The record-union., 1892-03-09
WITH GOD FOR WITNESS.
Human Judgment Had No Terrors fc
Him.

Him.
Frick Dent lay on his back and listened
to the bowling of the wolves in the tim
Der and the more oppressive breathing OF
his partner He had been awake for
hours, and not being thinking man he
had absolutely nothing to do. The fir tree
over the shack dripped slow moisture on
the roof, and through the warped glass OF
window one star was blurred and half
smeared out. The heavy cotton comfort
able lay unyieldiDg, like mattress, upon
him. and he grew cold. lie got up, crepJ
across the gritty floor, slid on his boots
and went to the door. Outside, the drip
ping forest of evergreen pressed against
the one-roomed shack; TWO freshly felIed
trees supported themselves half up. like
4 man on his elbow; a faint trail trom the
door lost itself in the darkness OF the un-
Gergrowth. Frlck picked up the double
bitted aX by the door and went out for
iirewood. As he moved IN the under-
brush lac heard a slight sound behind
him, and stopped to listen. Ihefe was
blaze. zip, and he fell forward lie telt
himself being dragged over uneven
ground. lie opened his eyes when he
heard d swapping and cracking near him;
he was lying on comfortable beside the
stove, which burned freshly. Tom was
pulling oil his boots and sobbing and
moaning over him hike q man III a night
MAJ =. AAC w his ~ SttNAi ~ -
'Eom."
Prick, boy, I didn't go to. l was
asleep | heard SUmethin'; / Was
dreanin' of bars. Lord Lord !! lie
don't hear"
The little fimsy stove was red-hot, and
the blood soaked into the comfortable
from the mans side. Tom tore strips
to tie them around the great hairy chest.
krick moaned.
~ om,'' he said. were friends, amt
WEI" Ills hand groped teebly.
Tom laid his unShaved cheek on trick'S S
side, above the jagged hole.
We're 1riends?'' he asked again.
"Ye es, yes, Frick. I'd a sight ruther
done it 10 myself" He sat on the floor
holding the chill hand and pressing the
| coarse cloth against the pumping wound.
The fierce fire died out from the stove,
the iron crealling as it cooled.
t'rick lay with his eyes staring open.
They'll say you killed me a-purpose,
he br6athed. "G Ou'd ought TO get a wit
| ness, Tom.'
~ amt kerin' what they say. / amt
goin' to leave you here dyin' while Pm
off lookin up witnesses"
| After long pause, Frick said, you
/ tell 'em / was loadin' ketriges when
i you went out, and when you came back
! was like this"
Tom shook his head. 81 amt kerin'
Gimme a pencil, Tom; don't be a
! fool
Tom lit tallow candle stuck in the
neck Of "a bottle, and lifted Frick against
| his knee, while be held piece Of paper
! against the side OF one Of the boots he had
/ dragged of. The stiff, greenish hand
| closed over the pencil, and Erick traced
! the word Friends; but the point was
/ gone, and the pencil left no mark. Then
: he drew d hard, quick breath, and slid
! out of Toms arms. Tom laid him down
and drew him out straight, and gathering
uD the blood-stained rags, threw them
! into the cold stove, and sat waiting
! for morning. When the light came ne
/ took the dead man over his back,
and. shutting the door of the shack,
started down the trail from the
/ claim toward the river. The trail was
! very slight; the partners had only been
holding down the claim for few weeks,
/ and it was all that Tom could do 10
I keep his feet with the swinging. sag
ging weight on his back. He final y
reached the river, a mere winding stream,
and laying Frick in the stern OF his boat,
/ and covering him with a coat, he took
| the oars. 1t was early morning, and
/ q sheet OF white miSl steamed up
/ from the water, and was torn and
! hung in great shreds among the far
! DI3ilIIlSS OF inc eNtIGIGGilS- IIlIOuSi ii
! the white stiffness they passed slowly
! down the winding stream. 1t was long
/ Journey for the rover, with the silence OF
! the woods about him and the silence OF
/ the dead beside him; but as evening came
! he saw the light ofthe town below; it was
/ the cleitr electric star above the first saw
! mill When he brought up at tie wharf
/ a few idlers were standing about.
! what have you got there?" asked one
/ out OF the fullaess Of his laziness.
! Tom lifted his eyes from the express
/ ionless heap in the boat and said Tell
your Coroner to come down here"
They put him into the little strong
4 house with bars across the windows. ana
/ questioned him. Then the local press
! sent Representatives es''-the editor and
/ proprietor-to interview him; and the
little innocent children came and looked
/ III at him. standing upon boxes for the
purpose. He made one clear statement
! at the inquest; after that lie would not
/ talk. Three days later they came to him
j with the news. lie got up slowly.
''You don't understand" said the doc
! tor YOU'RE a free man"
Yes, | understand well enough he
/ answered, turning down toward the
/ river.
! "What are you going to do?" asked tho
! doctor, suspiciousiy.
Ppm goin' up to the claim,' he said
/ The doctor watched him get into his
/ boat and pull slowly up the river, and
/ still stood watching until man and boat
/ were lost in the solemn pines.-Harper's
/ Weekly.