The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-20

coal-black eyes, but presently sudden
change took possession of him. :
"My God!' gaspcd he, his eyes riveted
in horror upon the white, upturned face
and cory locks of his victim. 81 have
killed himl I have murdered my pard
| Oh, how could do it-how could [ for.
get m'self an do such an orful deed"
A new thought seemed TO force its
way into his perturbed mind at this
iuncture--a consciousness of his peril
and he cast furtive glance around him.
81 must not be caught here, muttered
he, cor my life won't be wuth a burnt
match. l must get away-but where"
He thought a moment, and then re-
sumed his distracted soliloquy:
"No; 'twon't do to leave, for that
would only convince 'em O. my guilt,
an q 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,
not being watched, he stopped down,
lifted the limp form into his arms, and
then slung away with his burden toward
an unused part OF the mine.
He paused, a moment later, at the
brink of an old, abandoned shaft, and,
after once more looking and listening,
dropped the body into the murky pit.
A splash, as the burden struck the
stag1ant water at the bottom of the
shaft, was heard Immediately after, and
then, with blanched face and haunted
look in his eyes, Tom stole back to
where the deed had been committed.
'.I'll go back to the place after dark,
muttered he to himself, land fill the old
shaft up with talns and rock. No one
will then ever run across his body, an
pounce on me for his murderer"
All 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
gnawing sense of horror lowering about
him, which awed and desolated his very
soul. leace was out of the question,
and in his great anguish of spirit he
sought solace in frequent and copious
potations of fiery liquor.
This brought partial relief, and nerved
him to put into execution a number OF
supplemental plans which he regarded as
necessary to his safety.
All of his partners personal effects
were carefully gathered up, tied into a
bundle and carried to the old shaft, in
which they were thrown, and buried
beneath mass of brushwood, stones and
earth.
Tom had brought q flask of liquor
with him, so as to keep us his waning
courage luring 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.
"I'll go over an see MOL" quoth he,
as he made his way back to the cabin.
''rll tell her Josh has gone, an when
she finds there's no hope of gettin' him,
an that Pm the sole owner OF the claim,
she'll say yes quick enough, reckon"
With these, and a host OF other less
pleasant thoughts rushing through his
chaotic mind. he turned his steps to-
ward the settlement, and shortly after
ward was at Bill Bushnell's cabin.
Mol was at home and readily accorded
the wooer al interview.
"Mol, my lass" said he, after few
preliminary words had been exchanged
between them, ''there's somethin'
a-preyin' on my mind, an I want to tell
you al! aboutit. reckon you've got an
idea what Pm drivin' at, but I'm going
to come right out plain, an not be mis-
understood. Josh au' me hev both bin
Lurty sweet on you for long time, Nol,
an I'd a spoken erbout it afore this if it
hadn't bin for kind o t-eadin' on his
toes; but Low that Josh has pulled up
stakes an struck out for other dig
gin's"--
'What is that you say? Josh Field
has gone away?'' cried the girl. ''Surely,
Tom you do not mean it,"
"Course he's gone; I thought you
knowed it. He come to me this mornin'
an, says he: Tom, Pm sick O. these
parts an am goin' to light out for other
diggin's. Blu ~ out my share of the mine
an We'll call it quits. He wouldn't say
no more, an, as he put low fgger on
his half, bought him out an he went
away. SO you sec, lassie, bein' sole
owner O. the mine now, can offer you a
purity scrumptious sort O. home. Will
you hitch with me, Mol?"
"But Josh might come back
"Deuce take JOSH" cried Tom, impa-
patiently. "fTe was no great shucks
anyhow, an don't see what you want
o. him! I love you hundred times
more'n he did, an I'd make you blame
sight happier than that onery chap"
"But | always thought great deal of
HIM, Tom"
''Yes, l reckon so; plagued sight
more'n he did o. you, or he wouldn't hev
skinned out so suddsnt without even
sayin' goodbye to you. 'Twixt me an
you, Mol, reckon .Iosh's conscience
wasn't altogether easy, for chap as has
been criminal back in the States is apt
to be jest little skerrish-"
Just at that juncture there was step
heard in the inner room of the cabin, and
a moment later familiar voice rang out
through the open door:
Hold on, Tom Willis. I can stand
about as much as emmy bein', but that's
lie I'll take from no mau"
Tom started violently, and turned
terrified face toward the door.
Before him, with his head swathed in
bandages, and supporting his trembling
form against the door-facing, stood no
other than Josh Fields.
"You see, amt quite as dead as ye
took me to be, Tom Willis" continued
he, casting q contemptuous look upon the
covering wretch. ''It happened that,
when you doused me in the old shaft
! fn