claims to have sustained three blows, and is alive to tell of it!
Shades of Ananias and of Munchausen!

"But it were useless to pursue the subject further.

"It is to that spirit of fair play so characteristically British,
and to which we are proud heirs, that I would appeal. Everything
is being said and done to prejudice the public against those who
are accused of instigating Kelly to the assault on Smith; but,
singular as it may seem, Kelly is patted on the back and called a
good fellow. Why? Admitting the truth of Kelly's story, is he
less guilty because he had confederates? A strange feature of the
case is that Kelly willingly came back to Canada, when
extradition would have been about impossible.

"He was taken to Montreal instead of to Sweetsburg, and was there
royally entertained instead of being put in close jail. While in
Montreal he was interviewed,--and by whom?--the Crown prosecutor?
No; but by Smith and his counsel, Mr. Duffy. Meantime, several
so-called 'detectives' were scouring the country for evidence. Of
what? They had Smith's assailant, and he had told his story.
Those whom he charged as being instigators of his crime were
attending to their business, and might have been apprehended
within twenty-four hours after Kelly's arrest in the States. Then
what were the detectives seeking?--what were they after? That
$1000 reward was in sight, and this may have been the inducing
cause of this prowling.

"It would seem to 'A man up a tree' that there are certain
revenges to be completed--sundry old grudges to be satisfied, and
the Crown is asked to assist in this questionable work. Those
familiar with the matter say that in our broad Dominion there are
no better conducted hotels than those to be found in the Eastern
townships. They are well kept, and the travelling public is most
hospitably entertained, well fed and comfortably lodged. A
well-conducted hotel adds to the strength and business character
of a village, and a faithful landlord is expected to furnish
guests certain necessities, one of which may be liquor.

"And because he does this should he be reviled, and persecuted,
and driven out of business? That liquor is a great evil, no one
can honestly deny, and being such, and being beyond the power of
man to destroy, l