The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-08-14

w AOAA SASA Ao S00 ne b8ke0. HOW
did he die? / have been trying for
years to ascertain his fate. What proofs
have you of his death3
The man gave sort Of chuckle.
al don't know about proofs. sir: 1,uA
when you've seen fellow With o ouncs
bullet making hole in his lungs bio
enough to shove your two fingers into.
| guess You don't want much more
proof, or burial certificate either"
Every well. II you saw him die, tell
me all about it."
"'Tisn't much 10 tell, sir. was
down.at San Francisco fourteen years
this autumn. Know Frisco, MIR.
Wrey"
Culhbert shook his head.
"OMght to know Frisco, sir. The
grandest city in the world, but chock
full OF yillainy. Somehow, all the scum
Of the universe turns up in Frisco. Sup
pose that's how I got there, he added,
rather sadly. "Well, sir, one night +
went into drinking and gambling shop,
and sitting down there, saw Ralph
Biatchford. I'd known him elsewhere,
YOU see. Up went to him and held
out my hand. "Why, Mr. Blatch-
ford" / said for Dandy Ralph was
always above me in manner He
scowled. my name amt Blatahford,"
he said, -" Alright. said. "Let your
d name be what you like, it don't
matter to me-" Then walked away !;
but couldn't help keeping m eye on
him. He sat down with some men and
played cards. He seemed to be winning.
They were playing euchre. Know
euchre. Mr.. W-ey?"
Cuthberts education in this direction
had been neglected. He again shook
his head.
Tho speaker continued, slowly and
meditatively, as though endeavoring to
Now, this is what puzzles me about
Ra,ph Blatchford He must have been
a fool--although we always thought him
smart clever chap-to go and play
stale, worn-out trick on mon like that
He must have been downright desperate
or fancied they would never expect him
to insult their intelligence with such
poor affair. Any way, he must have
been fool. ....-
did he cheat? ?" asked Cuthbert.
"They all do, when they can"
answered the man simply. But he
was clumsy at it. There was fare-up!
Out came the shooting irons sat down
as low as I could in my chair--always
do that, sir, when you see derringer
drawn-and when I looked up in two
seconds, Ralph Biatchford was dying
man"
What place !" said Cuthbert, with
shudder.
"Well, it is hasty, sudden-death
sort Of place but not so bad as you
guess If that card ladn's been found
on him, tho man who shot would have
been strung up, and his kicking all over,
in less then ten minutes. But the card
was there, sure enough, so no one could
say anything.a 49,, c,,.,,,o,.4 :.
his thoughts went back, and he heard
the last words OF affection and forgive
ness, spoken by Honoria Blatchford to the
one whom she believed, in the delirium
of the moment, to be her penitent SON
her son, who months before, had been
shot down, common cheat, in a gamb-
ling house" what an end"
But all doubts were now dlspelled.
He turned to his visitor.
Il am much obliged to you, he said,
"for your information. What became
of him, has always been mystery till
now. You must allow me to remunerate
you for your trouble, and | dare say
you will hke.some refreshment, will
order it to be sent to you"
His visitor had not quite finished his
tale
THANK you kindly, sir" he said.
II don't want any money but l should
likea bite and sup. But, Mr.. Wreys
there's something else want to say"
Speak on. What is 1t p
"1hey carried him into Darkroom,
sir and / thought the poor chap
would like to see face he knew, so I
went to hiSn> He knew me we'll enough
then. sls- it'll him till it WAS all over.
just before-he died, he turns to me.
Dick he says, gasping- Dick, I've
been devil, and I'm dying like dog.
I've got wife and boy somewhere in
England find them out and take them
to my mother She'll be good to them
for my sake, although L don't deserve
it, Those were Ralph Blatchford's last
words, SIR
Like one who dreams dreadful
dream, Cuthbert heard these words.
After all these years, his fools paradise
had tumbled to pieces. A wife-a son!
The very contingency provided for by
the dead woman. He stared for some
moments Mt the speaker without the
power of u, terance. He knew human
nature too we'll to doubt that the man
was telling the simple truth, A wife
and son waiting, perhaps, to claim
what they could of the property which
had been his 80 long.
The bearer of these evil tidings looked
at him SO inquisitively, that he nerved
himself to make further inquiries but
when he spoke his voice was so changed
that it seemed to the listener like the