Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-17
WHAT FRED SAW.
It Was Enough to Bring a Muir
derer to Justice.

The day was very pleasant, but
could not enjoy it
Long, weary months had been in
the darkened room, and still they kept
me there, allowing no breath of the
pure, cool air to reach my feverish
head.
1 tried to open the window, but
was not strong enough, and fell back
in my chair, breathing the sitting air,
which every moment became more op
pressive.
1 thought could not endure it, yet
how could avoid it? There was only
one way without danger of discovery;
step into the hall, and those spiral
stairs would take me to the housetop-
to the observatory.
Waiting until l was sure the way
was clear, 1 stepped softly into the
hall, and ascending the stairs, though
with much difficulty, I was soon en-
joying the forbidden pleasure of
breathing the air, untainted with tn e
fumes of the nauseous drugs that had
been dealt out to me with an unspar-
ing hand all through the long, cold
winter.
How exhilarating! wondered that
had been housed so long. Hooked
down upon the group of young ladies
who were sporting on the lawn.
Jenny Magrair was there. the daugh-
ter of my host, the only woman / had
ever loved. But l was nothing to her.
She knew not how worshiped her.
and should keep my secret we'll, for
she was the betrothed of Gerald Mac
burn.
How envied him, and perhaps hated
him little, for knew that he had not
won her love. She had pledged her
hand to save her old father from pow
erty.
She had consented to the sacrifice,
and Macburn was satisfied
Turning away, tried to Danish the
painful, hopeless thoughts that had
been awakened.
Adjusting the telescope, took sur
vey of the farming and wood land that
stretched far away to the east for many
miles
l caught sight of two men whom
recognized as Gerald Macburn and
John Layton.
They were evidently in search of
game. The glass was small, yet very
superior instrument, and 1 could see
them very plainly, notwithstanding the
distance.
presume should have thought no
more about them, had l not known
that, but a few months before, they
were bitter enemies. l wondered how
the reconciliation had been effected.
While puzzling my brains with these
thoughts, / had unconsciously moved
the glass to keep them within range.
/ saw them stop, and / knew by their
motions that they were angry.
/ became interested. / could see
them so distinctly that 1 found myself
listening to catch their words.
could see their lips move, and saw
John Layton's clenched hands He was
evidently much excited, but he did not
offer to strike; and if one can judge by
sight alone, he was inclined to avoid
any alteration, while Macburn ap-
peared to seek a quarrel
For full five minutes they stood there,
gesticulating vehemently. They were
some distance apart, Layton all the
while endeavoring to widen the space,
and Macburn following him up.
At last Layton, goaded beyond all
endurance, wheeled about and shook
his fist menacingly at his tormentor.
Macburn was so exasperated at this
that he raised his rifle and shot him.
1 saw the poor man fall out of sightin
the bushes, and I saw Macburn calmly
reload his rifle and walk toward the
spot where his victim was lying.
Then staggered and fell to the
floor, and all was a blank.
When ! awoke to consciousness l
was in bed. Clothes were all about nv
head, and in the dim lamplight saw a
watcher sitting by my bedside. It was
my old chum, Harry Wilmot
''How is this?" said /, when realized
the situation.
Thank God, you are coming around \
again." said Harry; 'but it has been a
hard case, Fred; you have been as
crazy as loon for whole week. l
advise you not to try the observatory
again till you are strong enough to
crawl back.
At these words, what 1 had seen
from the housetop flashed upon my
mind; but had my life depended upon
It could not then have told that It was
not all dream To convince myself I
inquired for John Layton
He is-no one knows where" re-
piled Harry; but you are too weak to
either talk or listen"
'No, I'm not, Harry; tel me about
He yet hcsitated, but / urged him.
and he yielded.
John Layton disappeared wo1S:.
ago" he said ''Absconded is the bet
ter word, for he took with him quite
an amount of money belonging to his
father. The old gentleman IS very
wr0th. and has used ererr means 20 4