Year: 1874

THE CoNsPIRAToRs.


Ii James Mayhem had been wise he
would not have remained in the village
any longer than his business required. In
a vain hope that he would by remaining
be enabled To secure some additional in
formation regarding the plans about his
friend Robert Parton, he did not leave
the village until the early morning was just
breaking in the east So intent was he
upon his thoughts that he failed to observe
that he was followed. But it was so.


1t happened that two men who had been
IN close conspiracy with Edwin Amory
upon the preceding evening, III hope tina;
they might obtain some clue to the man
whom they we're i'll search Of, had retired
to rest that night, but had been ON the al
ert, hoping TO secure some trace OF him.
They were Just returning from an unsuc-
c,,ssful search, when a figure coming down
the road had attracted their attention


There's some one coming, said one If
the men, as he pointed to the approaching
figure


E" So there is, said the other


Let us hide.


What for T.


'' Ii may be our man.


Who Robert PartonF


Yes"


The other did not believe II, and eX-
pressed himself in that opinion, but he
drew down beside his companion, out Of
sight Of the approaching man.


The figure came on slowly, passed by
without perceiving them, and went
on. When he had got out of sight the
two luen arose to their feet and looked
curiously after his receding figure


"Who was that = queired one Of them.


- do not know. His figure seems some
what familiar to me"


no other than James Mayhem. the man
away 80 abruptly. never forget walk
and form. | know that man, and must fol
low him


Follow him p


Yes. For do you not remember that
this man Mayhem was great friend Of
Robert Partons. Where that man is there
this person Is gong Do as ! say. We
will follow him and see where he goes


:" But Mayhem never dressed like that. "


He is disguised, do you not observe
that he Is here upon some secret mission,
or why does he come and go at this hour
of the night tie has been sent by Parton
to ferret lut what he can in regard to what
Is going on. Come will follow him.


The two men went ON steslthily in the
tracks Of the ex-tramp, James Mayhew.
They evaded all observation upon his part,
by skillfully dodging behind tree, bush
and brier, and after long jaunt, Just as
day had fully set in, halted At the entrance
to raylne IN the mountains the object
of all their pursuit descended into the ra-
vine. They saw that there was no outlet
to the place, and as they could not with
out considerable difficulty follow him,
without their presence being detected by
him, they remained on the cliff and
watched him closely. They saw him en-
ter the old cabin where he had concealed
Robert Parton, and few moments later
emerge from thence the man for whom they
had been looking the rescued and escaped
Robert Parton. He was engaged in earn
est conversation with James Mayhem,
and rs the two sat down under shady tree,
the two watchers withdrew a little distance
from the edge Of the abyss and looked curl
oursly at one another.


"Well, said one of them, I'VE have
traced him.


"Yes, We have found him."


What do you suggest 2"


We are armed.


And the stake is a large onei


"Yes."


"Then let us boldly attack them, and
take both Of them back as prisoners to the
town"


"No."


NOT Why notT'


Because we would not be able to over
ccme the two men whom we would seek to
cope with That Mayhem, as l well know,
is as brawny as an OK, and Parton is as
muscular as a prize-ring fighter, and as
scientific, no, no. We must not attack
them openly.


But we are armed.


"What Of it. How do We know but that
they are also. Mayhem may have an en-
tire arsenal concealed under his cloak, and
the cabin may be filed with a number of
friendly companions. We have tracked
the prey, and having once ascertained the
place Of concealment, we can afford to wait
for while and watch a good chance to
carry Robert Parton back to the town"


For the time being it was decided to
watch the cabin and await the departure
Of Mayhem. Then it was proposed that
the should take Parton single-handed, and
carry him back to Paterson. II their plans
should fail, they were to go to the village
and obtain an augmented force, and to
again return to the capture.


They watched all that day. 1t become
very wearisome to them, and the more so
because they had not slept any during the
preceding evening.


All unaware of the plans that were being
made by the two men in the cabin, they
decided that as it was not probable that
Parton or his companion Mayhem would
depart during the night, they might seek
little repose. They we're soon wrapt in
deep slumber, but had not been asleep an
hour when two men passed them.


And while they were sleeping the OBJ
iect of their search and his companion,
James Mayhew had started from the cabin
back to Paterson. For they had settled
upon definite courseof action-to return
to the village and openly defy the man
Edwin Armory.