The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-06-04
| brother told the deputy marshals that he

brother told the deputy marshals hat nc
was maxim wild cat whisky"
Old Andrew waited for 4 moment to
hear the conclusion of the recital. Steve
sat. with his gaze fixed on the fire.
"Wcll, what did he do with his broth.
or ~
"killed him." and again there was q
sluggish laugh like the murky sloSh OF
swamp water.
"What, killed his brother for so little
when for great o~ilcnscs he allowed others
to escape"
"Zackly. The greatest sin what a
man can do in this world is to rcpot on
a wild cat 'stillcr.'
The old man looked around ncrvously,
and her began to search the visitors
face. He might rs we'll have studied Il
shovclfull of earth.
This cvcnln'," said Steve, IA deputy
marsha! come to my house. | pokcd my
gun through the window and killed him
Then | left, an as | was paSsin' here,
thought Id stop IN tell you goodbye,
fur I've got to leave the country. How
old are you?"
"Sevcnty-eight."
"It's bad that you've got to die so
voung," turnin" with a murd"rous lecr.
NV God, man, you don't mean to kill
me-
"Oh. no. wouldn't kill you. a man
never kills Il snake what tries t" bite
him.
Steve took Il short rope from his
| pocket. He made Il loop at one end and
| sat for 4 time turning the hemp round
and round.
'.'For the love of God, do me no vio-
| lcnce. | am an old man with only Il few
more days Left
"a few more minutes, you mean
81 am unable to defend myself. and
am at your mercy
.sDon't reckon I want you to defend
Yourself, do YOU: | amt the man to give
| a Teller a stick an tell him t. knock me
down"
"Will YOU let me pray"
"No, you've prayed enough in your
lifetime. an sides that, you might pray
for the marshals to kctch me-"
"No, l will only pray for myself. All,
Mr.. Blue. life is sweet even to an old
man. The young, with bright hopes,
can die quite as willingly as the old
man who has walked far along the dusty
road. | did you no Intentional harm,
and | implorc your forgiveness. Let me
llvc2" ..
"Old man, life is as sweet to me as 1t
is TO vou. Cause you've read books
.-. .Iol l,,'t think fhrt rour
life is worth more to.you than mine is to
me"
Eyes, but / would not take yours for
the world. If you had but one hour to
live, and | knew that by robbing you of
that short time | would gain years and
wears, l would not lift a finger against
YOU. You arc yet a free man. You can
escape. Yau may take my horse"
81 will take your horse
''Thank you"
".After ! have took your life
ooh, Lord, save your
Steve threw the loop over the old mans
head and with a jerk pulled him from the
chair. lie fell on his knees and with his
palsicd hands, struggled to loosen the
rope. Steve stood regarding his victim
with bruta! fOndncss. lie allowed the
rope to slacken, for he seemed TO take Il
ficndish delight in hearing the OLD mans
tones of agony.
"For Christ's sake spare me-" catching
| the rope. ''Spare me, and | will pray
INCREASINGLY for you. Oh, do you not
know that there is an awful hell where
the murdcrcr's soul cries out in the deep
anguish of unbearablc torture"
"You'd better draw up a bench, old
man. an let me be a mourncr.'
s.Oh, that YOU were a mourncr..'
can then you'd have the heels on me.
oh? To throw aside foolishncss an come
| down to business, you've got to die. Pm
coin' to drag you round this room till the
lifc's chokcd outen YOU .
lie cave the rope a Jerk, and the old
man fell on his face. Around the room
Steve dragged him. The old mans tongue
came out, and catching on Il sharp nail,
was almost torn from his mouth. The
old dog arose and was gazing at the hor-
rible performance. Steve. in turning to
drag the lifcless body back toward the
freDlacc, stumbled over Il stool and fell.
The old dogs chance had come. He
sprang upon the fallen man, seized him
bv the throat. and with a strength that
had long been slumbering, pressed him
to the floor. Steve struggled desperately
but his hands becoming entanglcd in the
rope, he was 0 in a helpless condl,
ton. His groans were awful. The old
mans life was but Il mere breath.
Stevc's life was Il storm. Old St. Luke
pantcd with excrtion, but he did not re-
lax his hold.
The next morningtwo deputy marshals
entered the house. \ shocking picture.
The old man lay on his back, with his
hands claspcd. Steve's face was blue
and his eyes protruded in CHASTITY stare.
They were all dead. The dogs eyes were
| closed, and in death he still retained Il
strong hold on the assassin's throat.-
.Arkun~n~ TarcIer.