Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-07-13
Beautiful ] i'm.
BY John Strange Winter.

shadow Of . violent and ignominious
Heath. with the weight OF his best friends
cruel murder still pressing upon him. did
not lose his temper In the Ieast-on the
contrary. he became calm and still
Tommy" he began. when Tommy In
terrupted him passionately
Earle. If you please. sir. he cried. I.
'Aiister Earle. said Jim. with half
smile. and strong emphasis on the word,
tell me plainly what you mean by this
extraordinary behavior.
THE inference is obvious" said Tommy
coidly
"fes. in an inquiring fone-then, find.
Ing that the lad did not speak. went OH
and um to infer--whaty" but even as
tie question passed his lips the pale light
broke in upon him. and he grasped Tommy
by the arm with a grip that made him
vince and shrink
My God. do you mean to say that you
believe murdered hinIY" he cried
Tommy turned away his head and tried
TO force his arm from the grip of the
others strong fingers
ANSWER mel" tbundered Jim.
Let go my arm and go out of my room,
II you please. MIR Beresford." returned
the lad
Bu, Jim stood still and stared straight
into the lads handsome eyes. as IL he
would force out Of them the plain words
which apparently Tommy's tongue rel ..sed
to speak. and as they stood SO an awful
Thought flashed into Beautiful Jim's be-
wildered mind-a confused recollection Of
something gone by. something like q
dream, and yet. OH what was ity What
was itf A memory crowded over by the
mist Of intense drowsiness. and yet. if he
could only grasp II. memory that had
something SO utterly real and vivid about
1t that 1t would show the whole truth to
the light at once But what was iti
Ay. what was itf and what was there in
young Elrle's eyes which gave him the
clew he soughtf know not. and as.
suredly Beautiful Jim. to the end Of his
Gays. would never know it either; but
during those terrible moments of doubt
and anguish the mists were suddenly
lifted off his mind. and lie remembered
remembered the dream he had had that
night. dream Of Owen. his dear old
friend. being in anger with him. and the
monentous words. Consider yourself
under close arrest. Go to your room at
once and will send for your sword" In
All instant everything was perfectly clear
to him. and he gripped young Tommy's
arms clossr aud faster than ever
-.You-young-hou he exclaimed.
between his set teeth. II suppose you
mean to come your last Of the Larles' rot
over me in this instance The last of the
Eares. and u pretty ending for the
Eares-to be snuifed out by the hang
man 5 rope
Young Tommys white face turned to q
sickly yellow. and jim felt tremor run
through him
VIVA do you mean. sir?" he cried, try.
ing to pass it off with u high hand aud
succeeding very badly
u mean that you-you murdered Owen.
and know it-you dastardly young
hound, and you tried to fasten it on me-
yc.l scoundrcll" and forthwith Beautiful
Jim set to work and shook the lad. much
as terrier shakes IL rat and with as little
mercy, until in fact the teeth seemed to
rattle in his head. and his very knees
seemed to knock together. Then. with q
last burst of fury. he flung him from him
into the big chair. where he lay gasping
and livid. more like limp rag than u
smart young oilicer-to say nothing ut all
Of his being the last of tho Earles
But even then he did not altogether
give in ''You shall answer for thisi" he
painted
ANSWER for it!' echoed Jim. with
mighty scorn Yes. by the heavens
above us. will answer for it. will an
swer you. you damnable. cowardly hound
say you murdered owen. murdered him
In cold blood--you struck him from be.
hind. have the most convincing proofs
against you. have only to disclose the
subject of Owens conversation with mo
that afternoon, and to show the ring that
he insisted on having II om that woman,
to put the rope round your neck without
Q chance of escape.
"Eingl" gasped Tommy. in q different
tone What ringy What womany'
What ringr What woman" Jim re
peated. In disgust "Do You come that
hurlbug over me stilY Then, Mister
Earle, will enlighten you. ] mean the
sapphire and diamond ring. engraved
with your family crest and motto. which
you gave Us pledge of affection to that
sharp noscd little huzzy at the Ducks
Tail! Ahl--yon know what ring mean,
do youy" Us q groan of utter and abject
despair burst from the lads lips.
Jim went on without mercy. Now.
sec it all-all You went to see that
woman on your way back to barracks
from Blankhampton. and she-like the
double faced. designing little jade she is
told you Owen had been there. that lie had
seen the ring on her hand and insisted on
her giving ii up Then you came back
and bided your time. and after Owen left
my room. you followed him to his. And
then. you came your last Of the Earles
air with him and demanded your ring.
and Owen refused to give it to you until ho
had cor oEslunicated with your father
"ne did not. broke in Tommy. eagerly
"Ahl those were not the precise words,
dare say" said Jim. carelessly, but ]
can give you the precise words which were
the last the dear old chap ever spoke
they were these: Consider yourself under
close arrest Go to your room at once
and will send for your swordr and
then" said Beautiful jim. speaking very
slowly and distinctly. 'you-went-back
-and killed hiEI"
The lad had been lying helplessly back
In the big chair staring at Jim with u fas
Gina, ion piteous to behold, but as the last