Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-09-03

noticed that his head was bsut for
ward, as is natural to those who think
as they walk. His hands were behind
him, and he paced the coast with a
slow, but lengthy stride. Little he
guessed who was upon his traces!
Suddenly he turned aside, and struck
up the beach toward the cliff. stood
still and watched him. saw him reach
the top Of the beach; then, as it WERE
disappear into the face Of the cliff. l
doubled my pace and hurried on,
laughing in vengeful glee. had him
now! For by this time l knew every
foot Of that coast line. knew that at
the spot where Grant had vanished
some CONFUSION Of nature had torn
the rocks apart that entering through
what looked like a narrow assure, y0u
came upon q straight smooth space,
bounded by unscalable crags, and car
peted by soft white sand. Not a cave,
because it was open to the heavens;
but all the same a natural cul de sac.
I had found this place. l had ex-
plored it. I had even longed that Eus-
tace Grant might be in there, while I
stood at the entrance and held him like
rat in trap. And now the thing
I longed for had come to pass. Per
haps to escape from the neat of the
sun my enemy had chosen the one
place in which 1 wished to meet him.
was right in saying that fate was
shaping everything to my hand. Here
should face him, force him to fight,
and slay him! had him now!
Strange to say, no thought Of an Is
sue adverse to myself entered my
head. So confident, so certain 1 felt,
that paused for a while at the en-
trance Of the trap, and steeled my
heart by recalling all the wrongs which
had suffered. I stood there until the
sun made the barrel of the pistol,
which I had drawn from my breast, as
hot as fire.
Then I crept between the two rocks,
and went to reckon up with Eustace
Grant!
The change from the brilliant sun
shine to the cool gloom of the grot, or
whatever it should be called, was so
sudden that for moment I could not
distinguish objects. When my eyes
grew accustomed to the shade, l saw
that Grant was lying on a heap Of
sand at the farthest end Of the ravine.
His broad brimmed hat was by his
side, and he seemed fast asleep. 1
crept toward him. My feet made no
sound as they trod on the soft dry
sand. l stood over him and looked
down on his powerful face, strong,
sun-burned neck, and large, muscular
limbs. He looked the type Of man
hood. All! no wonder he could win a
woman's love if he strove for 1t!
A note book lay near his left hand.
Most likely he had been jotting down
something which struck his fancy,
when the grateful shade and the muir
muir Of the distant sea had lulled
him to sleep-a sleep from which
he would awake only to sleep
again forever! Nay, I might have
placed the muzzle Of the pistol next
his heart, and have sent him, without
awakening, from one sleep to another.
But l had no intention of numbering
the man in cold blood; nor would it
have suited me for him to die without
knowing to whom his death was due.
Besides I meant it to be a fair duel-a
duel to the death-between us. So I
stopped, and laid one of my pistols
near his right hand; then I walked
back toward the mouth of the grot,
leaned against rock, and waited for
him to awake.
Not for a moment do attempt to dis
guise the devilish, vengeful feelings
which could urge me in :his calm man
ner to plan and compass this mans
death. Now that years have passed
since that day, I do not even ask you
to bear in mind the wrong that had
been done me. I simply relate what I
did, and shall not murmur at the blame
which l know will be melted out to me.
The man slept soundly. I waited;
but no thought Of foregoing my pur-
pose entered into my brain. 1 waited
until the dread that we might be dis
turbed struck me. 1 had gloated over
my promised victim long enough. Now
let me act the browning act.
l detached loose morsel Of rock, and
tossed it toward the sleeping man. 1t
fell on his outstretched hand. He
started, rose to a sitting posture, rub
bed his eyes; then, looking round, saw
me, and knew why 1 was there. He
saw the look of triumph and fell pur-
pose on my face; he saw the pistol in
my hand; he sprung to his feet, and
took step toward me.
l raised my hand and covered him
with the pistol. He must have looked
almost down the muzzle. Stand
STILL" I said, cor frep'
The bravest man may well hesitate
ere he rushes on certain death. Eustace
Grant stopped short. Ny voice, my
look, must have told him that my
threat was no idle one. The steadiness
of my hand told him that should not