The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-04-01
Select Story.
AN ARGUMENT FOR LfFE.

1t was sharp, frosty, moonlight night
but the fresh waters of Green river had
not yet been chllled,and they flowed rap
idly onward, with confused murmurings,
as if impatient to become a part of the
great Ohio.
1t was as late as ten o clock when Rob
ert Craig, young lawyer. came upon
bridge that spanned branch of the
Green River in Central Kentucky. He
was afoot, and he walked with very
light step, because his heart was light.
He had been successful in the most inn
portant suit he had ever been engaged
in. He had pleaded his own case, and
the court that had pronounced Judgment
in his favor was simply Miss Mary Lane
the handsomest girl in the cneighborhood,
and as good as she was beautiful. She
had promised to be his wife
But Rober Craig was destined to plead
another case that very night, and before
a less eminent court. He had no warn
ing of this, however, when he stepped
upon the bridge and walked over the
clear water mutterirg congratulations to
himself.
"Yes, am the luckiest man living -
he soliloquized, as he reached the middle
of the bridge.
The bridge was not covered one, and
he stopped to lean over the railing at one
side, and looked down in the sparkling
water that quivered in the bright moon
light.
"Yes,I am the luckiest man living!' he
repeated quite aloud, after he had stood a
full minute gazing upon the flowing
river.
"Don't be too sure of thatl" said a
voice behind him.
Robert Craig turned with u start and
saw a tall man standing at the opposite
side of the bridge, levelng rifle upon
him. He seemed very cool and dellber-
ate in his manner, and he spoke in a tone
| that was hard and icy.
AT the first glance Robert Craig saw
| his danger, for he recognized in the in
truder Ralph Moore, who, as he was well
aware, regarded him with the bilterest
hatred for the reason that both had been
sutors for the had of Mary Lane, and
Ralph had of course been re jected, He
was noted as man of desperate character
although he belonged to good family
and he was moreover known to be the
best marksman in the community. Rob
ert Craig thought of these facts as he
found himself standing there in the colo
moonlight with that unerring rifle point
ed at his breast.
lie himself was unarmed; there was ne
hope for succor on that lonely bridge n
that time ofnight retreat was impossible
as well rs unmanly, resistance was I'M
possible, was equally ont of the question
His enemy meant deliberately to take hi:
life, and he had the power to do it, Rob
ert Craig realized all this, and felt that
certain death awaited him. The terrible
exigency-the very hopelessness of the
case made him calm.
''Ralph Moore" he said in a voice thai
betrayed no emmotion shave you come
here to waylay and murder me?"
"Robert Craig" replied Ralph, ,coldly
still keeping the deadly rifle at an aim
'did yon suppose you could trample ovel
me and live?"
His finger was on the trigger, and the
fierce look on his face denoted that the
| life he held in his hands was not wortl
much now.
''But surely" said Robert Craig ''yor
are not wicked enoughto commit such {
crime as | see you contemplate | am un
armed and at your mercy. While | dc
not like you, Ralph,I never thought yor
capable of cowardly act. 1t would be
cowardly to shoot down an,unarmed MAJ
and You know it. You are a good marks
man, but | am willing to fight you fairl,
if you think that mortal enmity mus
necessarily exist between us.
'.Bosh Do you think I am fool
Do you think can be cajoled by you
smooth talk? No, I've got you Rober
Craig, and you shall never live to enjo.
your triumph over me. You are nov
within five minutes of your destiny.
will grant you that time to pray--if yo
want it. Nothing can save you Their
is not soul within half mile to hea
you if you should yell. You'll be floating
down the river miles below this befor
morning"
"But what do you say to being hange'
for murder?'
"There isno witness near. 1t can neve
be proved against me"
Robert Craig was silent. His enem
who plainly meant murder, stood like
statue, with his rifle still pointing at hi
head, and watching him like cat. Their
was an expression of savage exultation i
his ace,plainly visible in the moonlight
and Robert Craig saw that twas idle t
think of asking for mercy,
Various ideas went whirling throug
his brain, lie thought of running ava
and trusting to flight, but he dismisse
the thought, for he could not escape tn
unerring aim of the relentless man col
fronting him. lie thought of rushin
! upon Ralph, and engaging in despe
ate struggle for the possession of the rit
bnt he knew that would be hopeless ii
, was twenty feet distant, and his enem
could shoot him down before he coul
reach HIM.
AS if divining his very thoughts Ralp
said, with demoniac laugh;
"Oh, there is no chance for you; III
, which way you will, ! can bring yc
down before you go three steps. Com
to prayerl You have only three minute
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