Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-08-03


Just at first he had not been inclined to
avail himself of the privileges which it
afforded him, he had been dazed and
crushed by events which had happened re-
Gently, and had moreover suffered good
deal from Beautiful Jin's continued pres
ence Somehow he never seemed able to
get ont Of sight Of the accusing look in
Jims eyes. or from the accusing tones in
his voice. or from the accusing meanings
in everything that he said
Jim had no thought Of this at all-in
truth he had conceived such Il profound
contempt for, and such an aversion to. the
young scoundrel, tina: if he could possibly
help IL he never addressed him, or even
allowed his eyes to rest upon him. Still,
as have said. SO it seemed to TQikmy;
and it was not until Beautiful Jim went
off for his short leave that the lad began
to breathe with anything like freedom.
But Us 1t is but step from the sublime
to the ridiculous. so it was but step for
Tommys light and buoyant nature to slip
from the depression which was the result
of Jim's presence to the gay and airy
lightness of his usual demeanor, and then
it was that Blankhampton society was
able to welcome him to itself again
Now mind. it was not that Tommy had
in any way got over the horror and dis
tress which the Walmsbury tragedy had
caused him-not at all. it was only that
he had a very singular and adaptable dis
position; and after the first great dread of
discovery was over and lie realized that.
for his peoples sake. he was safe from
Beautiful Jim's wrath. he began to smooth
the irrcvocable past over. to whittle away
a motive here and TO lieighten all aggrava
tion there. until he at last began to feel
that. SO far from his having committed
crime in being the act ual cause of Owens
death. Owen lad behaved with really
vindictive and remarkable shabEness to
him in being knocked over by tho dumb
bell.
OF course he was awfully sorry tha:
poor old Owen had come to harm. but un.
doubt edly Owen had always had a particu
lary disagreeable way Of interfering In
matters which did not in the smallest
degree concern him. and Of course as all
the world knows when fellows will do
that sort OF thing. they often come in for
he was sorry enough about poor old owen.
whom he had liked very well OIL the whole.
and he would have given worlds TO have
dent-yes Tommy always now thought Of
Owens death as a pure accident. il was
such much more palatable word than
murder which had something coarse and
revolving about the very sound and look
of it-but since that could not be. lie had
come to the conclusion that it would he
simply useless to worry himself into q
iunatic asylum. OF even into his grave by
fretting about it.
So you may believe. after Tommy had
arrived at this decision. that It was not
very long before he took to the old ways.
and the pretty drawing rooms Of the
pretty women in BlankhsmptOn knew him
as of yore
With regard to the young lady at the
Duck s Tail at Walmsbnry. it can only be
said that Tommy had already come to
look upon the recent events of the past as
a distinct Intervention of Providence to
save him from the consequences of the
dull and dreary life into which he had
been mercilessly thrust And the odd
part of il oil was that he had meant ser
ously enough to marry her. to make her
the mistress of Earles Hope. and the pos
sible mother of the Earles to come
Well, that had been an escape for
which he could never been sufficiently
grateful-never; and although he had no
doubt that she could. If she chose make
herself uncommonly disagreeable. that
sort of person is always open to being
squared" and happily he would always
have the power to settle matters with her
in that way.
So when Beautiful Jim. in great disap-
pointment and yet not wholly sad. went
back to Blankhampton. he found young
Tommy once more in the full swing of so
cial popularity, just the spoiled pet he
had been aforetime. and after the first
gasp of disguised surprise. Jim promptly
went for him
"Ey the bye. Earle. want to speak to
you. he said to him the day after his re
turn from town.
'All right" returned Tommy. will
you come to my room or shall come to
yoursY"
You can come to NINE" said Jim.
shortly
So to Jim's room they went. and its
owner turned the key in the lock SO as to
secure them from interruption.
Just ut first Tommy tried on the old air
of jaunty equality We'll" he said. set
Ting himself in the most comfortable
chair that the room contained. II suppose
you've nothing especially pleasant to say
to me. chr don't expect it in the least.
SO I'm prepared
THAT as well" said Jim. shortly. not
looking ut Tommy at oil. but at the pipe
he was filling. for what I've got to say
you'll find devilish ,:npleasant-I should,
at least You probably don't know why !
went up to town
mot in the least. except for the usual
thing" returned Tommy. trying hard to
keep cool and unconcerned. and only sue
ceeding in looking thoroughly i'll at ease
"Ah! ! thought so, said jim, drawing
hard at his pipe We'll. didn't happen
to so for tho usual thing ut eli. wentto
ask your sister to marry me-"
For q moment young Tommy simplv
gasped; all the last of the Eat,es pride
seemed to stiffen him AMI m,ne ~ with
It was cui imns contempt tina, anv 'elhnw
should he thinking seriously OF marrying
his sister Then the advantages Of the
connection flooded in upon him. and he
made haste to reply.
"H'm-well can't understand any
e~1 x-l