The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-01-16

Mr.. Clayton laid his hand ON her
shoulder and said:
"Don't 60, Miss Bertha, you can do
no good, and they are going 10 bring
him home"
She shook his hand impatiently on
and shrank from him ss though he
had been . viper. He looked SUR
prised but said nothing.
There was now quite q little crowd
Of neighbors assembled In the little
cottage and John sitting pale and
gloomy near the bed upon which the
old mother now lay with a nervous
chill, saw Charlie coming up the walk
to the house. With a painful throb
Of his heart John arose to meet him.
Since that dreadful murder had
come to light there was a great ag-
ony at Johns heart, for the tale
Charlie had come home with at that
late hour was still ringing in his
ears.
"Well, Charlie" he said, "have
you heard the dreadful news2"
eyes" said Charlie, and his eyes
we're moist with tears. 81 never
was SO sorry for anything in my life
and to think he was trying to save
me-"
"You had better keep that talk to
yourself yet awhile" said John in a
low tone-"there Is something be-
hind, that will come out after awhile,
but now is not the time to stir it 1
think"
There was a tremor in Johns
voice and Charlie for the frst tirs !
in bis lie felt that his Brother re-
garded him with an unjust suspicion.
Mr.. Mabin, or Capt Mabin as he
was now called, had joined them and
they said no more regarding the
mysterious murder, which so soon
had followed the strange disclosure
Jack Hazel had made to Charley,
"Who was the murderer" was
the question on every lip.
81 am sure," said Capt. Mabin,
"the boy did not have an enemy In
the world, and 1t must have been q
chance shot that killed him. Prob
ably some one was taking a loaded
gun home and let it go off accident
ally not knowing that it did any
harm"
81 hope" said John, sit was done
in that way, but 1t seems improb'
able.n
Charlie had gone in the house. HI
was asking Bertha Hazel when he
brother left home and IL she hearc
any shot that night.
"We did not see him any NOR
after he ate his supper and walke'
away, and mother and I lay awak
all night looking for him every mo
ment, and SO uneasy about him, bu
we did not hear any shot,"
Charles sympathy and sorro'
was SO genuine and tender that tn
mother and sister were touched b
it, and Johns suspicion almost dis
/, armed.
eff there is anything I can do fo
. you, Mrs. Hazel" he said, "pleas
call on me. If you need money
can let you have all you want"
John heard him and did not proffe
q his help although be intended to q
all he could for them. The famil
70 at "The Elms" WERE greatly shocke
a that the murdered man was JAG
Hazel, the only support of a helple
4 family.
Mrs. Dabney was much annoyt
a to know that her sons and Elf
r were 30 enlisted in behalf Of Il
r. Hazel family, that they had loant
q them money and otherwise provide
for their necessities.
:, 81 have no use," she said, ct
tho Q Yankee people. 1t Is n
% opinion they talk with the negro
"a and make them dissatisfied"
John did all he could for thel
=, though in spite of his mothers /
r. m~onstrance, he was SO unlike hir
self, 30 silent and gloomy since t
10 murder that Ellie asked him sever
times what was the matter.
N "Are you going in the army, tc
20 John9" she asked one day as 10
sat gloomily looking over some dc
q tors bills he had made out for G.
lection.
10 "Not unless forced to it,"
ID answered without looking up. "a
what will force you," she ask
again, looking very thoughtful a
al sad.
W "The conscript officer Perhaps
la ie, but there are several things mil
force me to 1t and l am already tt
an ing to make preparation for q
ot emergency that may arise"
They were in the din ng rot
in alone for Mrs. Dabney was out q
Charlie was with his company dr.
rs. ing.
at "Elfe," said John, ''sit do
awhile, please, I have been want
. to have a talk with you for 30
be time and this is a good opportunit.
,ar "What is it, John9' she asked v
I'm a look OF dread On her face as
,at seated herself near him.
ia "You know" he said in his ca