The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-08-06

+ entity 10 his satisfaction, be lay sullenly
biding his time,
I Would the five minutes never pass
Frank still stood directly IN front, watch
in hand, and the gun under his arm. r
Tie had lit cigar, and was lounging
lazily back against the cliff
Careless as be appeared ! knew him
too well to doubt thai BE- would hest
tate for a moment in going or firing, as
lac had promised. At the time be was
giving his antagonist fearful odds
Then only I began 10 realize the part |
( had 10 play. Ii WAS fortunately too
plain. The man must be disabled be-
I fore he commits another murder, That
could only be done by shooting him
down. In a fair fight ! would not |
think, have hesitated; but my blood ran
cold al the idea now. Yet what must /
do2 There was no other way TO save
my friends life, and God help me, it
must be done.
/ neryed myself up 10 fire at all risks
the instant | saw the murderer put his
finger on the trigger Of his pistol, and
had just brought my gun to bear when
Franks voice rang out loud and clear
"Your time has come, look up !"
Involuntary he did so and caught
his eye, a spasm of mortal fear passed
across his features. He made an effort
TO raise his pistol, but a wire cartridge
from Franks gun on the cliff behind
him passed within an inch of his head.
The weapon dropped from his hand; in
three bounds my friend had him in his
clutch dragged him cser the rock, and
the struggle began.
II was short, bur from the nature Of
the ground fearful one. A careless
step wolld have sent both overs the
precipice to the shelf below and from
/ there hundred feet down into the At
Ilantic Ocean. Both were strong pow
erful men; in weight the murderer was
greatly superior, but in science and
activity there were few able to cope
with Frank.
The murderer struggled hard for an
inside place, and succeeded in getting a
kind of cleft in therock, which gave him
slight advantage. 1t was only mo-
mentary. Frank tore him from it with
pull that brought some loose stones
crushing down, and with The shock they
went reeling and staggering to the very
edge of the cliff.
! could stand it no longer; there was
long check cork which had brought
for my dogs, in my pocket; fastening it
to bush, lowered myself down. As
/ touched the ground he succeeded in
drawing a knife. Frank parried the
thrust, and disengaging his left arm
struck him heavily twice. The man
dropped on his kneesan began to beg
for mercy. | rushed forward with a
vague feeling Of terror. AS came up
the unfortunate wretwk cried out.
"Save me, for Gods sake, sir! He's
going to throw me overF
looked at Franks face there was
an expression there never saw before,
and would not like to see again.
"Let him go, Frank, shouted,
chats the hangman's work not yours.
He did not hear me; grasping the fell
low with both hands, he swung himself
half around, and flung him off with all
his strength. 1t was well the coat he
wore was made Of the strongest friezei
as it was we were nearly going over to-
gether l laid him on his back where he
remained without strength or motion.
Frank glared at him for few seconds
in silence, and then took my hand and
SAID slowly:
You are a good fellow, Harry, and
thank you. l didn't know what / was
doing"
He turned away with shudder
while / poured out some brandy from q
flask, and threw it in the murderer's
face He recovered after some time
and sat up, staring wildly round and
trembling all over. / never saw o
wretch SO completely subdued. He
clung to me for protection, and became
as abject and cringing as he had been
insolent before We waited until dusk
} and then brought him to the police bar.
racks. Before sunrise the next morn.
ing he was twenty miles on his way
from whence he came. At the next as
J sizes he was tried and convicted. The
Judge was mercifnl and gave him "a
long day" In The meantime fever
broke out in jail, and be was one of th,
first victims. Tie last words he utter
ed were, Don't throw me oyerl" Let
us hope his prayer was granted.