Year: 1875

saw there must be something in it, and
kept silent.


Cant your friend go for itl Graham
asked.


I made no response, only Wrapping
myself closer in the wagon blanket.
"I'n go, if you want me to-" were
Graham's next words, doubtfully. "I
wish you would, dominic" was Beach's
rather coaxing response. " You're
younger man than am; and, you see"
this he said whisperingly-"I don't
Like to trust everybody"


Graham gave rather pleased spring
from the wagon, and went off rapidly
towards the house, disappearing at turn
in the road. No sooner WAS he out of
| sight than Beach instantly brought his
pistol to bear upon the driver, aud
addressed him :: "See here, stranger,
don't know anything about you. You
may be all right, but 1 am determined
to look out for myself. want you to
drive on just as fast as the law allows ye,
and little faster. Go it now, and if We
slack up, or make any signs, you're a
dead man. Lay on the LASH"
The driver gave one astonished stare
at the sergeant, and without q word in
reply, gave the horses cut that as-





the snow ut rate that threw the light,
| dry drift all over us. That was the way
We went for nearly seven miles, until we
reached village, whore we had the good
luck to come across recruiting party,
tho officer In command of which was On
old comrade of the sergeant. A few
words from Beach told the whole story,
and the agreement was settled to make q
raid upon the house that night, and
bring whatever mystery there might be
within it to n conclusion.


Are you sure you're right, sergeant Z"
said, after the arrangement had been
made.


Sure Tam right" he echoed. "Do
look like a man to make mistakes2
See here, doctor; I knew that fellow,
Graham, In moment. His real name
Is Hawkins. He has forgotten me, but
| shall remember him to his dying day.
He was with Us ut Plattsburgh, and
deserted after committing robbery and
murder, and 1 was one of the men de-
tached to pursue him. We overlook the
scoundrel, but did not succeed in getting
h!m, though that scar that you saw upon
his cheek is my own mark. I knew it
the moment I saw it, the very slash of
my saber."


Sergeant Beach wanted mo to stay be-
hind that night when they went down to
visit the inn ut the Gap, but that
wouldn't suit me, so on 1 went. We
had made all our arrangements in ad-
vance. Two new men, unknown to the
landlady, were to go i'll citizens dress,
and put up in the inn, and when fairly
housed, long enough to draw together
those who operated within its bounds,
we were to rush in and tako the party.


The thing was we'll managed in all re-
spects but that of being too quick. The
two sent in became timid, and gave the
alarm too quick, the result of which was
we surrounded the house, and, rushing
in, took only the landlord, his wife and
the assumed preacher prisoners. A
search through the premises at once dis
closed the dread nature of what had
been going on there for years. Clothing
and effects of murdered men, blood
STAINS, and papers that would only have
been relinquished with life. Bedding,
with the fresh blood-drip upon it, and
knives that spoke positively of n muir
derous use.


The soldiers had not been five min
utes III the house before they had turned
the landlords wife into q hard featured,
muscular, grey-eyed rascal, young, but





minutes on our route with tho prisoners
towards some place of security before
the landlord gave in and made free con-
fession, charging Graham with being the
inciting cause md working tho whole
thing.


Graham's mouth twitched fearfully,
especially when, after an hours travel
and examination of the sergeant under
the full glare OF the sun, his memory
came back as to who he was. Then,
perhaps feeling that his life was gone
anyhow, he made one dash into the
swamp skirting the road, and although
he was twice warned to stop, kept on,
plunging desperately through the black
mud. A half-dozen carbines playing on
him Mt once, finished the matter. We
saw him fall, and sink in the dark,
Shiny mud, going gradually all under,
and after standing nearly fifteen min
utes watching the spot, the conclusion
come to was that lie never would trouble
anybody any more, and so we went on


The landlord and his pseudo wife were
carried down to the county town, where
the court was then in session; and the
result was that q cloud of witnesses,
springing from all directions, made them
responsible for score of murders. In
less than q month from the day of their
capture they were swinging upon one
gibbet; and the night of the hanging
some quiet party from somewhere about
the country took walk over to the Gap
inn and made bonfire of it.