The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-03

hight. Only tho far guard challenge fell
upon his ear ut intervals and seemed 10
announce the passing hours Finally the
ripe stars that glow In tho noon Of night
began to pale in thoir westward setting.
Tho cocks crew, and tho lowing Of kline
was borno far upon tho damp morning
mir. The day was coming.
No soul, save these two mon,
thoughtless woman and an old man, al
most helpless, knew Of tho meeting on
the sands, from which but one, and
probably neither, would ever return.
Father Grimes got his hat and staff and
hobbled forth. He thought no knew tho
spot He would go thither.
The chill air Of dawn pierced his frail
body, and no shivered Painfully and
NIL too slowly he Walked tho stopping
stones across tho puny torrent and toiled
up tho bank upon the other side Flo
saw tho gray streaks IN tho cast and
hastened, grooming, for no remembered
tho words, "At break O. day, sharp"
His journey was a painless ono, oaotus
grown and tangled with long grass
Finally he reached tho crost Of tho low
bluffs, and tho little acre of brown sand
lay before him In tho growing light.
Pcering with his old eyes, he discovered
two figures there Ono of -Am stood
listloss, while tho other p,.sod slowly
across little space Then his compun-
ion measured tho spAoe likowiso in long
and swinging strides AS tho old man
drow nearer he saw that tho two took
opposite places, and that while ono
leaned forward anxiously tho others
attitude was careless, and his weapon
hand hung by his side. Flo shouted
with tho utmost strength Of his old,
wiry voice, but they seemed to pay no
heed Then. and for tho first time In 10
years, no tried to run AS no drew
closer ho saw that Hanks was nearest TO
him, and almost between him and tho
Confederate Then ono said, Ready"
and his adversary answered, Ready"
But Grimes noticed that Hanks held his
weapon in readiness to fire, while tho
other brought his slowly up from his
side
The tiroayht must have passed through
his mind like q flash, "If l could but
push one OF thom aside, I could savo
them" But already they had begun TO
count slowly end simultaneously,
"Onc, two and ut the word ''TTYo''
Hanks dropped suddenly In his place.
and two shots awo1o tho silence almost
together. The tall Confederate stood
still moment thon staggered and fell
backward, whilo crimson stream trio
killed. slowly out upon the brown sand
and sank, leaving the stain of murder
beside his stark figure es he ley, with
open, staring dead eyes, looking at tho
glowing sky.
Hanks had dropped suddenly i'll his
place and had fred before the word 1t
was tho trick which almost diegracs
tho COmanche, from whom ho had in q
manner acquired it He now rose up
and looked around him furtively In
the sunshine of high noon it was
dreary and silent spot, and NOW i'll the
purple morning, with the dead man ~
ing as no had fallen, With the brown
sand, and the sage, md tho gaunt and
thorny cactus on every hand, Hanks
seemed to shiver as he buttoncd his coat
and looked nervously around and stood
O moment thinking. Then, by chance OF
through fear, he cast glance behind
him and saw Fnther Grimes sunk down
in heap, with his head fallen forward
upon his bosom Perhaps bo thought
tho old man dead-at least he had
caught the bullet meant for himself
He hcsitatcd moment, looked around
tho horizon, and then, moved by sudden
fear, walked rapidly away through tho
stunted trees beyond the sand This
tale chronicles no further the wander
ings of the ASSASSIN. He never returned
Father Grimes slowly raised his head
| by and Try pressed his hand to his sido
and tried TO rise. After awhile they
came and bore him to his cabin and
| placed him upon his bed, for i'll ncws
travels quickly, and tho curiosity of the
hard community had quickly hurried
crowd to tho spot While he lay quietly
and looked upward through the cabin
roof, calm and placid. the post surgeon
came, and the commandment, and even the
chaplain, and tho crowd gathered at the
outer door, only parting to permit the
passage of another burden which was
borne there by chance or fancicd CON
ncction with Grimes and his daughter
and laid upon low bench beside tho
wall crying murder through tho hush
with its white uncovered f;;co
They questioned tho old man, and
brohenly and at intervals ho told them
all he know. No, no; not oil, for his
mind soonod prcoccupiod, and at inter
walls he stopped and lay very quiet look
ing at something they could not sec and
smiling M he feobly hold out his hand
His caroworn and pain burdenod life
wns passing fast That they knew and
wcro awed In tho presence Of that death
30 many Of them had courted; 50 many
had pretended to scorn. They watched