The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-12-26

= Nv was NI'S-bS VA ~ Aic ''''i
at his doorway. He had bought Il morn
ing paper on his way to business. and he
now glanced over it casually. Finally
he came upon the place where local news
was given. His eye caught a large head
ing. Fire and Loss of Life in Chef
vynd Street" The paragraph was, ow-
ing to the late hour at which the event
took place. brief. 1t ran as follows:
Last night. between half-past II and l
o'clock. Il disastrous and fatal fire broke
out in the bakery establishment OF Mr..
Forbes in Chetwynd street. The top
floor. where the fire originated. was occu-
pied by Mr.. Oscar Leigh. who has lost
Ills life in the burning. Mr.. Leigh was
engaged in the manufacture of Il very
wonderful clock. which occupied fully half
the room. and which Mr.. Leigh invariably
wound up every night between II and
Anlf-past II.
at is generally supposed that the eccen-
trio movements of Mr.. Leigh were the
result Of a fit or sudden seizure of some
ether kind. and that in his struggles some
intlammable substance was brought i'll
contact with the gas before it was turned
cut.
Timmons flung down the paper with a
SHOUT. CRY llc, Dt'b' hNo'' - -"
dead
At that moment the figure of a man
appeared at the threshold of the store,
and Stamer. with a scowl and a stare.
stepped in hastily and looked furtively,
Iearfully around.
What are YOU shoutin' about:' cried
Stalner. in n tone of dangerous menace.
Leigh is dcad!'' cried Timmons in eX-
element.
Il know all about that. | suppose
said Stamcr, and you shut up. if YOU don't
want to follow him. I'm in no hunor for
your noise and antics. Dc you want to
have the coppcrs down on us:-do YOU.
you idiot"
Who are YOU calling an IDIOT cried
timmonS. catching up an iron bar and
.aking a few steps towards the burglar.
You. if YOU want to know. Put that
down. Put that bar down. say. Can You
tell me who killed him: If YOU can
can" Ie pointed to himself.
What" cried Timmons. starting back.
end not quite understanding the others
gesture.
"Nov are you satisfied: I thought YOU
guessed. | wouldn't have told you if
: didn't think you knew or guessed. ]
thought you knew. and that. instead OF
| aging a good word to me. you were golne
: 10 down me and give me up
. Timmons stepped slowly back in horror
. "You.' he whispered, bending his hea'
@ forward and beginning to tremhle IL
c every limb. You! You did 1t! You dit
G this. You. Stamer.'
Stamer merely nodded. and looked TX
q Il hunted wild beast. He wore the clothe
{ .l. l-s ,r,. r,th.yt ,hn u-his
kers or beard. All the time he cowerc'
/ in the shelter of the shutters, he kept hi
right hand behind his back. He locke
towards the opening and then his round
r bloodshot eyes went back to the rigi
II figure Of Tlmmons. Il don't mind wha
ID YOU say. if you'll only speak to me. onl
not too loud. No one can hear us.
st Know that, and no one can listen at tn
n door. without our seeing him. You don
u know what l have gone through. | hay
e. uot been home. l am afraid to ga HON
r | am afraid of everything
It. You murderous william
ITS enough to drive any man ma
q. I've been wandering about all night.
er am more afraid of my wife than of AZ
p. one else. | don't know why, but | trer
Die when | think of her, moro than Of Il
Dolice, r-or-or-
We "The hangmanE'
lie YES. You don't know all. When "
II do. you'll pity me
he THE poor, foolish DWARF
"Yes. | was afraid he would bctr;
ed us-'
NE "Oh. villain"
IN. And | got on a roof opposite the wi
Yep dow. and when he was working at t
lover. | fired, and his head went sol
TO then so-anl then so-
Oh stop it. you murderer"
Yes. And l knew it was done. T
OF reck! Yes. | knew the neck was brok,
ad- and It was all right"
me 1T you don't stop it, III brain YOU
slim YES. And | got down off the roof a
.ac- ran. l couldn't help running. and all
time l was running l heard him runni
Ght after me. l heard him running after l
yer. and I saw his head wagging $3.50
ing rs he ran. Every step he took. his 1t
lie waggcd, so-and so-and so-
With If YOU don't stop that
Is l. Yes. l will. I'll stop it. But l 60
lad. not stop him last night. All the tim
nod ran / couldn't stop him. His head X
SAID wacglng and his anne feet kept rum
ave, after me. and | couldn't stop the feet
ing the head. l don't know how long | 7
Ding or where ! ran. but l could run no m
anl fell m against n wall, and thcl
ont ,v.rIonk me, saw if as plainly as l
Q in v,r-nlainer | saw it,
'ong Vhn man nausea a moment to wipe
forehead.
"Do you hear:' he yelled, sudd'
~lilnging his arms up in the air. ID
u. near: Will you believe me now:
steps again. The lame steps again.
YOU hear them:"
HIS 'yIad"
cur Mad! | told you. Look
the The figure of Il low-sized. dcior
pose dwarf came into the opening and Gro
&c l the threshold of the store.
ana With Il groan Stamer fell forward
sensible.
'het- -