The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-03-15

ing his watch in his hand, and at the
same time deliberately cooking his pis-
tol.
The terrified man gazed one mo-
ment into the avengers face, and then
he burst into tears. He cried like a
great school-boy, and the words he tried
to utter were lost amid sobs and groans.
Atherton saw that mis- victims face was
becoming deathly, and that his reason
was leaving him; and he feared that if
he kept up the farce much longer, the
mans brain might be turned forever.
Jedediah Lapstone," he said, =" for
the sake of your wife and children, |
might spare you if I thought you would
commence new life"
"Holy angels and Absalom " cried
Jed; "I'll do anything you say-any-
thing, everything-I will !"
az don't know how to trust you. If
could feel sure you would never, new
er speak one false word about a living
thing again, might spare you know"
"Salvation and Jerusalem l wont
never, never agin say one word about
anybody. o, wont, jest as true as
Absalom, WON'T"
"Now, mark me-" said Atherton,
slowly and solemnly. off let you off
this time, remember that l only do so
on condition that you remain true to
your promise. shall keep these two
pistols loaded, and the moment hear
of one slanderous word from your lips
touching the character of anybody, l
shall come to you again, but never
again will / spare you. / shall watch
you narrowly, and others will watch
you for me. Remember now, your life
is mine. l claim it, and only lend it to
you while You remain true. Farewell.
You can live, if you wish"
The dark map stopped and picked
up the dropped pistol, and then walked
quickly away from the place. The sun
was already down, and the dew was
falling fast. Pale, cold, and shivering,
Jedediah Lapstone started for home,
and when he was gone, some half dozen
of mis- acq uaintances came out from the
ash trees, one of whom was old Stew
ard. They smiled as they saw Jed on
his homeward way.
Mrs. Lapstone was frightened when
she saw how pale and haggard her hus-
band looked, and he had to drink a
pint of herb tea, have his feet soaked
in hot water, and toasted onions ap-
piled, ere he could pacify her.
On the following morning he went to
work as usual in his shop, but he was
thought u and taciturn. Towards noon
some of his friends dropped in.
was into Capt'n Atherton's house
last night" said Stewart, and he came
home after got there. My conscience !!
] never saw man look 80 terrible as
he did. He took two great pistols out
of his bosom, and laid 'em back in his
desk; and 1 heard him tell his wife not
to touch 'em on any account; for
said ne, they're both loaded, and l
may have to use 'em. At all events,
says he, Pm goin' to protect our
people agin brute that does a good
deal more mischief than robber.' He
wouldn't tell me what he meant, but
he must have meant something dread
full"
Jed trembled, but he did not speak.
and from that time forth his tongue
spoke no more SANDER. If, at times,
he caught himself with such words on
his lips, they were quickly recalled.
| For year or SO he was held in check
by fear; but at the end of that time he
had begun to learn that there were
higher and more noble inducements
for a virtuous life,, and he thus be-
came good neighbor. And just alb out
this time, too, he was told that Ather-
ton had fired off the two pistols, and
that he said, when he did so, he guess
ed there'd be no more need of 'em."
Jed was easy now, but his tongue, once
mastered, kept in the right track ever
afterwards.