The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-03

lue Y 1eSJlOn pfOugnC nre pdeh W my
grievances. 1t, was terrible, l said.
My father started him in business when
he hadn't friend or dollar in the
world. When l think of that, 1
could almost swear vengeance on all
mankind for that mans base ingrati-
tude.'
"Yes,' said Rauald, but remember
your American proverh, The world owes
youa living
"I'll never be able to collect the
debt y returned, bitterly.
"But you wouldn't make agood high
way robber, you know, said Ranald,
musilsly, ploughing up the earth at his
feet with a short stick. You haven't
the right kind of pluck
"What. kind does it taiea' asked
with a short laugh.
"Well, suppose carriage comes
along, your first job is to wing the driver
after which you can talk with the inside
passengers at your leisure. In case it's
rider, or foot-passenger, you can deal
wi h him easily enough. But then
you've got to have quick eye and
quick hand on the trigger, and you
haven't got the pluck you know
"Haven't p l cried with a kind of
reckless daring. If l was armed I'd
show you before tomorrow. I don't
owe the world much gratitude, and I had
as we'll do something desperate and get
hanged, and done with it ALL
ooh, as for arms, could let you have
mine said Ranald, not looking at me
at all, but back towards the city. But I
don't like much to do it. You'd never
use Them
II need not go on to tell you, boys.
how it all came about, but in less than
half an hour Ranald was on his way
back to the city, while I with his pistols
in my pocket, was striding along the
green lanes that led farther and
farther out into the country. Iwas des-
perate, of course, and burning fever
was bounding in my pulses, confusing
all that | did. 1t must certainly have
been that, combined with Ranald's in
fuence, that set me, Kenneth Lane, be-
hind hedge, with pistol in my hand
and murderous intent in my heart; while
the moon shone Whitley over the broad
fields, aud the long ribbons of roads that
lay between them.
"The first that passed was man whose
face Icould not see, had my finger on the
trigger. I was just ready to spring out
upon him, when suddenly-well, Gra-
ham, he commenced whistling that same
little foolish love-tune you used to be
always whistling, singing and playing
at college. That made me grow very
weak, and I couldn't move. It brought
back all you fellows SO distinctly. By
the way, wonder If be will ever know
how near that little loye-tune saved his
life2 Talk about the value of little
things. the stars might all have fallen
from their spheres, and never have af-
fected me as did the few simple bars
whistled by that traveller along the
moonlit road.
81 recovered myself after little-or
rather lost myself agan--and began to
wonder at my weakness; and then, just
as l had straightened myself up and
taken new hold on my resolution to
do something desperate, l heard the
rattle of carriage wheels far away on the
moonlit, white ribbon Of road. Instantly
| was on the alert, with every faculty
quickened. raised my pistol and ex.
amined the lock, wondering at the same
time whether my sentence would be
hanging, OF transportation, or imprison,
ment for life, with lard labor. Before
| had settled the matter in my owr
mind, the carriage had come nearer
The wheels were rattling furiously
Who could it be, driving at such break
neck speed? Then suddenly it came il
sight, and at the same moment heart
the terrified screams of women, saw tha
the driver was missing from his place
and that the horses were running away.
"In an instant, forgetting everything
else at those cries of distress, dropped
my pistol and sprang into the road
Just for a moment the startled horse
paused, and in that moment | seized th'
bits. Then commenced fierce battl
with the frantic, plunging steeds. wa
thrown down, trampled upon, but l clunt
to them with despairing energy. Tel
minutes ago, my only thought had beel
to take life; now, my only desire wa
to save it. So it was, clung to tn
horses and kept them there, until fel
stronger hands assisting mine, and thel
the wild struggle, the broad fields, an,
the white road all faded away, and lef
nothing but darkness and silence.
"When | awoke-well, boys, l though
Aladdin's lamp had certainly come bac