The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-06

I Of all the lies you told behind my back TO
blacken me and steal nv sweetheart from
mel - you, what do you think Of 'em
now r
+ ~ NJ, Iii a lie about y. u in my life"
said Rcd %. steadily.
You're liar now" said Hetheridge,
and you we're a liar then. But you'll tell
no more lies about me, George
His face was of devilish psllor. What
little lignt the candle gave fell full upon it,
and bis eyes glittered redly as If they were
surchsrged with blood.
"You mean to kill me. Redwood 1aid.
You've hit it, George, first pop" Hether-
! idge answered. 1--WE meant It this seven
years. and by and by Pm going to do it.
I'm going to 90 it quite safely, George, and
that's the beauty Of 1t. | shall get off SCOT
| free. There isn't a soul in the world who
would ever so much as dream that had a
finger in itn
Redwood sat frozen with the horror Of the
stu alton. His tongue Glove to the roof Of his
mouth, aud be had no word to say.
II should never have found out how to
do it.n Hetheridge went on, "if it hadn't
been for that lucky accident of my being
lost In the bush. The papers said that / was
dead. and that gave me the first idea. l put
all my money away In such a fashion thatI
could come to life at any minute and have
il back again. You always thought that |
was fool, George, didn't you? That isn't
the only question that you and me have dIf-
fered about, is it, Pm pretty - smart, /
can tell you. 1t took me two years to study
up old Andre Dom. lived in France TO do
it. l worked like niger all the while,
George. They say that when an English
mans past 20 he can never learn to speak
French like Frenchman. Can't bel You
ask me and I'll tell you a different story.
I'd have learned ten languages if they'd
been needful.n
you wicked villain n Redwood groaned,
finding his tongue at length.
That's right" said Hetheridge. taking a
cigar from his pocket aud lighting it at the
candle. 'You take your innings now and
I'll do the looking on"
"Look here, Jack. my lad" said Red
wood. you've got me helpless here, and
you can work your wicked will on me. But
you mark my words. II never get out of
this place alive you're Just as much dying
man as am. There's God in heaven, and I'd
sooner stand in my own shoes than I'd stand
in yours. II you mean murder
"And do" said Hetheridge.
Come on and get it over. IL my last
hour has come can face it. leave myself
and you to the God that made US BOTH"
There's one thing didn't tell you,
George said Hetheridge, biting the end
from his cigar TO make it draw more freely
He leaned forward with both elbows on the
table so that the light of the candle no
longer fell upon his face. His eyes blazed
even then, and though there was terrible
tense vibration in his voice, he spoke with
extreme deliberateness. I'm going to
marry the widow"
Redwood uttered an inarticulate crv Of
rage and agony. He struggled with his
bonds like mailman, but only TO tear his
wrists and ankles with the ropes that held
him. He ceased from pure exhaustion and
sat still once more.
"Wouldn't you like to beg your life
GeorgeF his triumphant captor asked him.
mo" said Redwood, with set teeth and
cleaning eyes. 81 wouldn't. Do your worst
and have it over"
''I'm in no hurry, George. ! shan't have
the chance to do it twice. and don't want
to spoil it. Did you ever hate anybody,
Georgep
~ never did. thank God," said Red
wood.
Then you can't guess" said Hetheridge,
'what a time I'm having. pve waited
seven years for it, I'd have walked through
fire to get it any time, and now you see I've
got it."
Redwood closed his eyes and strove to
close his ears TO the taunts of his triumph
ant enemy.
He prayed inwardly for his wife and
child, besought pardon for his own Of
lenses, and awaited his end with stonic
courage which perhaps few men would
have shown.
10. you've shut your eyes to 1t, have
youW Hetheridge ieered at him. Cant
you look death in the face, Georges"
You'll do that one day." Redwood an
swered. land then. God help you"
AT that instant the candle 1ared in the
socket and expired.
There's Zig at enough from the fire" said
Hetheridge. "for me TO do my business by.
Now, George here's a bit of a blind cord
yard and half of it. 1t isn't much, is it?
But think you'll f1ud it enough. There's
not going to be any pistol or dagger work
here. This is cleaner and quieter and quite
as satisfactory
He arose with the cigar still between his
lips. and walked behind his victims chair.
With an unfaltering hand he passed the
cord round Redwood's throat, strained upon
it with his full force, drew both ends round
to the back again, and tied them there.
Then he tore the blanket from the door,
turned, withdrew the key, locked the house
on the outside and made OFF in the dark
ness
The rain had ceased, aud here and there
about the sky faint and troubled light was
seen. Little by little the clouds were drawn
apart until a watery new moon shed a dim
and fearful light upon the landscape There
was an awful sense in Hetheridge's mind,
that the deed done was past recalling, and
though he knew that IL 1t were redone thou
sand times. he would enact the scene anew
each time with the same unfiinching zest of
hate. its accomplishment weighed upon him
none the less.
He threw the key into pond mile away
from the cottage and walked on to the as
sured safety which lay bsfore him. Yet
silent horror filed all the waste spaces of
the night.