Wichita eagle., 1889-02-02
me Tor bus murderer. -

me Tor bus murderer
All traces Of the bloody deed were care
fully obliterated in the mine and then Tom
went home.
A fire was kindled and supper prepared,
but he could not eat There was gnawing
sense of horror lowering about him which
awed and desolated his very soul. Peace
was aut Of the question, and in his great
anguish of spirit he sought solace IN ire
quent and copious rotations of fiery liquor.
This brought partial relief and nerved him
to put into execution number OF supple
mental plans which he regarded as neces-
sary 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 indul
gence in strong drink.
"rH go over an see Mou," quoth he, as he
made his way back to the cabin. "Fll tell
her Josh has gone an when she finds there's
no hope of gettin' hum an that I'm the sole
owner Of the claim, she'll say yes quick
enough, / reckon"
With these and a host Of other less pleas
ant thoughts rushing through his chaotic
mind, he turned his steps toward the settle
ment and shortly afterward was at Bill
BushneLPs cabin
Mol was at home and readily accorded the
Wooer an interview.
"Mol, my lass" said he, after few pre-
liminary words had been exchanged be-
tween them, there's somethin' a-preyIn'
on my mind, an want to tell you all about
it. 1 reckon you've got an idea what I'm
drivin' at, but Pm goin' to come right out
PLAIN, an not be misunderstood. Josh an
me hev both bin purity sweet on you for a
long time, Mol, an I'd a-spoken erbout it
afore this if it hadn't bin for kind o. treadin'
on his toes; but now that Josh has pulled up
stakes an struck out for other diggin's-'
What is that you sayl Josh Fields has
gone away?" CRIED the girl Surely, Tom.
you do not mean ita''
"Course he's gone; thought you knowed
it. He come to me this n1ornin' 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 Wen cali it quits
He wouldn't say no more, an, as he put a
he went away. So you see, lassie, bein' sole
owner O. the mine now, can offer you a
purity scrumptious sort o. home. WIN you
hitch with me, Moll?'
''But Josh might come back -,
"Durn Joshl' cried Tom, impatiently.
s'He was no great shucks, anyhow, an
don't see what you want O. him l love you a
hundred times more'n he did, an I'd make
you deuced sight happier than that onery
chap"
"ButI always thoughts great deal of him,
Tom
eyes, reckon so durn sight morn he
did o. you, or be wouldn't hev skinned out
so student, without even sayin' goodbye to
you. 'Twixt me an you, Moll, l reckon
Josh's conscience wasn't altogether easy,
for chap as has wife an babies livin'
back in the States is apt TO be little skeer-
ish Of such little love affairs as he was get
tin mixed up in, an -"
Just at that juncture there was step
heard in the inner room of the cabin, and
moment later familiar voice rang out
through the open door:
''Hold on, Tom Willis can stand about
as much as emmy bein', but by the Eternal,
that's lie I'll take from no manr'
Tom started violently, and turned
terrified face toward the door.
T 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 We took
me to be, Tom Willis, continued he, casting
contemptuous look upon the covering
wretch. st happened that, when you
doused me IN the old shaft, the water
brought me to my senses, an after little
/ was strong enough to crawl out an drag
myself here. Moll has already promised to
be my wife, an as I don't care fur more'n
one partner, you can take the trail fur other
parts, afore your crime is found out. Here's
a few ounces o. DUST" added he, finging
him a buck-skiu bag of gold, San / advise
We not TO be found in camp tomorrow
mornin', or We may be treated to dose o.
hemp"
Tom sneaked off, only too glad to escape
thus lightly, and, though Josh and Bill
Bushnelrs lass have been partners for
many long, happy years, neither have ever
heard of the would-be murderer.-A. s.
Burroughs, in Yankee Blade.