Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-01-19
THENATEOF THE HINDU
By Captain RALPH DAv1a
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lCOSTINUED.l
was q bit upset Dy what had CO.
CURED, az stands to reason, but ] pres
emily figured that the best way was to
take the oars and pull up to the inn and
see how badly the fellow was hurt Old
John Hampton, who had kept the place
since / was q boy in knee pants, was
Just turning ont the lights when en-.
tered and told him what had happened.
BLESS my blooming soul, but who can
il bep' exclaimed the old man as he
walked down to the skiff with me. II
didn't know we had such peppefy fell
low in the country hereabouta You
served him right. Ralph. but i hope
you didn't strike too hard. You know.
Not that any Of ms would blame you
even II You laid him dead, but because
the coroner and police would make you
no end Of bother. Here we are. and
there lies your man as quiet as a mouse.
Wen catch him crop aud heels and up
to the inn with him."
He was stoutly built chap. and M his
body was dead weight we had good
pull for it to get him up to the house
and stretched out on his back. Then
Uncle John brought candle and knelt
down to have look at him. II wasn't
five seconds before he lifted his hands
and called 10 me:
"why, Ralph. there is a curious bit
Of business Upon my word. but |
knows him as well M my own doorpost.
It's young man named Ben johnson.
and he's living with widowed sister
ut the upper side Of the town"
"That's all right as to who he is, but
how bad is he hurty" I asks.
"I'm no doctor, and ! cant say.
Here's cash in his scalp and plenty OF
blood flowing. and take that as sign
he isn't dead yet Ah, see him shiverl
He's coming 10, but sip OF whisky will
make IL easier for him.
So fiercely had the man clutched the
handle Of his knife that the weapon was
still in his hand. While Uncle John
was after the liquor pried the fingers
open and released the knife and laid it
ON q shelf. About a minnie after the
liquor had rpn down his throat tho fel.
low opened bis eyes and glared about.
In another co feoords he sat up, stared
hard ut me erd iicrcely mut,eicd:
eyes, ! remember Tow. Some one
ran into me on the river ard then tried
to kill me"
Look here. Ben Johnson. and ] be-
lieve tha, : the name you answer 70. ="
said Uncle John, what sort cf fish do
you call this. Seems 10 me you are bit
too ready with your knife for this local
ity. Is IL your play to knife man first
and then inquire about what's hap
pcned?'
"who arc -ou?"' bluntly inquired
johnson as he turned TO me.
Ralph Tompkins. sir, whether II
pleases you OF no. You keep saying
that some one ran into you. Ii was ex.
actly the other way. My boat was drift.
ing, while you must have been in great
hurry to have smashed into her ~ you
did. ;"
~ say you are n liarl'' he shouted.
Come. man. that's going beyond
reason" put in Uncle John. If you
were on your feet, wouldn't take that
from you myself. old as am. Let me
wash of the blood. bind up your head.
and do you go home and recover your
good nature.
The man was still weak and dazed,
but never saw al uglier face even on
a Malay pirate. He got up after u bit.
waving us away when we would have
assisted him. and backing mp to one Of
the barroom tables to get support he
looked at Inc rs il he would stamp my
face ON his memory forever and finally
said:
"Tompkins or Thompson, / never saw
you before. but I'll take good care not
to lose sight Of you from this time ON.
You played me trick tonight which
shall cost you your life. :"
why, man, what's come over your
blooming character all ut once?" ex.
claimed the landlord as be advanced a
step or two I've heard Of your being
jailed for poaching. and there ia them
as has pointed you out for an idler and
mischief maker. but never suspected
you had the bloody temper Of Katiir.
II that's your little game, then it will
b. well to drop hint to the police to
have an eye on you.
At that moment, and while the man
was opening and closing the fingers OF
his right hand as if feeling for the
knife had taken away, footsteps were
heard outside, and next instant three
police officers entered the bar. johnson
made rush for the door as they ap-
peared, and had he possessed the knife
It would have gone hard with one or all
Of the trio as taey piled on to him and
struggled with him OIL the floor. But AZ
he was unarmed and still weak. they
had him fast in q minute, and then one
Of them CRIED out:
''lt's the greatest stroke Of luck We
ever had. / thought he was five miles
away by this hour. What's the meaning
of all this blood, Uncle John, and
what's been going on hereabouts!"
"Is the man charged?" cautiously
asked the landlord.
AYE. the worst sort Of charge
murder!"
BLESS my blooming soul. but he's
killed man, has hep