The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-04-20

he had drunk, ana nad, aoupuless,
been impelled by its influence to act as
! he had.
"See yere. Mister Man." Missed
Bragg. threateningly this we're foolin's
| been goin' on long 'nough. Let loose
O that heifer an give white man a
show"
/ Rice's eyes blazed. He stepped back
a couple of PAGES out of hearing of the
women. and answered with quiet
/ earneStness:
$50 to --sir, I'd have you un-
derstaud that no white-eyed cow
punchcr can bullyrag me. I'm going
to finish this dance-and more, if |
choose. But if you have anything to
| say about it, I'll accommodate you
after this quadrille, in any way you
| like"
Bragg's eyes sparkled. "Guns?" he
asked, eagerly.
"Yes, anything. Go out and wait
in the road, by that white rock. I'll
be ont there when finish here. When
reach the cutoff down there begin
| shooting"
"All right" And Bragg, who was
| considered the best shot in the county,
! went quietly away satisfied.
The music struck up and the dance
began as though nothing had hap
pened. Indeed, while every one knew
that there had been trouble, here was
Jnly one person besides the principals
.2ho heard the conversation and who
knew thai the trouble was not yet
over. and presently he slipped from
the ROOM
Harvey Bragg, pacing impatiently
up and down the road. waiting with
siX-shooter in hand, heard some one
coming from back toward the house.
He turned at the white rock and
halted. his finger clutching neryOusly
ut the stock of his revolver. He could
see a figure advancing in the gloom.
Nearer, nearer, to where the cutoff
left the main road.
Now.
Two shots rang out simultaneously.
Harvey Bragg felt sharp pain in his
left shoulder, but kept pulling the
trigger.
Two more shots from each. and
Bragg fell to the earth shot through
the lungs, but with sufficient strength
to fire his two remaining shots.
Down in the road we found them
both-Bragg just dying and Milly-
poor little Miliy. with three wounds
shot through and through and gaspIng
for breath
Rice and picked him up and carried
him in, and others cared for Bragg.
We laid Milly down on the bed in tho
Misses Miles room. He mOtioned te
me to 90 out and close the door, and |
went, leaving Rice alone with him.
Ten minutes later Arthur Rice, with
drawn, deathIy look on his hand
some face, came into the hall where
was talking to one of the Miles girls.
Go to her." he said, strangely; "it
is my wife, and she is dead"
He took my arm and drew me from
the house and down to where he had
left the horses. The clouds had gone
and the moonlight made his livid face
look fairly ghastly. We halted and
faced each other.
Il lied" he said Il lied; she was not
my wife; | deceived hcr-betraved her
and fled like coward. | have been
sorry, but | heard she was dead and |
thought | could make no amends.
Bury her, old man, and say on the
stone so everybody can see it, Alice.
beloved wife of Rice McArthur-that's
my name. | can't bear TO stay. Good
by-good-by dear old boy-God bless
you"
He thrust some bills into my hand,
whispering, For her." leaped on his
horse and was gone-into the hills. |
never saw him again. He went to
Central America and was murdered
by piundering natives year later
ArgOHGut.