Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-29

TO Bet, and Ii went against him 10 re-
fuse her this small and easily granted
favor, by which, moreover. the poor,
mad creature seemed to set such store.
well. lass. if you do come inside"
he said, you mus just stand still and
wait patiently. We cannot have bust
ness interfered with. you know"
ooh. Mr.. Dunkley. sir, Ill be as good
as gold. III stand inside and V
move or speak till Tom is ready. May
be | shall see Tom when I'm inside 2"
she added with half wistful inquiry Ia
her tone.
NO. no, lass; you'll not see him.
He's busy at the back" said Amos
Dunkley.
But I'll see him when he's done. Mr..
Dunkley, sir?"
"Oh, yes, Bet. You'll see him when
he's done"
She came inside the gallery and
stood quietly in a corner. Her eyes
roamed about the tent until they fell
upon the young man already mention
ed, and on him they remained fixed.
She followed all his movements eager
ly. Never for n second did she allow
her gaze to wander from him. Now
she seemed to be growing agitated.
She could not stand still. She was
twisting both her hands in a corner of
her apron. then untwisting them. AMI
so on, rapidly. Her feet shuified and
iidgeted on the ground. No one. how
0x-nr. Al.-npx-aI IA- Nh ,1a,~ .-,. r,ll
Amos and his assistants were all busy.
At last Daft Bet could remain in her
place no longer. She glided swiftly
forward and mingled with the throrg.
ZOE she was close To the barrier
where the markSmen stood and was al
most rubbing shoulders with the young
man, on whom her eyes had been never
ceasingly fixed.
They were glitterinG o with n pc
culiar light. She lifted her hand aud
plucked the young man by the sleeve.
"IIillOa, mother, What is it," ne
good-naturedly.
where Is Tom she asked. almost In
a whisper.
MY good woman. really cannot tell
YOU" was the laughing reioinder.
You know where he is-yOu do know
where he is" she persisted. with Il GER
tain i~ierceness in her tone.
Il assure you you are quite miStak-
en-" said the young man. still laughing.
for he supposed that it was some kind
of joke. Il know nothing about him"
YOU shall tell me-" she cried. pas
siOnatcly. You shall tell me where he
isl
At this point one Of the assistants,
who was standing at the barrier load
ing rifles for Use. turned round and saw
Daft Bet clutching the young mans
arm.
Now then, lass" he said. sharply,
none of that. You've no business here
annoying our customers. Come, clear
out of it,
The woman's eyes blazed. With in
credible swiftness. and before he could
prevent her, she reached forward and
caught up one of the weapons which he
had just loaded. She pointed il straight
at the young mans forehead. She
pulled the trigger. 1t was all the work
of a second. Crack. flash. smoke. 4
heavy thud; and then Il moments awful
silence.
In that moment, while dismay still
held every onlooker paralyzed, Bet
threw down the discharged gun and
snatched up another-loaded, ready for
use. She held the muzZlc against her
own forehead and, crying. "IIe does
know-he does; he shall take me To
my Tom so fired, and fell.
"Good Cod said Amos Dunkley n
few minutes later. to one of the dead
mans companions Good God, Then
that explains it,"
"lIOw? What do you mean:" ex-
claimed the other. who was nearly be-
side himself with mingled grief and
horror.
Il mean young man. answered
Amos very solemnly, that the hand
of fate is clearly present in this dread
full thing. Thirty years ago her hus-
band was accidentally shot in my gal
lery on this very green. The one rs
shot him was your poor friends
fathar - op1op Trlth