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About Wallowa chieftain. (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1902)
: : A STUDY IN SCARLET BY A. CONAN DOYLE. : rAT.T II Chapter IV Continued. Ferrier crept into the hall and lis tened intently. There was a p;ui:;e for a few moments, and then the low. insidious sound was repeated. Some one was evidently tapping very gently upon one of the pannels of the tioor. Was it some miilnigiit assassin who had come to carry out the murderous order of the secret tribunal? Or was it some agent who was marking up that the last day of gra.'e had arrived? John Ferrier felt that instant death would bo better than the suspense which shook u.s nerves and chilled his heart. Springing forward, he drew the bolt and threw the door open. Outside all was calm and quiet. The night was tine, and the stars were twinkling brightly overhead. The little front garden lay before the farmer's eyes, bounded by the fence and gate, but neither there nor on the road was any human being to be seen. With a sigh of relief Ferrier looked to the right and to left, uutll happen ing to glance straight down at his feet he saw. to his astonishment, a man lying flat upon his face upon the ground, with his arms and legs all asprawl. So unnerved was he at the sight that he leaned up against the wall v.-tth his hand to his throat to stifle his inclination to call out. His first thought was that the prostrate figure was that of some wounded or dying man, but as he watched It he saw it writhe along the ground and into the hall with the ra pidity and noiselessness of -a serpent. Once within the house, the man sprang to his feet, closed the door, and revealed to the astonished farmer the fierce face and resolute expres sion of Jefferson Hope. "Good Godl" gasped John Ferrier. "How you scared me! What made you come in like that?" "Give me food," the other said, hoarsely. I have had no time for bite or sup for eight and forty hours." He flung himself upon the cold meat and bread which were still lying up on the table from his host's supper, and devoured them voraciously. "Does Lucy bear up well?" he asked, when he had satisfied his hunger. "Yes. She does not know the dan ger." her father answered. "That is well. The house is watched on every side. That is why I crawled my way up to it. They may be darned sharp, but they're not sharp enough to catch a Washoe hunter." John Ferrier felt a defferent man now that he realized that he had a devoted ally. He seized the young man's leathery hand and wrung it cordially. "You're a man to be proud of," he said. "There are not many who would come to share our danger and our troubles." "You've hit it there, pard," the young hunter answered. "I have a respect for you, but if you were alone in this business I'd think twice be fore I put my head into such a hor net's nest. It's Lucy that bringd me here, and before harm comes on her I guess there will be one less o' the Hope family in Utah." "What are we to do?" "Tomorrow is your last day, and unless you act tonight you are lost. I have a mule and two horses wait ing in the Eagle ravine. How much money have you?" "Two thousand dollars in gold and five in notes." "That will do. I have as much more to add to it. We must push for Carson City through the moun tains. You had best wake Lucy. It is as well that the servants do not sleep in the house." While Ferrier was absent prepar ing his daughter for the approaching Journey JefTerson Hope packed all the eatables that he could find into a small parcel and filled a stoneware Jar with water, for he knew by ex perience that the mountain wells were few and far between. He had hardly completed his ar rangement before the farmer return ed with his daughter all dressed 3nd ready for a start. The greeting between the lovers was warm but brief, for minutes were precious and there was much to be done. "We must make our start at once." said Jefferson Hope, speaking in a low but resolute voice, like one who realizes the greatness of the peril, but has steeled his heart to meet it. "The front and back entrances are watched, but with caution we may get away through the side windows and across the fields. Once on the road, we are only two miles from the ravine where the horses are waiting. By daybreak we should be half way through the mountains. "What if we are stopped?" asked Ferrier. Hope slapped the revolver butt which protruded from the front of his tunic. "If they are too many for us we shall take two or three of them with us." he said, with a sinister smile. The lights inside the house had all been extinguished, and from the darkened window Ferrier peered over the fields which had been his own, and which he was now about to abandon forever. He had long nerved himself to the sacrifice, however, and the thought of the honor and happiness of his daughter outweighed any regret at his ruined fortunes. AH looked so peaceful and happy, the rustling trees and the broad, si lent stretch of grain land, that It was difficult to realize that the spirit of murder lurked through it all. Tet the white face and set expres sion of the young hunter showed that In his approach to the house he had seen enough to Batisfy him upon that head. Ferrier carried the bag of gold and notes, Jefferson Hope had the scanty provisions and water, while Lucy 1 Si j, had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions. Opening the window very slowly and carefullr thev wnlteil until n I dark cloud had somewhat obscured 1 the night, and then one by one pass ed through into the little garden. With bated breath and crouching ! figures they stumbled across it and ; gained the shelter of the hedge, which they skirted until they came to tho gap which opened into the cornfield. ! They had Just reached this point when the young man seized his two ' companions and dragged them down ! Into the shadow, where they lay sl j lent and trembling. I It was as well that his prairie train ; lng had given Jefferson Hope the ears of a lynx. I He and his friends had hardly ; crouched down before the nielan- cnoiy booting of a mountain owl was heard within a few yards of them, which was immediately answered by another at a small distance. At the same moment a vague, shad owy figure emerged from the gap for which they had been making,, and ut tered the plaintive cry again, on which a second man appeared out of the obscurity. "Tomorrow at midnight," said the first, who appeared to be in author ity. "When the whip-poor-will calls three times." "It is well," returned the other. Shall I tell Brother Drebber?" "Pass it on to him, and from him to the others. Nine to seven!" "Seven to five!" repeated the other, and the two figures flitted away in different directions. Their conclud ing words had evidently been some form of sign and countersign. The instant that their footstens had died away in the distance, Jefferson Hope sprang to his feet. and. helping his companions through the gap, led the way across the fields at full speed supporting and half carrying the girl when her strength appeared to fall her. "Hurry on! hurry on!" he rasped from time to time. "We are through the line of essentials. Everything depends on speed. Hurry on." Once on the highroad they made rapid progress. Only once did they meet any one, and then they man aged to slip into a field, and so avoid recognition. Before reaching the town the hunt er branched away into a rugged and narrow foot path which led to the mountains. Two dark. Jagged peaks loomed above them through the darkness, and the defile which led between them was the Eagle Ravine, in which the horses were awaiting them. With unerring instinct, Jefferson Hope picked his way among the gTeat boulders and along the bed of a dried-up water course until he came to the retired corner, screened with rocks, where the faithful animals had been picketed. The girl was placed upon the mule, and old Fprrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag, while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous paths. It was a bewildering route for any one 'who was not accustomed to face nature in her wildest moods. On the one side a great crag tow ered up a thousand feet or more, black, stern and menacing, with long basaltic columns tinon his rugsred surface Ifke the ribs of some petri fied monster. On the other hand a wild chaos of bowlders and debris made all ad vance impossible. Between the two ran the Irreeular track, so narrow In Places that they had to travel in In dian file, and so rough that only practiced riders could have traversed It at all. Yet. in snlte of all dangers and dif ficulties, the hearts of the fugitives were light within them, for every step increased the distance between them and the terrible despotism from which they were flying. They goon had a proof, however, that they were still within the Juris diction of the Saints. They had reached the very wildest and most desolate portion of the pass, when the girl gave a startled cry and pointed upward. On a rock which overlooked the track showing out dark and plain against the sky. there stood a soli tary sentinel. He saw them as soon as they perceived him, and his mili tary challenge of "who goes there?" rang through the silent ravine. "Travelers for Nevada," said Jef ferson Hope, with his hand upon the rifle which hung by his saddle. They could see the lonely watcher fingering his gur, and peering down at them as If dissatisfied at their reply. "By whose permission?" "The Holy Four," answered Fer rier. His Mormon experiences had taught him that that was the highest authority to which he could refer. "Nine to seven," cried the sentinel. "Seven to five," returned Jefferson Hope, promptly, remembering the countersign which he had heard in the garden. "Pass, and the Lord go with you," said the voice from above. Beyond this post the path broad ened out, and the horses were able to break into a trot. Looking back, they could see the solitary watcher leaning upon his gun, and knew that they had passed the outlying post of the Chosen Peo ple, and that freedom lay before them. CHAPTER V. All night their ourse lay through intricate defiles and over irregular and rock-strewn paths. More than once they lost their way, but Hope's intimate knowledge of the mountains enabled them to regain the track once more. When morning broke, a scene of marvelous though savage beauty lay before them. In every direction the great snow-capped peaks hemmed them in, peeping over one another's shoulders to the far horizon. So steep were the rocky banks on either side of them that the larch and the pine seemed to be suspended over their heads, and to need only a gust of wind to come hurtling down upon them. Nor was the fear entirely an Illu sion, for the barren valley was thick ly strewn with trees and boulders which had fallen in a similar manner. Even as tfiey passed a great rock came thundering down with a hoarse rattle which woke the ecnoes in the silent gorges and startled the weary horses into a gallop. As the sun rose slowly above the eastern horizon, the caps of the great mountains lighted up one after the other, like lamps at a festival, until they were all ruddy and glowing. The magnificent spectacle cheered the hearts of the three fugitives and gave them fresh energy. At a wild torrent which swept out of a ravine they called a halt and watered their horses, while they partook of a hasty breakfast. Lucy and her father would fain have rested longer, but Jefferson Hone was inexorable. "They will be upon our track by this time." he said. "Everything de pends upon our speed. Once safe in Carson, we may rest for the remain der of our lives." At night time they chose the base of a beetling crag, where the rocks offered some protection from the chill wind, and there, huddled together for warmth, they enjoyed a few hours' sleep. Before daybreak, however, they were up and on their way once more. They had seen no signs of pursuers, and Jefferson Hope began to think that they were fairly out of the reach of the terrible organization whose en mity they had incurred. He little knew how far that Iron grasp could reach, or how soon it was to close upon them and crush them. About the middle of the second day of their flight their scanty store of provisions began to run out. This gave the hunter little uneas iness, however, for there was game to be had among the mountains, and he had frequently before had to de pend upon his rifle for the needs of life. Choosing a sheltered nook, he piled together a few dry branches and made a blazing fire, at which his companions might warm themselves, for they were now nearly five thous and feet above the sea-level, and the air was bitter and keen. Having tethered the horses and bid Lucy adieu, he threw bis gun over bis shoulder and set out in search of whatever chance might throw In his way. Looking back he saw the old man and the young girl crouching over the blazing fire, while the three ani mals stood motionless in the back ground. Then the intervening rocks hid them from his view. He walked for a couple of miles through one ravine after another without success, though from the marks upon the bark of the trees, and other Indications, he Judged that there were numerous bears in the vi cinity. At last, after two or three hours' fruitless search, he was thinking of turning back In despair, when cast ing his eyes upward he saw a sight which sent a thrill of pleasure through his heart. On the edge of a jutting pinnacle, three or four hundred feet above him, there stood a creature somewhat re sembling a sheep in appearance, but armed with a pair of gigantic horns. The big-horn for so It is called was acting, probably, as a guardian over a flock which were Invisible to the hunter: but fortunately it wa., heading 'in the opposite direction, and had riot perceived him. Lying on his back, he rested his rifle upon a rock and took a king and steady aim before drawing the trig ger. The animal sprang into the air, tottered for a moment upon the edge of the precipice, and thpn came crashing down into the valley be neath. The creature was too unwieldy to lift, so the hunter contented himself with cutting away one haunch and part of the flank. ' With this trophy over his shoulder, he hastened to retrace his steps, for the evening was already drawing in. He had hardly started, however, be fore he realized the difficulty which faced him. (To be continued.) HIS LIMIT OF LAZINESS. Man Who Named Two Dogs "Cocoa" They Were Always Together. "I never hear laziness discuseed," said Frederick Koft, the artist, "but I think of Old Man Crawford, who used to keep an inn down on South Beach, when the place was practically a wilder ness, and a lot of us fellows were in the habit of running down there to sketch. He was, without doubt, the fellow most utterly devoid of energy it is possible to imagine. He wouldn't have breathed if he could have helped it. , "One of hit sons, who had settled in New York, J pops. I r! would tit, suj the whole dfj like animate him. They to the left, j chair, when; "One dayi the dogs we Crawford tuj Cocoa, Coco trotting outi " 'What i! I asked, thi " 'Cocoa, l! , him. " 'One do, man. 'Thej and go at the how, I'm not, to a decline b names.' '-N .. '.V; : '..-. : v- '' .'. :'' c 4jrOWXr More than 30,000 dressmaker from varioiu parts of the United States were either visitors to or participants in the drennuiakere' convention that had a week's session in Chicago recently. It was tho first oue of itn kind held In this country and its results were more than pleasing to all the participants as well as to those who organized the scheme. A Denver dressmaker got the first prize. The dress she exhibited showed all the details of what is now the latest fashion. The gown was of dark blue veiling made up over a lighter shade of taffeta. The waist fitted loosely, wan un shirred over the shoulders, but gathered firmly at the belt. The yoke waa out lined by a circle of Russian lace overset by long pieces of tapestry. The sleeves were loose above tho elbows. It was a beautiful effect and was compli mented by all who saw it The prize was $50. 'THE FIGHTING PARSON." Got. William O. Browalow, of Tn ncuM, Was a Unique Figure. Many unique characters stand out conspicuously in the religious history of the United States. There have been the originators of Beets like Joseph Smith, and Alexander Campbell, and Dowle. There have been men like Beecher and Ta linage, and a host of others who combined with their knowl edge of theology and the spiritual needs of men a grasp of other ques tions which had to do with material things. There have been broad-minded and strong-minded men of the cloth whose bold utterances have bad an ln- UOV. WILLIAM U. 11HOWNLOW. fluenee iu shaping the trend of public affairs, who dared combat popular oplulon and whose principles and theo ries ultimately triumphed. They were not seekers after the bauble of popu larity. To enthrone right and justice was their aim. Of such as these was William Gannaway Brownlow, one of the most fearless men who ever spoke from a pulpit or turned the stream of his thought into the columns of the press. A plant sprung up on Virginia soli, he was transplanted to the Cum berland Mountains, where he flourished and blossomed and decayed. Through out the land he was known as "the fighting parson," yet a more peaceable man never lived. Eventually the peo ple of his State came to respect his sin cerity, the nobility of his character and the power of bis Intellect and manifest ed their esteem by electing him to high office. Brownlow was born In Wythe Coun ty. Virginia, in August, 1805, and was left an orphan at 11. He became a car penter, and besides earning a living earned enough to obtain for himself a fair English education. At the age of 21 he entered the Methodist ministry, and for ten years labored as an Itin erant preacher In the Southern moun tains. He was preaching In John C. Calhoun's district 'in South Carolina, in the campaign of 1828, and achieved y for his opposition to opposed nullification, and ni unpopular something nen of 23 do not care to rts In behalf of Method untll 1838. when he be r of the Knoxvllle Whig, it editorials, his hot de i absolute fearlessness i national reputation. It efore he was known as parson," an appellation 7 be denied, p posed Andrew Johnson but failed of election, inch advocate of slavery, iclatlons of the abolition 3t the style which Henry w employs when writing al foes. Bat his loyalty was unbounded, and he ithy for those who urged a of the Btates. As the ed, hit editorials becam illlill 5' j-1 . WOJsT TIRST more and more bitter and brought upon him the opposition of the Southerners who favored an independent govern ment He stood between two fires. The North did not like him because he favored slavery, the South reviled him for his defense of the National government As bis enemies Increased the thunder of his edltorlul eloquence Increased in volume. When from every other house In Knoxvllle the Union flag had disappeared It still floated over his. Finally his paper was suppressed, he was driven from his home, cap tured and imprisoned, but in the whale's belly of a Confederate prison he proved as uncomfortable an occu pant as Jonah, and was spewed forth and set within the Union lines. Com ing North, he addressed large audi ences and awakened great enthusiasm In favor of the enlistment of troops. His family was expelled from Knox vllle, and together they traveled through the northern part of the coun try, where he spoke in all the principal cities. Many people of the North who had previously been unfriendly now realized that they had been mistaken In their estimate of the man's charac ter. A sluiIUr state of mind possessed the Tennessee folk, for when peace had been declared and reconstruction had followed the turbulence of the war, Brownlow was twice elected Governor of the State. In his first message he advocated the removal of the negro population to a separate territory and declared it bad policy to give them the ballot. In 1W17 his combativeness found play In a conflict wJth the mayor of Nashville over the manner In which Judges of election should be appointed, and the United States troops were or dered to Nashville to sustain the Gov ernor. In 1S0S) he was elected to the United States Senate and served six years, at the end of which period he was succeeded by ex-President Andrew Johnson. After the close of his term he returned to Knoxvllle and until bis death continued the publication of the Whig. "Je DOG ON HER MONUMENT. Curious and aim tiers m wM . ,o monument which was recently erected In the prln clpal cemetery at Milan, over the grave of a lady named Leonllda Monti. Dur lng her life she was a great lover of anlma s. and the dog sculptured beside the tell tombstone is designed to per petuate this fact . The monument attracting much attention. Keeps Him Tight Right Along. Don't you ever get tired doing noth Ingr asked the housekeeper. "Lady," replied the tramp t ,t tired doln' nothln' dat I can't do no th in' else."-Phlladelpbla Record. She Was Vp Id Arms. A?d11" ,ne kid you unawares, rell victim to your charms; And were yon angry T "Well I wa Well I was np in arms." Houston Post. - ' A home remedy: "Do you think coal oil Is good for mosquitoes?" i think r a hard slnp Is better." Cleveland rialn Dealer. "Mannish sort of girt" "Is she real, lyr "Very. She used the telephono for the first time In her life to-day, and she didn't giggle once." Tough: "Oh, Henry, don't cut your pie with a knife." "Eliza, you ought to !e thankful I don't call for a can opener." Chicago Record. Brlggs What's your Idea of heaven? Griggs Well, It's the way a man feeU the first three days after he Is home from a summer vacation. Life. L.is Object: Cltlman I see you raise your own vegetables. Suburbanite No! I simply plant a emnll garden so ns to keep itie chickens at home. Life. Reporter You ore so confident of catching this criminal you must have a ' strong clew. Detective We have. He didn't wear a Panama. New York Sun. "The singer has made great strides In the profession, hasn't she?" "Yet, Indeed. Formerly, when she received an encore, she sang; now she usually smiles." A Clever Lawyer: "Is he a good law yer?" "A good lawyer! Why, say! I have known blm to prove the truth of what Isn't so, and not half try." Chi cago Post. Making love: "As a mere matter of curiosity, sir, I should like to know ' how long you have been making love to my wife?" "I began, sir, when you left orf."-Llfe. Mother Did the professor propose? Daughter Dear me, mother, he was on the very verge of It, and I foolishly happened to mention bacteria. De troit Free Press. "Papa, what Is the difference be tween the smart set and the four hun dred?" "Why, my son, the four hun dred Is limited to twenty-six hundred, but everybody Is in the smart set" Life. Our Two Great Classes: The world seems to be divided Into two classes; those who board, and envy those who keep bouse, and those who keep house, and euvy the boarders. Atchison Globe. "And you still Insist that your flying machine Is a practical commercial quantity?" "I do," answered the business-like Inventor; "if you don't believe it I can show you the gate receipts." Washington Star. Magistrate Now, I'll let you off this time, but It must be a lesson for you not to be In bad company agnln. Pris oner Gee whizz! It ain't my fault that I'm here; the cops made me come. Philadelphia Record. Lawyer Brief I see that case of yours Is on. Jury drawn yet? Lawyer Skluner Yes, and It's a splendid one. Lawker Brief Above the overage In Intelligence, eb? Lawyer Skinner No; way below It Philadelphia Press. At Two Dollars a Visit: "Yes, the doctor has put me on the strictest kind of diet." "Indeed. What Is It?" "Well, he snys 1 mustn't eat anything I don't like, and not any more than I want of what I do." Baltimore News. "What ore you doing?" asked the Jus tice as the defendant's counsel begun his nrgument "Going to present our side of the case." "I don't want to hear both sides." replied the Justice. "It has a tiudincy to confuse the coort." Driver Did you mark the spot where your comrade fell out of the boat and was drowned? O'Lnfferty Shure. 01 did. 01 took a piece av wood an' left It floatln' on th' wather at til' very place he went down, sor. Ohio State Journal. The Real Thing: "Are you a real In dian?" asked the Investigating youth of one of the painted Indians who ac companled Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. "Sure!" replied the Indian; "I was born an' raised in Indianapolis, Indiana." Exchange. Mrs. Wederly (unmasking after the ' fancy ball) Oh, but didn't I fool you, though? You bad no idea that you were flirting with your wife all the evening. Mr. Wederly No, I hadn't; you were so very agreeable I was com pletely deceived. Tit-Bits. . The danger of a little knowledge: "Don't you sometimes regret that you did not devote more time to your edu cation in early life?" "No, sir," an swered the politician; "If I bad learned to talk grammatical the voters In my district would think I was puttiu" on airs and driftin' away from the hearts of the people." Washington Star. "Why did you Insist on getting me an upper berth In the sleeping car?" asked the habitually austere lady. "Well," answered her Irrepressible niece, "you have been expecting for so many years to find somebody under your bed that I thought It might re lieve your mind to have all doubts on the subject removed at once." Wash ington 8tar. ? "Yes." said the young wife, "Henry and I had some words this morning, and I can't deny that he got the best of it" "That will never do," returned the experienced neighbor. "You can't afford to start in married life that way." "I know It" answered the young wife. 'I've thought It aU over, and when he comes home to-night I'm going to bring him to, terms so quick that he'll hardly know what's happen ed." 'That's right my dear. Show ome spirit What are you going to do?' "I'm gong t0 DrIng up tue sub ject again and then cry." I