Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-06-23

the SuFitCe OF tIe SldSS Ill ~ min MIN,
and as they did so il soon became
evident that the plate had been ex-
posed, and what is more, with salts
factory results. The subject was
very indistinct and uncertain at first,
but it was growing, growing, growing,
until it assumed a complete form.
Now my heart began to beat fast,
and ] could barely hold the plate
steady, MY hand trembled so. There
was no mistaking the result of that
fatal exposure now. The figure of a
man became more and more distinct.
Look! lie appeared to be in the act
OF running away, a pistol was in his
hand pointing upwardsl
Good ~heaven'sl" | cried, "Glover's
murdererl Glover, then, must have
seen him, and was just in time to get
u snap at him, when theman saw that
he was being watched and fred
What wild imaginations filled my
mind. Here-here held in my hand
n silent witness, of the identity of the
murderer. | could now bring to
witness the man who shot my friend,
| should be the means of avenging his
death. The reward tco--the 1900.
That would be mine as well; and how
thankful | should be for the money at
this time of the year. There would be
no need to fear for the coming winter
mo worry as to where food and fuel
were to come from. Such a sum would
see us through the winter splendidly,
and ven then leave a balance in hand
for the spring-time, when the return
of brighter days meant the bringing in
OF new customers.
All this | thought ofas | still watch
ed the plate, with eager gaze becoming
palmer and palmer. In a few seconds
my practised eye would be able to dis
Germ the features OF the man himself.
Yes, yes-the magic chemicals were
bringing the man nearer and nearer
to justice. | held the plate up to
catch the light which came through
the small pane of red glass. Merciful
heaven! | knew those heavy-set
features and close-cut beard-I knew
him-,I knew himl The murderer OF
my old friend and the man who saved
my child from death was one and the
same.
l clutched at the side Of the stone
sink, and my eyes must have well nigh
been starting from my head | daren't
look at the face again-it was
there, too real, too terribly true-it
was him! What should | do? Once
the scene of my boys rescue
passed through my brain. | could
see it as wildly as on the very day it
happened. Yet against this the words,
ga life for q life," rang i'll my ears.
How should | act? He saved our
child once-an only child. Was it for
me to save him now? But he was n
murderer, and that horrible word
seemed to be shouted out by a thou
sand tongues.
| breathed morefreely for
| found relief in the thought that per-
haps he might never cross my path
again, that the world was wide, and
we should never meet face to face. In
my heart even then / prayed hat it
might be so. Just as | was harping
on the possibilities of never seeing
this man again, | heard the hurried
footsteps of my boy Archi~ coming up
the stairs. The door OF the dark
room was locked, so | knew that he
could not get in. for the sight of my
face would surely have frightened the
Papa, papa" my little one cried,
beating at the door with his hands.
papa, where are you? Openthe door,
papa"
With an effort | asked the boy
what he wanted-I told him | was
busy and didnot wish to be disturbed.
] stood trembling, %clineing to a wood
en- ledge for support.
But you must come, papa" my
child cried, ''he's come"
"Who, who, Archie?" | asked.
"The gentleman who saved me from
the horses, papal"
Inearly fell My head was swim
ming-I knew not where | was. That
man herein my house. listened
and remained as one in q trance, and
without the power to move. 1t was
my own child's voice. He was calling
to him to come upstairs, and a heavy
footstep was approaching nearer
and nearer. Should | 60 mad? Think
of it, oh! think OF it. My innocent
child alone outside with q murderer,
perhaps holding his hand, perhaps in
his arms. must act, and at once.
In a moment of time | seemed to live
through the conflicting argument
of a year. / had promised this
mar | would pay him back some
day if ever it were in my power
for saving my child from death. He
himself "a in my powernow. Should
/ turn his savior and save him from
the gallows? My Archie was tapping
loudera t the door. Only one thing
could testify to this mans guilt-the
picture on the plate, the man in the
act of firing, the lifelike presentment
of his features. My boy was calling
my name. Iraised the plate above
my head and threw it heavily on the
ground. The plate vas broken into
a hundred atoms, the silent witness
was destroyed forever.
| rushed to the door, turned the key
and opened it. There was my child
holding his hand. | picked the boy
up in my arms, and the guilty man
seemed to realize what my action
iHttilJ. l1t lOOhtu ~ illC loL ~ NV
ment and would have spoken.
"Not a word, not a world" | said
breathlessly. | pointed to the cam.
era on the shelf, and his eyes wander
ed towards it. His face went deadly
pale, and for an instant, but only for
an instant, | thought he seemed in
clined to raise his hand against me
and the boy in my arms. But his eyes
fell upon the pieces of broken glass OF
the floor. A wild light of thankful
Joy lit up his face-he'saw and knew
everything.
go, now" / said, ego without a
word. It's my turn now, and ! have
indeed paid you back the debt |
owed you. Mono, l can't take
your hand. You gave me a life
once, | give you your W now"
| watched him hurry down the
stairs. Now and again he looked back
at me and the boy in my arms, but he
must have read in my face that which
prevented him from turning and
speaking. He disappeared, and lhave
never set eyes on him from that day
to this.
told my wife everything-my child
was too young to understand, but
think somehow he must have felt in
his little mind that something very
terrible had happened, for he never
again referred to the man who had
Saved him from the horses"
The Early Girl,
Principal North of the graded
Dl.-1Io ~ ,aoantI,,