Maryland free press., 1867-04-11

afford him more shelter. Once thought he wa
| going to speak, but the words seemed 10 chok
hiE. Then crossing himself dcyoutly, and hay
| ing arranged the weapon apparently 10 his sat
iSfaction, lie lay snllenly abiding his time
| Would tho five minutes never pass? Frank still
stood directly in 'front.' watch in hand, and the CUR
under his arm. lie had lit cigar, and was
| lounging laEi'y hack agaiust the cliff Carcles:
| as he appeared, knew him too well to doub
that he would hesitate for a second in going oil
firing as he had promised. At the time he wns
giving his antagonist fearful odds. Then only
began 10 realize the part had to pay. Ii
was unfortunately TO plan. The man must bi
disabled before he could commit another mur-
der. That could only be done by shooting him
down. In q fair fight would not, ,lrink,
have hesitated; but my blood ran cold at tho
idea now. Yet what was 10 do? There was no
other way 10 save my friends life, and God help
me, it must be done
! had nervcd myself up to fire at all risks the
moment saw the murderer putting his finger on
the trigger of his pistol and had Just brought my
gun to bear when Franks voice rang out loud
and clear
s'Your time has comc-look up"
lnvoluntarily he did so, and caught nv eye; q
sspasm OF mortal fear passed across his features
Hc made no effort 10 raise the pistol but q wire
cartridge from Franks gun smashed on the cli1
behind him, passing within an inch of his head.
The weapon dropped from his hand; in three
bounds my friend had him in his clutch, drag
god him over the rock and the struggle COM
menced.
1t was short but from the nature of the gronnd
fearful ore. A lsesiep would have sent the
two over the precipice TO the shelf below, and
from that hundred feet down into the Atlantic
Ocean, Both were strong, powerful men, in
weight the murderer was greatly superior, but
in science and activity theresswere few able to
cope with Frank The murderer Struggled hard
for an inside place and succeeded in getting to u
kind of cleft in the rock which gave him a
slight advantage. Frank tore from him!with pull
that brought some of the l0ese stones crashing
down, and with the shock they went recling and
staggering to the very edge OF the cliff
] could stand it no longer: there was a long
check cord which had brought for my dogs, in
nv pocket; fastening it to n bush, I lowered my
self down. As touched the ground he succeed
ell in drawing knife. Frank parfed his thrust
and disengaging his left hand, istrrck heavily
twice. The man dropped on his knees and be-
gan to beg for mercy. {rushcd forward with a
vague feeling of terror. As came up the un-
fortunate wretch cried out:
"Savc me, for Gods sake, sirl he is going to
throw me overl'
preston there I never saw befora, and would
never like to see it again.
'Let him go Frank" shouted: that's the
hangman's work not yours"
He did not hear me grasping the fellow with
both hands; he swung himself half round, and
flung him cff with all his strength. TWAS we'll
the coat the william wore was made OF the strong
est friczc, as it'was nearly going over TO-
gether. | laid him on his back, where he remain
ed without sense or motion. Frank glared at
him a few seconds in silence, then took my hand
and said slowly
"Yon are good fellow, Harry, and I thank
you: I didn't know what was doing"
lie turned away with shudder; while pour
cd out some brandy from my flask, aud threw
it in the murderer's face. He recovered after a
time and sat uP, staring wildly around, aud
trembling all over. l never saw a wretch go
completely subdued he clung to me for protec-
ton, and be came as abject he had been insoent
beGnre.
We waited until dusk, and then brought him
TO tho police barracks. Before sunrise; the mex
morning he was twenty miles on his way back
10 the place from whence he came. At the follow
ing assizes he was tried and convicted; the Judge
was mcrciful and gave him a 'Hong day." In
the meantime fever broke out in the jniI, and
he proved one of the first victims. The last
words he uttered were "Don't throw ME over!''
Let us hope his prayer was granted.