A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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either of_them would gladly welcome your daughter to_their house . let her choose between_them . they_are young and rich, and of_the true faith . what say you to_that ? "

Ferrier remained silent for some little time with_his brows knitted .

" you_will give_us time," he_said at last ." my daughter is very young -- she_is scarce of an age to marry ."

" she shall_have a month to_choose," said young, rising from_his seat ." at_the end of_that_time she shall give her answer ."

he_was passing through_the door, when he turned, with flushed face and flashing eyes ." it were better for_you, John Ferrier," he thundered, " that you and she were now lying blanched skeletons upon_the sierra Blanco, than that you_should put your weak wills against the orders of_the holy Four ! "

with athreatening gesture of_his hand, he turned from_the door, and Ferrier heard his heavy step scrunching along the shingly path .

he_was still sitting with_his elbows upon his knees, considering how he_should broach the matter to_his daughter when a soft hand was laid upon his, and looking up, he_saw her standing beside him . one glance at her pale, frightened face showed him that she had heard what had passed .

" I_could_not help it," she said, in answer to_his look ." his voice rang through_the house .Oh, father, father, what shall we_do ? "

"Don't you scare yourself," he answered, drawing her to him, and passing his broad, rough hand caressingly over her chestnut hair ." we'll fix it up somehow or another . you don't find your fancy kind o' lessening for_this chap, do_you ? "

a sob and a squeeze of_his hand was her only answer .

" no; of_course not .I shouldn't care to hear you say you_did . he's a likely lad, and he's a Christian, which_is more than these folk here, in_spite o' all their praying and preaching . there's a party starting for Nevada to- morrow, and I'll manage to send_him a message letting him know the hole we_are in . if I_know anything o' that young man, he'll be back here with a speed that_would whip electro-telegraphs ."

Lucy laughed through her tears at her father's description .

" when he comes, he_will advise us for_the best . but it_is for_you that I_am frightened, dear . one hears -- one hears such dreadful stories about_those who oppose the prophet: something terrible always happens to_them ."

" but we haven't opposed him yet," her father answered ." it_will_be time to look out for squalls when we_do . we_have a clear month before_us; at_the end of_that, I guess we had best shin out of Utah ."

" leave Utah ! "

" that's about_the size of it ."

" but the farm ? "

" we_will raise as_much as_we_can in money, and let the rest go . to_tell the truth, Lucy, it isn't the first time I_have thought of doing it .I don't care about knuckling under to any man, as_these folk do to_their darned prophet .I'm a free- born American, and it's all new to_me . guess I'm too old to learn . if he comes browsing about_this farm, he might chance to run up against a charge of buckshot travelling in_the opposite direction ."

" but they won't let_us leave," his daughter objected .

" wait till Jefferson comes, and we'll soon manage that . in_the meantime, don't you fret yourself, my dearie, and don't get your eyes swelled up, else he'll be walking into me when he sees you . there's nothing to_be afeared about, and there's no danger at all ."

John Ferrier uttered these consoling remarks in a very confident tone, but she_could_not help observing that he paid unusual care to_the fastening of_the doors that night, and_that he carefully cleaned and loaded the rusty old shotgun which hung upon_the wall of_his bedroom .

chapter IV .

a flight for life .

on_the morning which followed his interview with_the Mormon prophet, John Ferrier went in to Salt_Lake_City, and having found his acquaintance, who was bound for_the Nevada Mountains, he entrusted him with_his message to Jefferson hope . in_it he_told the young man of_the imminent danger which threatened them, and how necessary it was_that he_should return .Having done thus he_felt easier in_his mind, and returned home with a lighter heart .

as he approached his farm, he_was surprised to_see a horse hitched to each of_the posts of_the gate . still more surprised was he on entering to_find two young men in possession of_his sitting- room . one, with a long pale face, was leaning back in_the rocking- chair, with_his feet cocked up upon_the stove . the other, a bull- necked youth with coarse bloated features, was standing in front of_the window with_his hands in_his pocket, whistling a popular hymn . both of_them nodded to Ferrier as he entered, and_the one in_the rocking- chair commenced the conversation .

" maybe you don't know us," he_said ." this here_is_the son of elder Drebber, and I'm Joseph Stangerson, who travelled with_you in_the desert when_the lord stretched out his hand and gathered you into_the true fold ."

" as he_will all the nations in_his own good_time," said the other in a nasal voice; " he grindeth slowly but exceeding small ."

John Ferrier bowed coldly . he had guessed who his visitors were .

" we_have come," continued Stangerson, " at_the advice of_our fathers to solicit the hand of your daughter for whichever of us may seem good to_you and to her . as I_have but four wives and brother Drebber here has seven, it appears to_me that my claim is_the stronger one ."

"Nay, nay, brother Stangerson," cried the other; " the question is_not how_many wives we_have, but how_many we_can keep . my father has now given over his mills to_me, and I_am the richer man ."

" but my prospects are better," said the other, warmly ." when_the lord removes my father, I_shall_have his tanning yard and_his leather factory . then I_am your elder, and am higher in_the church ."

" it_will_be for_the maiden to decide," rejoined young Drebber, smirking at his own reflection in_the glass ." we_will leave it all to her decision ."

during this dialogue, John Ferrier had stood fuming in_the doorway, hardly able to_keep his riding- whip from_the backs of_his two visitors .

" look here," he_said at last, striding up to_them, " when my daughter summons you, you_can come, but until then I don't want_to_see your faces again ."

the two young Mormons stared at him in amazement . in their eyes this competition between_them for_the maiden's hand was_the highest of honours both to her and her father .

" there_are two ways out_of_the room," cried Ferrier; " there_is the door, and there_is the window . which do_you care to use ? "

his brown face looked so savage, and_his gaunt hands so threatening, that his visitors sprang to_their feet and beat ahurried retreat . the old farmer followed them to_the door .

" let me know when_you have settled which it is_to_be," he_said, sardonically .

" you shall smart for_this ! " Stangerson cried, white with rage ." you_have defied the prophet and_the council of Four . you shall rue it to_the end of your days ."

" the hand of_the lord shall be heavy upon you," cried young Drebber; " he_will arise and smite you ! "

" then I'll start the smiting," exclaimed Ferrier furiously, and would_have rushed upstairs for_his gun had_not Lucy seized him by_the arm and restrained him . before he_could escape from her, the clatter of horses' hoofs told him that_they were beyond his reach .

" the young canting rascals ! " he exclaimed, wiping the perspiration from_his forehead; " i_would sooner see you in your grave, my girl, than_the wife of either of_them ."

" and so should I, father," she answered, with spirit; " but Jefferson will soon be here ."

" yes . it_will_not_be long before he comes . the sooner the better, for we_do_not know what their next move may_be ."

it_was, indeed, high time that someone capable of giving advice and help should come to_the aid of_the sturdy old farmer and_his adopted daughter . in_the whole history of_the settlement there had never been such a case of rank disobedience to_the authority of_the Elders . if minor errors were punished so sternly, what would_be the fate of_this arch rebel .Ferrier knew that his wealth and position would_be of no avail to him .Others as_well known and as rich as himself had_been spirited away before now, and their goods given over to_the church . he_was a brave man, but he trembled at_the vague, shadowy terrors which hung over him . any known danger he_could face with a firm lip, but this suspense was unnerving . he concealed his fears from_his daughter, however, and affected to_make light of_the whole matter, though she, with_the keen eye of love, saw plainly that he_was ill at ease .

he expected that he_would receive some message or remonstrance from young as to_his conduct, and he_was not mistaken, though it came in an unlooked- for manner . upon rising next morning he_found, to_his surprise, a small square of paper pinned on to_the coverlet of_his bed just over his chest . on it_was printed, in bold straggling letters:--

"Twenty-nine days are given you for amendment, and then ----"

the dash was more fear-inspiring than any threat could_have_been . how this warning came into his room puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for_his servants slept in an outhouse, and_the doors and windows had all been secured . he crumpled the paper up and said nothing to_his daughter, but the incident struck a chill into his heart . the twenty-nine days were evidently the balance of_the month which young had promised . what strength or courage could avail against an enemy armed with_such mysterious powers ? the hand which fastened that pin might_have struck him to_the heart, and he_could never have known who had slain him .

still more shaken was he next morning . they had sat down to_their breakfast when Lucy with a cry of surprise pointed upwards . in_the centre of_the ceiling was scrawled, with a burned stick apparently, the number 28 . to_his daughter it_was unintelligible, and he_did_not enlighten her . that night he sat up with_his gun and kept watch and ward . he_saw and he heard nothing, and yet in_the morning a great 27 had_been painted upon_the outside of_his door .

thus day followed day; and as sure as morning came he_found that his unseen enemies had kept their register, and had marked up in some conspicuous position how_many days were still left to him out_of_the month of grace .Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared upon_the walls, sometimes upon_the floors, occasionally they were on small placards stuck upon_the garden gate or the railings . with all his vigilance John Ferrier could_not discover whence these daily warnings proceeded .a horror which_was almost superstitious came upon him at_the sight of_them . he became haggard and restless, and_his eyes had the troubled look of some hunted creature . he had but one hope in life now, and_that was for_the arrival of_the young hunter from Nevada .

Twenty had changed to fifteen and fifteen to ten, but there_was no news of_the absentee . one by one the numbers dwindled down, and still there came no sign of him . whenever a horseman clattered down the road, or a driver shouted at his team, the old farmer hurried to_the gate thinking that help had arrived at last . at last, when he_saw five give way to four and_that again to three, he_lost heart, and abandoned all hope of escape . single- handed, and with_his limited knowledge of_the mountains which surrounded the settlement, he_knew that he_was powerless . the more-frequented roads were strictly watched and guarded, and none could pass along them without an order from_the council . turn which_way he_would, there appeared to_be no avoiding the blow which hung over him . yet the old man never wavered in_his resolution to part with life itself before he consented to what he regarded as his daughter's dishonour .

he_was sitting alone one evening pondering deeply over his troubles, and searching vainly for some way out_of_them . that morning had shown the figure 2 upon_the wall of_his house, and_the next_day would_be the last of_the allotted time . what_was to happen then ? all manner of vague and terrible fancies filled his imagination . and_his daughter -- what_was to_become of her after he_was gone ? was there no escape from_the invisible network which_was drawn all round them . he sank his head upon_the table and sobbed at_the thought of_his own impotence .

what_was that ? in_the silence he heard a gentle scratching sound -- low, but very distinct in_the quiet of_the night . it came from_the door of_the house .Ferrier crept into_the hall and listened intently . there_was a pause for a few_moments, and then the low insidious sound was repeated . someone was evidently tapping very gently upon one_of_the panels of_the door . was_it some midnight assassin who had come to carry out the murderous orders of_the secret tribunal ? or was_it some agent who was marking up that_the last day of grace had arrived .John Ferrier felt that instant death would_be better than_the suspense which shook his 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 fine, 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 right and to left, until happening to glance straight down at his own feet he_saw to_his astonishment a man lying flat upon his face upon_the ground, with arms and legs all asprawl .

so unnerved was he at_the sight that he

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