Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-11

was q rattling and clattefng OF iufm-
ture and dishes in tho cabins, showing
that the people were mp, but there was
no one in the streets. Outside all was
silent and deserted.
Jack and Joe were dressed and were
sitting quietly discussing the events Of
the evening before, and trying to devise
some plan by which they might extri-
cate themselves from tho difficulty
which lay before them
"I1l tell you what, said Jack. 81 wish
now had not promised that old lady to
call at the hotel this morning. don't
know what in the world l am going to
say to her when do call"
81 don't know but that II | was you"
said Joe, 81 wouldn't call.
~ have half mind not to, but still |
dislike TO lie that way. ! half way lied
to her down thero in tho stage when |
changed Mart Thompson into Mark
Thompldns. Still didn't just see how
could do otherwise then. | think 1t
was better to stretch tho truth little
than to have broken that innocent old
heart. don't your
Yes, it WINS, because as it is there
wasn't anybody hurt"
mo, that was all right. But about
the rest Of 1t don't know what to do
Just then there was slight noise at
the door, and as the two miners turned
TO see what it meant man lifted the
latch and came in. Jack and Joe sprang
to their feet and started back in alarm.
Was il really man or was it an appari-
ton that stood before thomf
Don't be alarmed" said the one who
had Just entered. "You have nothing
to fear from me | suppose you know
whom ann
NO" replied Jack mot certainly
And yet Thought
You thought was Mart Thompson,
the other interrupted Isn't it soy
yes, it is"
Then you thought right That is
who am"
The miners were little recovered
from their establishment by this time
and werehble to think and speal; con
nectedly. The ono called Jack, always
the spokesman Of the two, said;
81 believe that you speak tho truth
and that you urorcally Mart Thompson
"Of course am Do you think that
mine is such Il proud, ouviable name
that any one would care TO claim it who
was not entitled to III Do you think the
character that nnmo represents such
that any ono would want to steal It? Do
you think any innocent man would care
to come into this camp und say his name
was Mart Thompsoul DO you think any
of those things likely?"
mo, do not. But why do You come
here? Don't you know that you are in
the greatest danger"
Eyes, supposed | was. supposed
that to DO caught in this camp meant
death for me. 1t was my impression
that the miners hero had declared my
life forfeited, and had pledged them
selves to take il on the first opportunity
Am rightT'
eyes, you are. We have long since
decided that your life was forfeited, and
we have only waited the chance to take
it,"
80 thought, and for that reason
am here"
81 do not understand Jack said, look
ing at Thompson in blank amazement.
Don't your Thompson replied oui-
etly. what say is plain and simple.
md it ought not TO be hard to understand !
II, You people hero have said that you
would hang or shoot me if you ever had
o chance. supposed that you had said
Lhat, and for that reason | came 10 this
,amp, l know that the mon Of this
place arc people who keep their word
and who never abandon purpose"
Jack, still astOnished, shook his head,
but remained silent. Mart Thompson's
words and actions were beyond his com
prehension He could not fathom the
mans meaning. He might have thought
that Thompson was feigning had he not
seen bis face and noted now pale aud
wan it was, and how sad aud sunken
were his eyes. That face, those eyes,
very picture of despair and detection,
Drecluded all doubt of the mans
Don't you understand me yetY
Thompson asked after short pause.
'Then | will DO palmer in my speech |
have come here because want you men
to take my life. surrender myself into
your hands. Take me and do with me
IS you please, onlyso you take my life"
why do you say such things5 Jack
lsked.
81 say what do because / feel It, and
feel it because of what happened yes
.erday. 9Ou were in the stage yester-
lay evening when 1t was robbed"
Eyes, we were there"
80 was 1. Here are your pistols, your
money and your watches. II was who
'ook them and restore them. But that
IS nothing; look here at this, Here is
the lookot took from tho old lady. Do
you see what a cheap, simple, little thing
II is? II is almost worthless; yet it has
had a terrible effect on me. It has
brought mo to sudden halt in my
career. It has set me 10 thinking. It
has made me want TO die.
The trusting old soul took that
FROM" he continued, after monentary
pause, ''is my grandmother. and prac-
tically any mother. Old and feeble as
she is, she loft her home in the east and
came west in quest Of me, She has
passed through months of suffering,
hsrdships and disappointments, all IN
HE hope OF seeing ine again, Aud at last