Helena weekly herald., 1889-04-04
A PRIZE STORY.
A Murderer Meets His Doom by a
Falling Crag.
Tragedy Of Duncan's Head in the
Cascades.

rear their stately heads above the Cascade
range. was Jagged rock whose fre-scaned
outlines bore a strange resemblance to human
head. The eyes, beneath their lowering brows
seemed forever searching the hazy distance,
and keeping treless watch over the beauti-
f1l valley below. Could the rudely carved
lbs have spoken they might have told marvel
ou> stories of the wonderful panorama time had
unroIled. Grim and unyielding it stood like
Il seminal OF the ages, sending voiceleSs 'all's
well" back to the majestic mountains, as the
year, rolled by and still its foundations stood
INN. And age slowly cooled the passionate
fires in the monarchs breast, its heart throbs
ceased TO shake its rock bound sides, it drew
lis ermne robes closely about its royal shoul-
ders, while the pine woods crept lovingly up
about lS feet.
"Confound the luck!'
This was Marcoes more forcible than ele-
gan, exclamation, as the blacksmith surveyed
him with the lordly manner of zone who knows
hi, worth he was the only smith within ten
miles and calmly informed him that four
men were ahead of him, and he must wait his
turn.
"lou can't make Bradley's no how today
continued the knight of the anvil, $50 you
might as we'll take it easy. The only stopping
place between here and there is at Duncan,s
Head and you'll get there easy before dark"
But Marcoe derived scant comfort from this
assurance. for he felt confident that his sturdy
horse, but for the loss Of his shoe, would have
carried him to his destination before nightfall.
He had almost determined to travel all
night, when a glance at the cloudy horizon,
and the threatening undertone which sounded
now and then in the pleasant wind that was
blowing. warned him Of storm not far off,
and calming his rising indignation against
Providence by grimly repeating to himself,
John Rodgers, John Rodgers" in imitation
Of the philosophical Josiah Aliens wife, he
resigned himself TO his fate, aud betook him
self 10 log house near by, which bore the
legend, metropolitan House"
The Metropolitan house proved to be like
the old lady's cottage, which, you remember,
was small outside, but had great number Of
large rooms, at least the room he entered was
large, for j, contained a stock of general mer-
chandiSe. the postoffce, the bar, the dinner
table Of the hotel and promiscuous assem-
blase of American citizens, who were discuss
ing the foreign policy of the administration,
and filling the air with mingled profanity and
tobacco smoke.
The only silent person iu the room seemed
to be an old gentleman of Mormon proclivi-
les, who was in consequence politically ostra-
cised by the influential circle now debating on
matters Of state.
He sat at one side of the box stove blinking
feehly, and eNpectorating at a mark on the
wall opposite TO keep himself awake.
The entrance of a stranger was sufficient to
arouse his interest Immediately, and he sidled
over and opened fire at once.
"Howdy, stranger?"
Marcoe gave him freezing look that would
have paraized one Of his Eastern friends, but
Slid from his interlocutor's hardened sensibili-
ties like the drew off cabbage leaf.
Where 'er you from p politely offering a
chew.
Seattle" srowled Marcoe, as he refused
The frindiy attention.
"Yes? Been to Seattle myself; fine place,
Seattle, but how long have you been there ~
Two weeks"
Only two weeks! Reckon you don't know
much abou, it, then; good town, but right here
Is The place that could beat it, five could only
get railroad up here. Finest location in
Washington territory. I've got ranch here
that How to cut up into town lots, and name
ll Empire City. You just wait two or three
Years, I'LL there's four or five story bricks
over yonder where you see my wood pile, and
hundred thousand people are livin' on
this side hill, where will Seattle and Tacoma
and all them places be then? l tell you,
stranger, il you're lookin' for an investment
thar will make 500 per cent in the next twelve
months, Tine your man."
Marcoe began to suspect that the fossil be-
fore him had been real estate agent in some
iormeg stage of existance, and again sought re-
RET in thinking of the martyred Rodgers, but
luckily for HIM his new friends curiosity got
Ihe better of his business instincts, and he
asked:
Where did you come from to Seattle p
"Ohio."
''Yes? Why I've been there myself. Ever
been III Cincinnati ?"
'''Tha, is my home"
"Hou don't say! Why, I've got cousin
Avin' there. Tall chap-street car driver
names Jones. You'd rememberif you'd seen
him. he's so uncommonly tall"
II don't know Mr. Jones"
"Don,a Mebbe you're not much acquaint-
ed there. Where 'er you going2'
ITO Bradley's."
''YOu don't say? Why you can't get to
Bradley's to-day. Where do you low 10 stop
tonight; here to the hotel, or are you goin'
on:'
"l'me going as far as the next stage
sga'iom."
ITO Duncan's Head? Queer place, Dun
sans Head; been there myself. Man muir
3eFed there three years ago-man that killed
a'm lives there yet"