Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-02-04

stone deaO. was surprised, 10 say UDe
least and asked him to explain. Only
too pleased at having aroused my GU
rsoaity, he at once took from his pocket
q leather case, and exposed TO view
row of pieces of fine steel, and pointed
out that each needle, as he called them,
had been daubed with q most deadly
poison, which he explained would cause
paralysis of the heart in less time than
it takes to tell It after the needle had
entered the body or punctured the skin
ever so slightly.
'.Then he opened the silver circlet on
the whip, and deftly placed q needle
In minute chamber, and smilingly told
me the instrument was ready for use
once more. Still I did not fathom tho
purpose he had in view, though d.
vined there must be something in the
background, for It was hardly likely
ne would want TO see me at his rooms
simply to show me this lethal toy; be.
sides, his manner was constrained, as
he was shy of getting to business, and
resorted to the brandy flask too fire.
quently to please me.
Sat length, he went on: Now, I'm In
desperate straits, for I've not hedged
silver, and desperate men dare much
on the off-chance, so my game Is win
honestly if you can, but win; and town
that way you must guard against rails
Ing the faintest shadow Of suspicion on
the part of the onlookers. No, no. he
shouted, as I was about to object, 4
won't hear word until have finished.
"'See here, now he continued, hand
ling the whip, take this, and use it when
your Judgment tells you you cannot
win should say you'd cut 1t too fine
If you failed to act until you were less
than so yards from the box; anyway,
it would be risky. Press this knob at
the time I tell you, and I'll guarantee
Geranium does not pass the post, no.
not by 20 yards, no matter where the
needle strikes her. Remember, tits our
only chance, and the stake, 10000, ia
yours If you pull it off, whether you use
the whip or not. What do you say?'
"Well, I argued and hesitated and re-
argued, going over the old ground
dozen times, but he was always pro-
vided with specious answer, until I
grew weary of his tongue, and finally
gave way along the whole line Of moral
rectitude, and became the veriest fool
that ever stepped, for from what little
[ could ever recall of the latter part of
our conference, I believe before we
parted I, with all the wonted zeal of q
convert, became for the time bigger
blackguard and schemer than my men,
tor; but I swear that the death Of o
fellow-creature IN connection with this
bit Of foul work never for an instant
flashed across my brain.
"There isn't much more to tell. You
see, sir, what miserable wreck am,
and I daresay you wonder how I arrived
at such pass. From that evil day an
ill-luck logged my footsteps with I'M
firing pertinacity, and do what would
nothing seemed to prosper under my
hands. Perhaps the thoughts of thS
past had deal to do with it, for very
soon sought oblivion for them in the
dram shop, and owners and trainers
alike were not slow to discover that
was fast going to the dogs, and declined
to employ me; 50, what with fast living
and mad plunging, 1t was not long ere
the crash came, and was notified that
I had overdrawn my account. Then
the downhill road at once became very
steep, and in endeavoring to keep soul
and body together ran through near
ly every graduation Of employment,
every situation being lower than the
preceding one-in fact my life might
be styled: From leading jockey to sand
WITCH man." and just before the old
man, whose breath had been gradually
getting shorter, gave up the ghost, he
added, "and all through winning on q
cross."-Tit-Bits.