Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-03-30


'Imust aot be caught here, y mutter-
ed he. cor my life won't be wuth q
burnt matchl l must get away-bui
whereof
He thought moment, and then re.
sumed his distracted soliloquy:
mo; 'twont do to leave, for thai
would only convince 'em o. my guilt
an a posed be after me in no time.
I'm in desp'rit bad fix, that's sure, an
I'll have to cover up all the traces o
the crime, an say Josh has skipped.
After another searching glance
about. to make sure that his movements
were not being watched, he stopped
down, lifted the limp form into his
arms, and then skunk away with his
burden toward an unused part of the
mine.
He paused, moment, at the brink
of an old, abandoned shaft, and, after
once more looking and listening, drop
ped the body into the murky pit.
A splash, as the body struck the
stagnant water at the bottom of the
shaft, was heard Immediately after,
and then, with q blanched face and a
haunted look in his eyes, Tom stole
back to where the deed had been COM
mitted.
I'm go back to the place after dark, y
muttered he to himself, sand fill the
old shaft up with talins and rock. No
one will then ever run across his body,
an pounce on me for his murderer"
All the traces of the bloody deed
were carefully obliterated in the mine,
and then Tom went home.
A fire was kindled and supper pre-
pared; but he could not eat. There was
a gnawing sense of horror lowering
about him, which awed and desolated
his very soul. Peace was out of the
question, and in his great anguish of
spirit he sought solace in frequent and
copious rotations of fiery liquor.
This brought partial relief, and
nerved him to put into execution
number of supplemental plans which
he regarded as necessary to his safety.
All Of his partners personal effects
were carefully gathered up, tied into
bundle and carried to the old shaft, in
which they were thrown, and buried
beneath mass of brushwood, stones
and earth.
Tom had brought flask OF liquor
with him, so as to keep up his waning
courage during his labors, and by the
time the task was completed, he was in
that reckless mood which is begotten
of continued indulgence in strong
drink.
"rll go over an see Mol" quoth he,
as he made his way back to the cabin.
I'm tell her Josh has gone, an when
she finds there's no hope of gettin' him,
an that I'm the sole owner of the
claim, she'll say yes quick enough,
reckon
With these, and host of other less
pleasant thoughts rushing through his
chaotic mind, he turned his steps
toward the settlement, and shortly
afterward was at Bill BushneIrs cabin.
Mol was at home and readily accord
ed the wooer an interview.
'Moll, my lass said he. after few
preliminary words had been exchanged
between them, "there's somethin' a.
preyin' on my mind, an want to tell
you all about it. Ireckeu you've got an
idea what I'm drivin' at, but I'm goin'
to come right out plain, an not be mis-
understood. Josh an me hey bin
purity sweet on you for long time, Mol,
an I'd a-spoken erbout it afore this if il
hadn't bin for kind o. treadin' on his
toes; but now that Josh has pulled up
stakes am struck out for other dig
GINS"
what is that you sayP Josh Field
has gone away?" cried the girl. Surely, |
Tom, you do not mean itr'
Course he's gone; thought you
knowed it. He come to see me this
mornin' an, says he: Tom. I'm sick o.
these parts an am goin' to light out for
other diggin's. Buy out my share OF the
mine an we'll call it quits He would
MT say no more, an as he put low fig
ger on his half, bought him out an he
went away. So you see, lassie, bein'
sole owner o. the mine now, can offer
you purity scrumptious sort o. home.
Win you hitch with me, Mol?"
''But Josh might come back"
'.Durn JoshT' cried Tom, inpatient
ly. HE was no great shuclxs anyhow,
an don't see what you want o him!
love you hundred times more'n he did,
an I'D make you deuced sight hap
pier than that emery chap"
''But always thought great deal of
him. Tom"
Eyes, 1 reckon so; durn sight
more'n he did O. you, or he wouldn't
hev skinned out so student, without
even sayin' good-by to you. 'Twixt
me an you, Mol, reckon Josh's con-
science wasn't altogether easy, for a
chap as has wife an babies 1ivin'
back in the states, is apt to be jest a