Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-10
than me-


The company digested, in silence and
smoke, this information, which had been
given TO them on several previous occa-
sions. Then a startling interruption came
In the shape of man, VINO rushed in and
shouted: Boys, there's trouble on the
pass. Heard a woman who0p just now,
Andy's there. Get the rangers out. Look
for the greaser, Most likely want to do
some lynchin'. Whooshi Wait till get
my breath" ed
While Senior O'Reilly's guests were con-
versing with the travellers outside. the
voices Of the latter reached Andy and
startled him from his reverie. An ex.
preston of surprise and grief, then OF
| hate, deep and bitter. came into his eyes.
| He made stride toward the door, but it
was blocked by the men who were talking
there; then, as if recollecting himself, he
gave his belt wrench, pulled His hat
about his brows, slipped through an adj
joining room, and got out. A gust of wind
| struck cold against his face, and he
breathed it as if the air were grateful.
| The moon was shining, stars were frostily
glittering in the dark blue, and on every
hand, save where Oleander Gulch opened
to the pale, far-reaching exparse OF South
Park, bold, sn0w-capped mountains
doomed heaVenwarG, with wreck OF
TOCkS on lDHlT EuRHtil SUES. as
was the scene to Andy, a feeling of awe
came over him; the bitterness left his
face ana changed to an expression of sad
ness and suffering. Again the voice
that had startled him reached his ears,
and a shadow fell over his cOuntenance.
Not here, among these men," he NUT
tered, and, turning, be fed up the noun
tain side.
The path had been often trod by him; it
cut across two winnings of the road,
shortening the distance by half mile to
Swiflins' cabin, which was perched on a
perilous shelf Of rock that 0yerbung the
gulch. The road across the pass made
its third Zigzag UP the mountains face
within a rod Of the cabin. When half
way up Asdy stumbled and fell. and he
realized that ne was exhausting himself,
for in great attitudes violent effort cannot
be long continued. While he Law there,
easping, the pack train came clicking up
the pass. jose was alone. and driving
the burros. Andy watched him as he
walked his horse along the narrow trail /;
he saw HIM look up at the sky and draw
deeper breath, as il be gathered quietude
of soul from the repose and eternity OF
things about him. Then the poor. rude
''greaser," with his gaze on heaven, sang
softly to himself few lines of Spanish
w
the cold, or the exhaustion OF his climb
that softened the shadow on Andy's face,
or was IL the moonlight shining on IL, as
he slowly resumed the steep ascent? He
reached his cabin door and stood beside
IL, looking into the shadowy ravine. Yes,
they were coming. Jose was already be.
yond hearing, and the other two figures
were riding silently up the road. They
passed the third turning; they reached
G.,A
denly the horses stopped. The man ut
tered an exclamation, and the woman
cried aloud with fear. Andy stood in their
path with hand appraised, his form In
black relief against tbesky. "Dismountv
he ordered.
With corpse-like face and seli-command
such as the culprit shows When walking
TO the gallows the man swung himself
from his saddle and helped his companion
to dismount. Teen folding his arms, he
said: al am ready"
A blast OF wind swept through the
canyon, like groan from the mouu.
tains.
The woman cried, with a passionate
sob: "Nol Let me die; for il is who am
TO blame"
Andy stepped forward with such dig
nifty that none could have read in bis
face a sign OF the lre that had ragged in
his brain or OF the chill that had frozen
his heart. His voice was hollow, but he
said slowly aud with calmness: Joe, halt
an hour ago had almost resolved to kill
you both. i have thought since then.
Are you armedy"
"Yes."
"Then. finish your work. XIII mew
ANDY" replied the man addressed as
Joe, lone OF us is near bis end. There's no
PREPARATION to be made. don't try to ex-
plain, or TO excuse, for l can't. But,
Andy, before death separates us, want
you to forgive me. Say 1t, say 1t, Andy.
Try to say it,"
"How can II Think what"
81 know, I know, but say 1t before eter-
nifty comes"
"Ye--yes, can. forgive you BOTH"
Without another word Joe crossed the
road and deliberately walked from the
edge OF the precipioe. The sound Of a
crashing fall came up from the shadows,
by the grating OF stones that bad been
iarreu down the slope. With O piercing