Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-08-17
Beautiful Jim.
BY John Strange Winter.


again. that | asked you TO come up here
| want to know If yor have considered
that, in the event of such happening it Is
possible. even probable. that yonr guilt
may fall ON the shoulders of another who
Is perfectly innocent?"
Tommy looked ut her blankly. "What
do you meant" she asked
Il mean" said Nancy. steadily. that.
supposing You happen to be killed out
there or to die. and Mr. Beresford gets
home safely. the charge against aim
might be raked up again. and he might
find it difficult. or even impossible. TO
clear himself"
4 never thought Of it," said Tommy.
with evident sincerity
Il don't suppose you did-you don't
think very much of any one but yourself
you know" said Nancy very scornfriliy
81 have thought of it, however and
mean you to secure him from any such
risk.
''flowf"
by leaving a written account behind
you of Capt Owens death"
Il shall do nothing of the kindl Do
you think I'm going to incriminate my.
self in that wayy No Ill be shot ii
do. he cried, Indignantly
Nancy eyed him coolly Hanged. you
mean. she said. with extreme quietness
Tommy A'ade great start Nancy"
he said. hoarsely. are you trying how far
you can goY"
NO" she replied. steadily. "for have
no need know exactly how far can go.
and you also You will sign that paper
before you leave this room" she
added. ''or | go straight to my father
with the whole story II you were
man. with great scorn. you would be
only too glad to save man who had
borne SO much for you from such risk.
out you are the same Stuart you have
been all along. bad. selfish and reckless to
tho lowest depths Of your wicked heart.
''Deresford has not kept silent for me.
nuttered Tommy. sulienly.
No. but he has done so for me" she
rcjoined, ',and therefore | am going 10
secure him from running any further risk
through your sin than he had done he
fore.
You are going TO do this and that: you
won't have the other" Tommy cried
furiously pom my soul. Madame
Nancy. you will carry things too far. i,
yon don't mind | shall not stand very
nuch more Of your high hand. assure
you Ey Jove! madame" he blurted out,
In vain attempt to bounce Nancy out of
her stronghold, you forget yourself. Do
you know who ann"
Nancy looked at him for full minute
before she spoke. "Yes." she said. slowly
Il am sorry to say do know exactly
what you are. You are Capt. Owens
murderer.
All Tommy's artificial Indignation died
out instantly. No, I'm not that-it was
an accident. he stammcred.
Nance smiled. 1T is not worth while
20 niince matters between you and 1" she
answered. 1T does not signify what you
callit, you killed him: thai was enough
for me. Now, we have no more tirac to
waste over this kind of argument; sit
down there and write ont what wish"
Tommy sat down and rested his head
d jcctediy on his hand. IL don't know
what you want. lie said, forlornly.
Il knew you would not" said Nancy.
taking her keys out of her pocket and un
locking her desk. Il have put down OK
actly what want you to copy and sign
hero 1t is"
She banded sheet of note paper to the
wretched boy, on which was written the
following:
Il. Stuart Earle. lieutenant in the
Slankshire regiment, being on the eve If
departure FOR active service in Durmak.
do testify that on the -th of May,
lSS-. ! caused the death of my brot her
officer, Capt Eichard Owen. by throwing
dumb bell at him swear that no other
death, or knew anything whatever about
it,
II tell You it was an accident" said
Tommy, llewcly
"Then you can add it. If you choose"
said she.
So Tommy seized pen ard passion.
atcly copied out the few words. adding at
the end that the entire affair was nn acc
dent; that although he had thrown the
dumb bell at Owen in a passion, he had
never had tho smallest intention of kill
Ing him, or even OF doing him any injury
whatever. And how do | know you
won't let this got out of your hands?' he
asked. raising haggard and wretched
face to look at her
You my trust me-. she said. quietly
Under no other circumstances than the
imminent danger to an innocent person
would ! disclose the truth; not on account
Of our family honor. which must be poor
indeed, sineoit has not had Il better in
nuence on you-but solely because Of the
blow it would be to my father"
And yen wont uso it to work an in
1uence against mo with my father" he
asked. '3ro get Ee cut out of my inner
itanco for instanceY'
Nancy looked at him in disgusted scorn
Am your she asked. contemptuously.
and go, stung to the depths of his ignoble
soul. young Tommy seized the pen once
more. dipped it into the ink, and signed
his name at he foot OF the page Stuart
Earle. Lieutenant. Dlankshro Regiment.
There. will that satisfy your" he asked.
savagely.
Nancy took II up and read It carefully
through. then with the same deliberation
put ler own name at the bottom Yes.
that Is ell | wanted" sho said, quietly.
end folding up the paper, placed 1t in an
envelope and tied 1t carefully round with
ctring. Then she lighted taper and
r:s.cd It in several Places. finally taking
rca cad writing on the back Private
incEiorsndun, relating TO Stuart Earle.
tho Golden Swan. Blankhampton."