Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-24

quietly enough under McSweenys escort,
and then returned to the house and searched
it thoroughly. There was no more plumber,
but came upon some excellent house break
ing tools of fine steel, in box which opened
with a key found in the pocket of q pair of
his trousers.
When Tworney got to the Office he denied
all, but after couple Of days reflection he
changed his mind and agreed to plead guilty
There was thus no need to call witnesses, and
be neekly accepted his sentence Of nine
months Imprisonment without once asking
the name of his betrayer That is, his ap
pearance was meek and subdued, but In re-
allty his heart was full Of ferocity and muir
derous hate He thought of Father Bradley
and his dastardly betrayal of the oaths of
his sacred office with the first blink of con-
seriousness in the morning and the last glirn-
rner Of it at night. He realized that his rep
utation was ruined forever, and that life
would now be bitter struggle, and declared
to himself, with deep oath, that the man
who had brought that upon him must die.
1t would not be murder He had heard
somewhere that a priest who betrayed his
trust was condemned to death, and he rea-
soned that be was called upon to act as judge
and executioner in a sacred mission. 1t was
a holy duty.
When Twomey's sentence expired his rage
was accumulated by finding that his mother
had in the interva! squandered all his money,
drunk up the furniture and disposed of the
business, and he was left literally stranded. |
Among the few articles left was long clasp |
knife, and that weapon Twomey seized with |
fervor, and proceeded to sharpen with as
b1rtn
to kill pig. The blade was about six inches |
long, and ground TO e sharp point and with
a little practice on sack of sawdust Twomey
found that be could plunge it to the haft with
one drive of his strong arm. Thus fitted for
his sacred duty, he did not so near the
| chapel, and he never met Father Bradley
without sinking away out Of sight before the
priest could get a word with him. He took
to studying the priests habits but found that
he could never depend upon being in a suit
able place at certain hour. The father was
often called upon to go to the worst dens at
tha most uuseemly hours, and obeyed these
calls with promptitudc, but these could not
be relied upon, and after waiting and watch
ing more than once Twomey resolved to
make his own occasion. Accordingly he one
night rot his mother srnuggled out of the den
in the Cowgate to which they had removed
to attend n wake, where she had the chance
of good drink and plerty of tobacco to
smoke, and then sent message to Father
Bradley to come at once, as he was very sick
and like to die Having sent his message
Twomey took Off his clothes and went TO bed
that is he lay down in the corner that
served for bed, and patiently waited, with
the sharp clasp knife open ready IL his hand
under the blanket.
Father Bradley came painting up the stairs
in less than half an hour, ard recognized
Twomey the mo;1eut he stepped into the
moonlit garnet.
, I've beea expecting this, he said, with a
, shake of the lead, and then he dismissed
, his guide, closed the door, and tenderiy
. knelt beside the bid, unsuspicious of danger.
80 its You, y'l el!ailf' he said IN gent!s
rebuke, es Twomey groared and sputtered as
! if at his very last gasp. Il thought you'd
come to your senses soon and repent of your
e sins"-
I He had no time to say more, for in an in
i slant Twomey threw on. his left arm and
Q encircled the priests neck in q strunT ling
5 grip, wh:ch dragged the father down IN the
t foor, while at the same moment the murder
n Gus wretch drew back the cleaning knife for
a a terrific plunge.
t Father Bradley, you traitor to your oathS
s you've got to die7 he shouted, and then ht
8 drove down the knife with such force that il
:, ran through the sleeve and arm Of the prizes
Il and stuck fast in tine floor, thus pnionin.
s him TO the ground. But the priest, thougi
stout, was strong, and be clntched the throa
II OF the man above him with such viCor tina
L TNomey's breath was nearly stopped forever
It Seeing also that lie had missed his blow
&c Twomey struggled to pull back the knife on
of the floor, but only succeeded in breakin!
e the blade and releasing the wounded arm
Then the victory was FL with the church
y The priest clutched at his foe with bot
Of arms, throttled him and then nearly pounde
of the life out Of MIN against the floor
Id you murderous william, how dare YOU al
h tack the Lords anuointcGF' be shouted q
ID last, when TwOmey's senses were nearl
driven out of him
Of usa-you-betrayed me-to McGi
e. van gasped the helpless cur under him
h Never! never! | swear it by heaven
cried the priest, starting up and leaving b
v foe free, while he passionately raised h
clasped hands to heaven. ''If speak falsel
K may the devil prompt you to take up til,
III broken knife and finish me on the spot"
to Twomey was staggered and awed, but SIT
l ONLY half convinced
n. Il never breathed a word of it to q Twin
ad sowl but to YOU in confession, yet McGova
Id found it out" he persisted. You must
Lis IF 1 had revealed the secrets of heave
~ that knife would have gone straight throug
W my heart, said the priest, raising with awf
nd majesty the arm from which the blood W
Oh now streaming. you have tried to STAY ii
nd messenger OF God. Listen! You shall
he accursed before men! forsaken in sickne
Of and DEATH thrown out of heavenrn
ed Mercy! mercyin cried Twomey, throwil
,he off the blankets, and beginning to crawl on |
of hands and knees toward the towering al
md retreating priest. Don't spake the awf
18th words and III repent every day of my lii
md Mercy! mercy"
out The priest, however, continued to retire
% / till he had nearly reached the door, when
a paroxvsm of terror Twomey threw
the arms around his knees and tried to dets
non him, when with a last effort the priest hurl
mad him off and turned to leave. But then I
was loss of blood, the shock Of the stab, and I
ook excitement of his denunciation came back
and him. and he family dropped on his knees
for the threshold, while Twomey noticing
fish streaming blood and ghastly palor of I
IL | sinking priest, uttered wall OF grief, THU
ing that be had killed him.
Gus "Oh, father, dear! look up" be cri
, in catching the priest in his arms and MAJ
the kissing at the limp hantts. I've Killed J
ned the best and truest that ever blessed S
.ute full world. Say one word-say you forg
ous me-take back the curse and I'll repent
and do anything"
iece The priest, however, overcome though
ich, was, had still strength of will and dign
,per enough to shake Off the miserable, cover
ook wretch and to stagger to his feet, saying:
Mrs. Its not me you have oifended-it's G
Repent before him, if you canl" and "
these words he slowly retired, shutting
got door after him, and leaving Twomey i
ut state of frantic despair bordering on madn
van. He expected to be visited by the police
far short time, but they did not come, and
length he grew impatient and went to 6
the himself up. But no charge had been m
with against him by Father Bradley, and be "
thence, to find that the priest had bra'
ked: crawled to his own home and himself DO
man up the bleeding wound IN his arm, VIII
did saying word even to bis servant.
When Twomey afterwards appealed to
ned and | showed him that he must have reve
Ieep. the secret to Slider in his sleep, he
, get groaned out:
"Oh, what fool whata fool! Praise
God that saved me from murder"
ut | He has never gone wrong since, and is
Of the most devoted and well doing of Fla
now Bradeys tiock.-James McGovan III Shef