Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-10-03
A SILENT THREAT.

| manned mistaken knew as well as
knew anything that they would coshe to-
gether at the proper time.
The assassination of Capt. Ross last
week In IA western town did not surprise
me in the least. II was just what had
looked for-iust what he had expected.
| a detailed account of the murder appar-
emily throws light upon ii. The news
papers merely state that an unknown
person fred at the captain through the
window Of his Office at night and made
his escape.
The inquest brought out no clew. II
was in evidence that n stranger-a stout,
| squarely built man-had been seen in
| the village that afternoon, and that he
had not been visible after the killing
That was all. There was nothing TO con-
meet the stranger with the murder.
And yet when read this brief item at
a distance OF a thousand miles from the
scene of the tragedy, it was all very
plain 10 me.
The newspaper dropped from my hand
! and my thoughts travelled backward to
the last year of the war.
Private Gray first attracted my atten-
ton under very peculiar circumstances.
When saw him he was In disgrace, and
was suffering the penalty.
Between two posts barrel was nailed
in slanting position. 1t had no head,
and no bottom-nothing but the sides
Private Gray, closely guarded by SOL
dier, was hard at work shoveling sand
into this bottomless barrel.
II was II very hot day, and 1t was very
unsatisfactory work. AS fast as the sand
was shoyeed in it ran out, and the job
was apparently endless.
People stopped to look at the prisoner,
and | joined the crowd. 1t struck me
then that Private Gray was dangerous
looking man. Ho was short and stout,
with a square body, square shoulders, a
square head and n square face, with bull
dog jaws.
He did not shirk his disagreeable work
Ho went on steadily, without looking
either TO the right or to the left.
Finally turned away and walked off
Ny friend, Capt. Ross, followed me
"What DO you think of it?' the captain
asked.
"Who is he, and what is it about?"
inquired.
Private Gray of my company-he was
impcrtinent and had him punished. ."
was the reply.
HE has sullen, determined looking
tacc." 1 said.
"Yes," responded the captain, "ho will
bear watching"
Later in the day the soldier was re-
leased. | sat talking with Ross and a
group Of officers in front of their quar-
ters when Gray camo in sight.
The man did not stop, but he slack
ened his pace and looked straight ut the
captain.
y dead silence fell upon the group
That square, resoluto face, with its deep
set, blazing eyes, fascinated us.
1t was only a second or two, but the
lool, that Gray darted ct tho captain was
full of deadly meaning.
."Ahem! That was Gray, wasn't it2"
said n young lieutenant.
Ross did not answer. His face was
Yery pale, and, muttering some excuse,
| he rose and went to his room.
"Did you notice that fellows lookT
said an officer
eyes" replied one of tho party; "t
was more than look-it was silent
| threat, and there was murder In itv'
Tho next day spoke to Ross about
Private Gray.
"Oh that's all right" he answered,
with an air of relief, II have had him
ransferred-detailed to work in the
quartermaster's department IN Mobile"
did not meet tho captain again for
years. He talked very freely about old
times, and then his face clouded.
do you remember Private Gray?" he
said.
What! has he turned up again?'
queried
Several times" replied the captain.
"On three different occasions he has met
me IN out of the way places where he
was evidently waiting for me. Each
time the sudden appearance of other per-
sons prevented him from making any
/ demonstration. He did not even appear
to recognize me, but quietly passed on.
"WlGt do you Think
Il think said tho captain, "that he
means 10 kill me, and think that he
viii do it some day."
We turned our conversation TO moro
pleasant matters, but I did not forget
what my friend had said.
\ long time after our meeting Ross
wrote q business letter TO me, and In q
postscript mentioned the fact he had
been shot at one dark night while he
was going home from his Office. Hehad
learned that a man resembling Gray had
been seen in the town that day, but moth
| inc further could be ascertainel
thought over the captains letter .
good deal. IL was true that Gray had
been punished by the captains orders,
and that he had looked very strangely
afterwards, but all that was in war
times The man had uttered no threat,
SO far rs anybody knew.
1t struck me rs thought about 1t that
Ross was in bad fix. If Gray should
lay his plans Well and secretly shoot him,
sometime, no jury would convict him on
such evidence rs we had. The old war.
time episode would go for nothing.
with this outline of the inside history
OF the case, the reader will understand
why the assassination Of Capt Ross did
not surprise me.
Still, do not expect everybody to
| Jump 10 my conclusion that Private Gray
was the assassin. Possibly would have