The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-06-12


81 say-are ye t'nin?-that |
shouldn't wonder eff thought you was
a low down, sneakin -
The Confederate gentleman arose.
motioned to Hanks and moved toward
the door They both went out, walked
little way along the wall toward the
old mans Tapping window and stopped
II don't do my fightin in the presence
o. wimmen, said the Confederate,
''but I'm fghtin man, an ye kin hev
all ye're sp'ilin for. There's no use in
bein in ungentlemanly hurry about
this ere little difikilty. Tomorrer
mornin-break O. day, sharp, at the
sand bar beyant Stokes'-'ll suit me eff
you kin stand it. :"
"Wot's yer weepins?' said the other
Navy size-10 PAGES "
''Seconds?"
''Nary man
"I'll be thar, and old Grimes heard
the footsteps die away in opposite direc-
lions.
He hobbled into the room where his
daughter sat. Her pinlzy cheeks were
little paler, and there was an unwonted
apprehension in her eyes. "Sary," he
said, kin ye do nothin to keep them
two young fellers apart?'
mo; they're two fools, an it's none
of my affair. F"
''Did ye hear what they said out
side?'
eyes, I heard was list'nin. They
kin fight it out. There's better men
than either of 'em. /"
Grimes turned and went back to his
little bare room-the. little bare and
shabby place where the company who
came and sat with him were not inhab-
itants of Slabtown-and seated himself
upon the bed and communed with him
self. 1t is a strange life and wonder
full education that can teach red
checked and hoydenish girl to smile at
the passions which lead to the grim re-
venges of the border. The old man sat
and thought, and the hours passed slow
ly. He lay down upon the rude bed, and
perhaps would have slept if he could.
Then he rose and occupied himself in
reading again and went out often and
looked into the shadows Of the still
night Only the far guard challenge fell
upon his ear at intervals and seemed to
announce the passing hours Finally the
ripe stars that glow in the noon of night
began to pale in their westward setting
The cocks crew, and the lowing of kline
was borne far upon the damp morning
air. The day was coming.
No soul, save these two men, a
thoughtless woman and an old man, al
most helpless, knew of the 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 he knew the
spot He would go thither
The chill air Of dawn pierced his frail
body, and he shivered Painfully and
all too slowly he walked the stepping
stones across the puny torrent and toiled
up the bank upon the other side. He
saw the gray streaks in the east and
FASTENED, grooming, for he remembered
the words, cat break O. day, sharp.
His journey was a painless one, cactus
grown and tangled with long grass
Finally he reached the crest of the low
bluffs, and the little acre of brown sand
lay before him in the growing light.
Peering with his old eyes, he discovered
two figures there. One Of them stood
listless, while the other paced slowly
across a little space. Then his compan-
ion measured the space likewise in long
and swinging strides. AS the old man
drew nearer he saw that the two took
opposite places, and that while one
leaned forward anxiously the others
attitude was careless, and his weapon
hand hung by his side. He shouted
with the utmost strength of his old,
why voice, but they seemed to pay no
heed Then, and for the first time in 10
years, he tried to run AS he drew
closer he saw that Hanks was nearest to
him, and almost between him and the
Confederate. Then one said, Ready
and his adversary answered, Ready"
But Grimes noticed that Hanks held his
weapon in readiness to fire, while the
other brought his slowly up from his
side.
The Il 0u5ht must have passed through
his mind like a flash, IF | could but
push one of them aside, could save
themP' But already they had begun to
count slowly and simultaneously,
Zone, two and at the word 1.-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 a crimson stream trio
killed. 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 III a
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 in the
purple morning, with the dead man ~
ing as he had fallen, with the brown
sand, and the sage, and the gaunt and
thorny cactus ON every hand, Hanks
seemed to SILVER as he buttoned his coat
and looked nervously around and stood
a 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 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 a
crowd to the 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 the crowd gathered at the
outer door, only parting TO permit the
passage of another burden which was
borne there by chance or a fancied con-
nection with Grimes and his daughter
and laid upon a 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 ut something they could not see and
smiling as he feelay held out his hand.
His careworn ana 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