Page:Irish assassin, or, The misfortunes of the family of O'Donnel (1).pdf/23

 23 seize the frantie Arthur, and with the utmost difficulty draged him from the church to the house of the elergy- man of the parish, where he was bound with cords, and placed in a dark room in the upper story, until such time as measures should be taken for 'a legal investiga- tion of the ease. In the morning the door was gently opened by one of the guards, but what was his astonishment to find his prisoner flown." An alarm was immediately given, but no traces of him where to be found, and whether he was alive or dead was equally uncertain." No sooner had the events we have already recited taken place in Donnegal, than the news flew to Dublin, where the absence of Sir Neale had been generally ob- userved. Amongst others who received this intelligence with satisfaction, M.Pherson was foremost. Nothing would be more grateful to his treacherons heart, as all fear of a discovery of his own nefarious practices were now at an end." The impending hand of fate, however, hung over the devoted Arthur, and the all-seeing eye of Providence ordained that a parrieide' should not thus calmly escape the punishment his crime so 'richly deserved. Every night while lying off St. George's quay on the River Liffey, Arthur used to steal ashore, armed with a poig- nard and from his contiguity, to Sackville Street, he in ariably direeted his steps to that spot, in the hope of meeting the villain M'Pherson. While watching before the door, he heard a person ask for Mr M'Pher- son, and received for answer from the servant, that he was out, but would return before one. This was suffi- cient for Arthur, and ere the morning dawned M'Pher- In the guilty confusion of the mo- mert instead of returning to the vessel, Arthur flex towards the country, and here again the finger of fate reemed to guide him to his destruction. The murder of M'Pherson was soon discovered by some passenger, who noticed him lying on the steps, son was no more.