The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-10-22

my promised victim long enough. Now
let me act the GROWING act.
l detached a loose morsel of rock,anl
tossed it toward the sleeping han. It
fell on his outstretched hand. He
started, rose to a sitting posture. rub
bed his eyes; then. looking round, saw
me, and knew why I was there. He
saw the look of triumph and fell pur-
my hand; he sprung to his feet, and
took a step toward me.
| raised my hand and covered him
with the pistol. He must have looked
almost down the muZzle. Stand
%still,' I said, "or l fire."
The braVest man may we'll hesitate
ere he rushes on certain death. Eustace
Grant stopped short. My voice, my
look, must have told him that my
threat was no idle one. The %steadiness
Of my hand told him that | should not
miss my mark.
You have come to murder me!' he
said, in a deep voice.
No; to kill you not murder you.
Look on the ground behind you; take
the pistol which lies there, then we are
equal. Take it, l say, and face me like
a man. Fire when and how you choose;
l can wait my turn" .....
He turned and saw the pistol, but
did not possess himself of it. He faced
me steadily. although my weapon was
still aimed at his broad breast. Deadly
as my hate was l was fain to admire
his courage.
Il think you are mad" he said; "but
listen, l have something to say"
l stamped my foot: Coward! viii
lain! take that pistol or l swear | will
shoot you as you stand!,'
He stopped and picked up the wea-
pom. A wave of fierce delight ran
through me. The moment of reckon
ing was at hand.
Yet he baked me. He held up his
hand, and fired both barrels in the air.
| uttered a cry Of rage.
you are a man of honor, I suppose?"
he said. You cannot Stay a defense
less man"
l thrust my left hand into my pocket
and threw a handful of cartridges to-
ward him. He should not escape me.
He hurled the pistol from him far
over the top Of the rock. My hope Of
killing him in fair fight was gone. I
gritted my teeth, and swore that never
theless he should not escape. Cow
ard!' I shouted, with my finger tremb-
ling on the trigger.
He was bold, for he still stood erect
and faced me. His face grew pale. No
wonder, for death was close at hand.
He spoke; his voice was clear and dis
tinct.
"Listen,' he said. lone momen be-
fore you stain your soul with this
crime. Viola, your wife"
He said no more. The sound of her
name reused in ne a burst of mad
fury; all my enforced calm left me.
SILENCE, you hound!" | shouted.
Grant must have seen the change in
my face, and guessed what it presaged.
Doubtless life was dear, very dear to
him. He sprung toward me. MY finger
pressed the trigger, and the report
rang out. My hand as l fired was as
steady as a rock. and before I saw the
effect Of my bullet l knew that it had
done its work.
The smoke cleared off. Grant was
staggering to- and fro. His hand was
pressed to his right breast, and the red
blood was creeping through his closed
fingers and dyeing his pure white
coat. Suddenly he fell: and lay like a
log at my feet. The thing which I had
for nights and days sighed for had
come to pass.
But not with the effect I had pictur-
ed. Instead of the e%xultation which I
had promised myself, a tide of utter
horror swept through me. One, only
one, thought filed my brain-I had ia.
ken this mans life, and was a muir.
derer.
ITO BE cONrINUEN.J