Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-09-10

IN W. tionless. Now that
LIN the deed was done,
70 the horror I felt
at my own act
ooted me to the spot. 1 felt that
could not meet the mans dying gaze
the reproachful gaze of one whom
had slain in what was little more than
cold blood. Oh, if could but undo
my work!
But was he dead? 1 had aimed
straight at his heart-had my bullet
reached it? Let me learn if was a
murderer in act as well as intention.
II so, my. pistol had a second bullet,
and my aim, when turned the muz-
zle toward myself, would be as true as
before.
dropped the fatal weapon, and ran
to the fallen man; I kneeled beside
him, and, with the mechanical calm OF
despair, set to work to learn the worst.
No, thank heaven, he was not dead
not yet! The blood had flown from his
sun-tanned face; his features seemed
pinched and drawn with pain; but he
still lived. The blood was trickling
down his white coat, and falling on the
thirsty sand which formed his couch;
but he was not dead.
raised him, thinking that doing so
might check the flow Of blood. placed
that grand massive head on my Shout
der. He sighed family, and his eyes
opened.
you have killed me, think" he
said. But listen. On the oath Of a
man who believes he has but few
moments to live, 1 swear that Viola,
your wife, is pure as the day on which
she married you. The truth you may
never learn; but believe this"
The effort of speaking exhausted
him. His eyes closed once more, and
a cold chill passed over me. 1 would
have given all possessed for flask of
brandy. 1 shuddered at the thought
that perhaps those eyes had closed for
ever.
My agony was increased tenfold by
the words he had spoken. l could not,
dared not, doubt them. If, while be-
lieved in his guilt, remorse at my
crime sprung up and seized me, what
we're my feelings now that knew that
l had killed a man who had not wrong
ed me? Those dying words had car
ried complete conviction to my mind.
I must do something. If only to place
my pistol to my head, and fall lifeless
across my victim, must do something!
took out my knife, and ripped up the
wounded mans coat and shirt. found
his handkerchief, which I knotted to
my own. Then, picking up smooth
pebble, I enveloped it in piece of lin
en- torn from the shirt, and with these
appliances made rough touFniquet.
The very pistol with which had done
the deed served to twist the bandage
until it's pressure checked the flow Of
blood. A tinge of color came back to
the ashen lips, and for the first time 1
hoped that Eustace Grant would not
die.
But 1 must have assistance. Here
we might wait until doomsday without
a creature coming near us. There was
but one chance of saving him. must
leave him and fly for aid.
wonder if man ever ran so fast as
1 ran along that stretch Of sand. All
the while was haunted by the dread
that some movement of the helpless
mans hand would shift the rough-and-
ready bandage, and that, when 1 saw
him again, l should gaze on death
death for which l was accountable.
Thoughts like this are spurs which
might urge the slowest to superhuman
speed.
rushed up into the village. l beg
ged the first man l saw to get others
to procure gate, a shutter a plank,
anything on which a wounded man
could be carried, and to start at once
up the coast. tore into the little inn,
seized a bottle Of brandy, ordered the
surgeon to be summoned at once, then
ran back as wildly as had come.
/ outstripped the fishermen, who
we're already on their way with an ex-
temporized ambulance. l reached the
raVine, and, sick at heart, entered, to
learn If Grant were still alive.
Thank Heaven, he lived! He lay
just as ] had left him. Once more l
raised his head, and then gave him a
teaspoonful of stimulant. He moaned
family, and the sound of pain went
through my heart like knife.
Presently 1 heard the fishermen. l
called to them. Tenderly as we could.
we bore Grant through the entrance of
the ravlne, and laid him on the stretch
er. Then, at a slow pace, started on
the home ward march.
About half way we met the surgeon.
He called a halt, examined the injured
man, and complimented me on the way
in which l applied the tourniquet. The |
saving of the mans life, if it could be
saved, would be due to my prompt ac-
ton. How little he knew that, before |
attempting to save it, had done all in
my power to take that life!
he gave Grant more stimulant. |