Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-12-09


gentle face, as his eyes rested on the
upright form of the principal actor. n
mingled look of love, recognition and
horror. and gently urging the old mule
he rode slowly out into the open, his
eyes fixed steadily upon the prisoner.
a low exclamation broke from his
lips as the boy turned partly around
fully exposing his features to the
Steadfast gaze. The cry might have
been one of love or hatred, doubt or
assurance, and caused the bound boy
to raise his flashing gray eyes to the
old mans face. Here they rested as
if spellbound, and the men surround
ing these two saw a nervous twitching
of the boys features, and look came
into his eyes as if he was trying to
recall something long forgotten and
almost Obliterated. The old man slow
ly turned away, and seeming to divine
the leader of the band, addressed
Meeker in a low, quivering voice:
What is this that you are about to
do? Who are you that you should
have the power Of life and death over
this boy?'
Meeker stepped forward and gave in
detail the particulars of his brothers
murder, his oath of vengeance, the
long, hard pursuit, the capture and the
consequences about to be enacted upon
the murderer.
The old mans face during the re-
cital had undergone great and rapid
changes, first betraying love, then hor-
ror, and upon the completion of Meek
er's explanation, a look came into his
eyes that was impossible to interpret.
Il demand the life of this prisoner by
right of prior claims. Years ago he
perpctrated wrong upon me and
mine that | have sworn never to for
give, and | have tracked him from
place to place, with the firm determi-
nation that when we met one of us
must die by the others hand. Your
claim is a just one, and your creed of
"A life for life is one not to be qucS-
toned by me, but l insist that he be
released from his bonds and given Il
chance to stand before me, man to
man, and settle the old score"
AS the old man finished speaking the
leader of the band turned to his men,
who had been deeply affected by the
speakers appearance and apparent
thirst for vengeance against some
great wrong
Men, this old mans right, and if
he's been hunting for 'Flashy Frank
all these years he has, as he says. the
first claim against him. I'll withdraw
my oath against the murderer Of my
only brother, and let this old man deal
with him as he likes; and if he escapes
death at the old mans hands he shall
not escape from me- and Mcekcr
started towards the prisoner, who was
deeply bewildered by the turn affairs
had taken.
"Hold"' cried the old man. He
shall have a chance for his life. Swear
TO me that if he does not fall by my
hand, and if, on the contrary he kills
me, he shall be allowed to go his way
in peace. My wrong is greater than
yours, and if | can so far forgive him
as to make these terms, you shall not
be the one to hold out against them"
The emotion of this old gray-haircd
stranger, his low, intense tones, and
the perceptible efforts he made to con-
troll some great passion, appealed
strongly to the band of avengers. After
exchanging glanceS with the others,
Meeker gave the required promise, and
the youth was released from his
bonds, given revolver, and told the
terms of the proposed duel The puz-
zled expression he had worn during
the colloquy gave way to one of devil
ish cunning, and none doubted but that
he would do his utmost to win.
The two principals in this strange
combat were placed in position, Flashy
Frank holding revolver in his left
hand, and the old man standing in
place, his head bowed and his lips
moving as if in prayer.
'One, two, three" rang out and an
instant after fire" followed by the
report of a single weapon. The old
man was seen to drop his revolver,
clutch wildly at his heart and then fall
to the ground. "FlaShy Frank" stood
upright, his left hand tightly grasp
ing his wounded arm, an evil smile
lurking about his lips. When they
raised the old man from the ground his
eyes Enclosed, resting on his opponent,
who had not moved from his position
Bring him here" he whispered, fall
ing back into the arms of the men
around him. The boy slowly approach
ed. He looked calmly into the face of
the dying man. The closed eyes slow
ly opened again and rested lovingly
upon the boy. phil, Phil" slowly
whispered the white lips, Little Phil"
The boy started, gazed more earnestly
at the calm features of the old man,
staggered back and fell on his knees,
with hoarsc Cry, Father! and killed
by my hand!'
Yes, Phil, it was the only way.
Twas your life or mine, and | gave
mine gladly to save you. Ask them
to forgive me-the-lie."
AS the sun slowly sank behind the
distant mountains the life of the old
man went out, his face lighted up with
II Ia is
ing the old white head upon breast
torn with a thousand conflicting emo
tions, A shallow grave was dug in the
shadow of the great trees, and the
dead man slowly and reverently low
cred into his last resting place AS the
earth was piled upon that cold form.
hiding it forever from the sight of
man. Meeker slowly lifted his hands
to heaven, and with bowed head and
awed face slowly pronounced, Great
or love hath no man than this, that he
lay down his life for another"
The moon ascends slowly, the night
birds utter their lonesome cries, and
far in the distance coyotes mournful
howl breaks the still air. A band OF
horsemen are urging their jaded horses
on the back TRAIL" all awed into deep
silence by the recent scene they had
witnessed.
On the edge of the woods a solitary
figure is standing beside the new-made
grave, his form bent and his heart
torn with deep sobs. "Father, father;
| did not know it was you," he mur-
INJURED. Suddenly he Strengthened up
to his full height, revolver is pressed
to his throbbing temple and dull re-
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