Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-06-29

| the effect OF his baDDilng tongue nau
passed beyond his control, he saw but too
plainly the extraordinary value of silence;
but it was too late--the mischief was
done-the word had escaped his tongue
the arrow had sped from the bow, and its
progress could not be stopped by him who
had let it fy-no, not even though 1t
should lodge in the very heart Of the one
who in all the wide world least deserved it.
For. during the excitement of that fear.
full day on which Capt. Owen was found
still and stark in his own quarters, done
to the death by the dastardly hand of
murderer. Leader had. in talking over the
events of the previous night with his
comrades, let slip that his master and
Capt. Owen had had "a shindy" in Mr.
Dcresford's quarters Immediately before
dinner.
I '.Some at must have 'appened TO put
the captain out" said Leader, shaking
his wooden head with a great cir of wis
dom. .'for in general he's such q quiet
sort-ay. dear, was | mean-'pon my
life. it's hard to believe that 'e's really
gone.
"And they nd row?" asked one of the
bystanders
"Ycs; Of course. you know. wasn't
there in the room. but the captain. c
come up the stairs and banged into rly
masters roorl-and then | card Ugh
words. and at last the captain banged out
again and into his own room"
"Dut you don't mean to say, Leader"
exclaimed another listener. THAT you
think Mr. Ccrcsford did it?''
Course not: but it looks rum that they
should ave Ugh words that very night.
returned Leader. stubbornly.
Naturally. after this. i. did not take
very long for rurlor to spread through
out tho barracks that Leader lad GOOD
reason to believe that Mr.. Ecrcsford was
the London detective, who carno down
from Scotland Yard to watch tho case for
tho Owen family appeared on tho scene.
almost the lirst inf rnation he received
was an account Of Leaders remarks. an
account doctored and heightened in such
. way that the unfortunate young man
scarcely recognized his own story when
he heard it again.
Poor wretch. when he realized what
his blabbing tongue had done. what mis-
chief ho had wrought. he made every eft
fort in his power to minimize the impres
sion which he had given
MY mastcr murder any onei" he cx
claimed in unmitiGated horror. when the
detectives meaning Grst dawncd upon
him. mo. no. master. you rc on a wrong
scent this timo Mr.. Ecrcsford amt one
of that sort-'o ain't capable of it."
81 don't gay lie is. rly man: but at the
sarno timo III trouble you to give mo an
account Of the row that you say took
place between the two gentlemen on the
night of the murder. said the detective.
calmly
Il never told you any row had taken
place at oil. returned Leader. in vain
attempt to fence the question
"Irever said you did, did n" said the
detective. con.c-ptuously "Dut you told
1t to others. and Ill trouble you TO tell it
to Elc.
Then I'll DO id If tell you any
thinJ! shouted Leader. in Lind RAGE Of
fury.
And not single word more could the
detective coax or bully out of him. and
tho immediate result was that Beautiful
jim was few hours later arrested OH sus
picion of being the murderer Of Capt
Owen
1t cannot be said that Jim was half 80
seriously disturbed about the matter rs
his now abjcctly rcpentant servant was.
lie felt. with the assured consciousness
Of innocence. that the detective had
blundercd, and that close investigation
would very soon set the whole matter
right SO far as lie was concerned 1t was
o bore going off to the county Jail. of
course. but beyond this inconvenience he
did not mind very much. And before this
had happened. Col 1arnes had arrived
from Llankhampton, full of distress at
tho terrible tragedy. and desperately
anxious that the offender should be
brought to justice.
1t literally took his breath away when
he returned to the barracks. after trans
acting some business in the town. to find
that Jim Deresford had been actually or
rested on suspicion of being the culprit.
and he fastened of to the prison at once
to try If he could not see him The GOV.
ernor raised no objection. and he was at
once ushered into Beautiful Jims pres.
ence.
well. Beresford. said he. suiting his
voice and manner to the occasion. this Is
very terrible business. -
Il hope it's not necessary for me to pro-
test my innocence to you. sir" said Jim.
gravely.
my dear lad. need not say that moth,
ing short of your own confession could
uAuAAS Lio DSAASfo yOu Sol'ooAo VI eAh NV oo
cowardly." said the colonel. kindly; but
at the same time, Eercsford. it would be
q satisfaction to me to have your positive
assurance that all was right between you.
Col Carnes," said jim. solcmnly hold.
ing out his hand, Il give you my word.
on tho honor of on o.1ccr and gentle.
man. that am absolutely innocent of this
charge. and as utterly ignorant Of the
truth as you can be yourself"
II believe you Implicitly" said the
stretched hand and gripping it hard.
ut was the greatest blow to me, Deau
tiful Jim went on, wretchedly. I'm fact.
colonel. could scarcely believe my own
eyes when l went in tho next morning
and found him. Ohr with shuddcr, ito
thin. it could bo poor old Owen. the best
friend ever had in all my life-the dear
chap who smoked his last pipe with me
only seven or eight hours before
lie wns with you the last thing9" the