The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-06-09
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LEI 90 that pistol then," Oasped.
Ny mind was 90 busy with my griev
ance that ! was poor company, I fear
and drank, perhaps. more whisky thar
was good for me. remember that
stumbled over q stool once, and thai
Minnie looked surprised and fearful
while old FullartOn sniggpred to himself
and coughed to bile Il. did not set out
for home till half past nine. which was 4
very late hour for the island. knew
my father would be asleep. and that If
climbed through my bedroom window
should have one night In peace.
II was blowing great guns by this
time, and ] had TO put my SHOULDER
against the gale a. | came along the
winding path which led down to Car.
rAcuil. ! mnst still have been under
the influence Of liquor, for I remember
that sang uproAriously and joined my
feeble pipe 10 the bowling Of the wind.
| had inst got to the inclOsure Of our
croft when q little incident occurred
which helped to sober me.
White isa color 90 rare in nature that
In an island like ours, where even paper
was q precious commodity, it would ar
rest the attsntinn at once Something
white huttered across my path and stuck
tapping upon \ furzs bush. lifted 1t
up and discovered. 10 my very great
surprise. that It was . linen pocket
Northumberland scented Now was
Rery sure that beyond my own there was
no such thing as q white pocket hand
kerchief in the island A small CON-
munity like ours knew each others
wardrobe to . nicely But as to scent
In UfA-it was prePosterous! Who did
the handkerchief belong to them Was
Minnie right, and was there really Q
stranger In the islandi | walked on
very thoughtfully, holding my discovery
In my hand and thinking Of what Min
ME had seen the night before.
When I got into my bedroom and lit
my rush light ! examined It again. II
was clean and new, with the initials IA.
W." worked In red silk in the corner.
There was no other indication as TO who
It might belong TO. though from its size
It was evidently = mana The incident
struck me a. ~ extraordinary that sat
for some time on the side Of my bed
turning It over in my befuddled mind,
bat without getting any nearer q conclu-
sion. might even have taken my father
into confidence, but his hOarse snoring
In the adjoining room showed that he
was fast asleep. It IL a. well that 1t was
90, for was in no humOF 70 be bullied,
and we might have had words. The old
man had little longer to live, and 1t Il
some solace 10 me now that that little
was unmarried by any further strife be-
tween Us
I did not take my clothes of, but my
brain was getting swimmy after Its tenn
pOrarY clearness, 50 | dropped my head
upon the pillow and sank into profound
slumber. ] must have slept about four
hours. when woke with q violent start.
To this day have never known what
It was that reused me. Everything was
perfectly still, and yet I found all my
faculties In q state Of extreme tension.
Was there some one In the room2 II was
very dark. but peered about, leaning
on my elbow. There was nothing to DO
seen. but still that eerie feeling haunted
me. AT that moment the flying scud
passed away from the face Of the moon
aud food Of cold light was poured into
my chamber. turned my eyes up in
stinetively. and-good God!-there at
the window was the face, an evil. ma
licious face, hard cut and distinct
against the Gilvery radiance, glaFing In
at me as Minnie had seen Il the night
before. For one moment tingled and
palpitated like n frightened child, the
next both glass and sash were gone and
] was rolling over and over on the gravel
path with my arms around Q tall, strong
man-the two Of rs worrying each other
like pair Of dogA Almost by intuition
knew as we went down together that
be had slipped his hand into his side
pocket, and I chung to that wrist like
grim death. BE tired hard to free It, bat
Twas too strong for him. and we stag
gered on to our feet again in the same
position, painting and sBarling.
nLet 60 my hand. damn yoni' he said.
"Let 60 that pistol then" gasped.
We looked hard at each other in the
moonlight, and then he laughed and
opened his fngerA A heavy glittering
object, which ] could go was . revolver,
dropped with Q clink TO the gravel Iput
my foot on II and let go my grip Of
him.
"Well, Eatey. how nowV" he said with
another laugh. 'Is that an end Of q
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