Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-11-07

arm and hung him back as II ne had
been child instead Of a substantial citi-
zen of fourteen stone.
What are you about" he exclaimed.
"The punch is doing well enough"
81 was only afraid the house might be
burnt"
Bother the house" replied the little
man; "there's no danger"
Your health, Dick" at length he
said, and raising the kettle all blazing to
his lips he drank like q dromedary.
"And now, Dick, it's your turn" he
said, after a long breath. "You must
drink my health now"
Richard drew back.
"Drinkr' shouted the stranger, hold
ing out the vessel
Poor Dick took single gulp. he left
the skin of his mouth on the brim Of the
kettle, his throat was scorched as with
liquid fire and his hair was singed by the
blaze.
And now to business" said the
stranger, resuming his seat and leaving
Dick to sit or stand as he chose. "You
knew John Walter, believe"
"Ye-yes," stammered Richard. Il
once knew person of that name"
"You and he went to California to-
gether."
Richard acknowledged the fact.
"You made money and he didn't"
81 believe l was the more fortunate OF
the two"
"You and he started to return togeth-
er, and he died at San Francisco" Rich
ard bowed.
"His wife and child are now desti-
tute," the stranger persisted.
~ can't help that"
"Of course not. 1t was his boy you
gave the good advice to today. / hope
the young scamp will profit by it."
The scene with the little beggar Rich
ard was sure had been witnessed by nc
one How the stranger had found it out
was past comprehension.
you're quite sure John Walter died
poor?" the stranger went on.
"Oh, quite" said Richard; II paid his
funeral expenses myself.
That's lie," retorted the little man
"they were paid by the public. It's an
other lie that he died poor. He had
$50, 900 with him, which you stole"
II deny it'll" Richard fairly screamed
land defy you to prove it,"
prove It'll What effronteryi Why.
saw you do It'll"
Its false. There was nobody pres
ent."
"Be careful, Dick, or you'll commi
yourself. saw you do another thing"
Richard shrank shivering in chair
but said nothing.
John Walter would have survived
his illness, but you put poison in hi
medicineV
A sudden fury took possession of Rich
ard Whinstone when he saw the secre
of his life in another's keeping. Tn
carving knife lay within his reach. 81
seized it, and springing on the strange
with desperate plunge, sought to bur!
the blade In his heart, but it glanced a.
from plate armor, and in an instant tn,
little man was ON his feet
"Oh, hol that's your game, is it?"
And with trip that sent his heel
spinning in the air Richard was thrown
headlong with force that shook tn
house to its foundation. The clubfoo
was planted on his stomach-and wha
horribly ugly foot it was! 1t was clef
like the hoof of an OK and seemed Il
weigh ton.
"Then you are the
"Pray, keep civil tongue in you
head, and come along" said the httl'
man.
Richard tainted.
When he came to himself day wa
breaking. The old housekeeper, VIII
had found him groaning and sprawlin
on the floor, had, with much difficulty
shaken him into consciousness. She az
sisted him to bed; but Richard neve
was himself again. The surfeit Of pi
had brought on fever, of which b
died in eight days. His last rational &C
was the execution Of will by which h
left the bulk of his fortune to John Wal
ter's widow and child, which, after al
was a simple act of justice, for the de
mon of nightmare had told the truth
New York World.