric, tho dry hay Of which was instant
ly in blaze.


Scoundrelp I exclaimed in o
loud voice, as caIno close to him ;
but with a coarse ha, ha, ha, he re-
torted--


"'Don't be angry, Mr.. Clyde, for
getting mad won't stop tho fire. l
guess old Fisher IL catch it to night,
and his naughty daughter, too"


"'Villain, you shall answer for
this l replied, as l turned my stoed,
and spurrod him after the rolling
flames, which were sweeping swiftly
away before strong South wind, and
rolling on in the direction of Fishers
house. In vain / urged my horse to
his utmost speed, for the cracking firc
sped far ahead of me, and when over
n mild and a-half distant, / behold
tho lurid blaze leap tho fence like a
stag hound, and SO carcering towards
tho house. Almost maddened at the
sight, / goaded on my gallant horse,
who bounded forward like the wind,
but when still half n mile from the
saw a bright'shcot of flames
arise from tho roof, and became aware
that the house was on fire. The burn
ing prairie had made it light as day,
but my eye ran in vain around tho
promises to discover single person
and the fearful thought came TO my
mind that the family were asleep in
tho house. BY the time l reached
the door in front of tho mansion, tho
roof was in lurid glare, and leaping
from my steed, let him 60, and
throwing my whole force against tho
door, burst it in. A dense volume of
smoke poured out, almost sufiocatiDg
me for moment, but regaining my
breath, l assembled the steps to the
second story, A door was visible up
on my right hand as l reached the
top, and it required oil my weight to
break it in; but when / did so, n fe-
male form staggered forward, and fell
in my arms. l hastily bore her down
the stairs, by this time covered with
cinders from the burning roof, and as
/ leaped from the door it fell in with
a terrible crash, showcring the sparks
thickly around mo. The person / had
rescued was Mary Fisher; and the
old man and his wife perished in the
flames. My horse had fled in alarm
from tho spot, and as the nearest
ncighbor's was four miles distant, VIC
were compelled to walk it on foot
Day broke by the time we reached
the house, and leaving tho disconso-
late girl at her neighbor's, came inn
mediately here, but found L was few
minutes too late to lay my accusation
before you first. Such are the facts
in the case; although they are almost
exactly opposite to tho statement made
by Gray"


Clyde had delivered his story in an
impressive and convincing manner
but the Justice was puzzled which o.
the two he should believe. The adj.
vantage lay with Gray, as he had