Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-06-28

themr' But already they had begun TO
count, slowly and simultaneously,
Zone, two and at the word ''Two"
Hanks dropped suddenly in his place,
and two shots awoke the silence almost
together The tall Confederate stood
still moment, then staggered and fell
backward, while crimson stream tric-
kled slowly out upon the brown sand
and sank, leaving the stain Of murder
beside his stark figure as he lay, with
open, staring dead eyes, looking at the
glowing sky.
Hanks had dropped suddenly in his
place and had fired before the word. 1t
was the trick which almost disgraces
the Comanche, from whom he had in a
manner acquired it. He now rose up
and looked around him furtively. In
the sunshine of high noon it was a
dreary and silent spot, and now in the
purple morning, with the dead man ly-
ing as he had fallen, with the brown
sand, and the sage, and the gaunt and
thorny cactus on every hand, Hanks
seemed to shiver as he buttoned his coat
and looked nervously around and stood
moment thinking. Then, by chance or
through fear, he cast a glance behind
him and saw Father Grimes sunk down
in heap, with his head fallen forward
upon his bosom. Perhaps he thought
the old man dead-at least he had
caught the bullet meant for himself.
He hesitated a moment, looked around
the horizon, and then, moved by sudden
fear, walked rapidly away through the
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 by pressed his hand to his side
and tried to rise. After awhile they
came and bore him to his cabin and
placed him upon his bed, for i'll news
travels quickly, and the curiosity of the
hard community had quickly hurried
crowd to the spot. While he lay quietly
and looked upward through the cabin
roof, calm and placid, the post surgeon
came, and the commandant, and even the
chaplain, and the crowd gathered at the
outer door, only parting to permit the
passage of another burden which was
borne there by chance or fancied con-
nection with Grimes and his daughter
and laid upon low bench beside the
wall crying murder through the hush
with its white uncovered face.
They questioned the old man, and
brokenly and at intervals he told them
all he knew. No. no; not all, for his
mind seemed preoccupied, and at inter-
walls he stopped and lay very quiet look
ing at something they could not see and
smiling as he feebly held out his hand.
His careworn and pain burdened life
was passing fast That they knew and
were awed in the presence of that death
SO many of them had courted; SO many
had pretended to scorn. They watched
him and waited to hear if he had aught
else to tell. A little while passed in 81
lence. Suddenly he opened his eyes
again and looked intently toward a cor
ner Of the room. 1t was not look Of
scrutiny, doubt or inquiry, but of happy
certainty and surprise. A faint flush
stole into the pallor Of his old face, his
eye frightened, and he stretched forth
his hand and tried to lift himself upon
his arm. The doctor bent over him (the
chaplain had gone home again) and
asked him what he would have. The
old man turned with look Of surprise
and pointed with his finger.
Don't you see him?' he said.
II see no one-what is he ike?'
"I-I don't know. His face shines,
and he smiles. 1t is like him as he
walked on the sea. wonder-you don't
suppose do you? he can have come SO
far for me?''
And death scaled upon the SCARED and
wrinkled face its last beatitude. They
went out and left him there and closed
the door. And as they passed through
the outer chamber they saw the girl sit
ting by the bench beside the wall and
looking with fearless eyes afar off while
she held in her lap her dead lovers cold
right hand. Major James W. Steele in
Short Stories