Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-09-12
it, to clench it so that he could steady


opened his eyes again, the sergeant
was standing waiting at his side. 1t
was very still there, in that shadowy
place; death was already writing his
signs upon the face of the PROSTATE
convict, and the awe of him was upon
the faces of all.
"Maybe," began the convict, look
ing at the sergeant, ''you remember
what I'm in for, and maybe you don't.
Any way I've got to tell you, SOS L
can make clear the whole of it. It's
weak in me, Ireckon, and there amt
no real call for me to tell it, but I'm n
coward; 1 don't want to leave this
world under the cloud I've lived in.
81 reckon all you know me by now
is my number; but before 1 was sent
up my name was Wainwright. used
to live up in Lampasas; kept q general
store there, and was getting ON fairly
well for young fellow. They were
pretty rough lot, the people who trad
ed at my place-cowboys, and poor
farmers. But managed to keep out
of trouble and was laying little some
thing by, every year. 1 was saving up
until had enough SOS I could ask
Mary Horton, the postmaster's daugh-
ter, to marry me, which hoped was
going to be soon. This was fifteen
years ago-ffteen years ago. Mary'd
told me she was willing, and we were
as good as engaged, only I'd never
thought it quite fair to have her bind
herself until was quite sure I could
provide for her.
''And then Mary set eyes on young
cowboy of the name of Farnly one day,
and she never was the same to me
afterwards. I thought I'd eat my
heart out, to see how she was all glow
ing with love for him; for he was a
reckless sort, and 1 don't think he'd
make her good man. You see, I
loved Mary; if she was going to be
happier with Farnly, wasn't going
to stand in the way. 1t would hurt,
knew that; but if she wanted it that
way
"Well, one day, another cowboy
from the same ranch that Farnly was
punching for rode into town, and
started to drinking. He went over to
the postcffice and called Mary Horton
out to the door. Farniy was in my
store, just opposite the postofice, at
the time, and we could see everything
plainly. so yoo're the GIRL began
the cowboy, leaning heavily against
the frame of the door Then he tried
to kiss her; she flung out her hand at
his face, and he, laughing drunkenly,
was beginning to press forward, when
there was shot and the man fell He
died in five minutes.
THAT shot was fired from my store
The jury and the evidence declared
that 1t was I who fred the shot that
killed that man. And that's why I'm
here. But I'm going too fast Be-
fore the smoke cleared away and ont
of the room that Farnly and 1 were
standing in, looked at the pistol-it
was still smoking-end then at Farm
ly. IT'S me she loves I said. The
same thing was in both our minds.
He shook his head. Look at this,
! and he handed me note. 1t was in
Mary's hand; what else it said 1 don t
know, but at the last she declared she
loved him, and that she would break
of with me. For moment or two I
felt like killing Farnly, Ireckon; then
took the hot pistol and held it so
until they came and found me. All
the evidence went to show that it was
I,..driven on by jealousy, who fired
the shot that killed the cowboy. But
is was not l. In was Farnly. If she
had not loved him-if she had not de-
termined upon sharing his life, what
would it all have mattered to me?
They might have found the smoking
pistol in his haul for all cared. But
l loved her-do you understand that?
I loved her. She loved him; if she
knew that he was murderer, it would
almost kill her. AS for me, she no
longer cared for me; my fate would
only grieve her, for space; ! was
nothing in her life now. And SOL
took the blame"
The feyerisl uttsrance ceased sud
denly, and the dying man closed his
eyes slowly. In the distance you
could hear the whistles of the fore
men, the dull echoes Of blasting, and
the tinkle Of chisels. The doctor
looked away from the pallet for an in
stant; his eyes wandered up towards
where the sun was now visible over
the edge of the ravine; when he with
drew them, they were slightly moist;
the snn had probably been too strong.
i,"That," went on the convict, open
ing his eyes again, and staring at the
guard with horrible smile on his
gray lips, "was fifteen years ago.
Well, since then-I have been here,
aud in the swamps. 1t is hard, isn't
it, to be prisoner-hopelessl
so long-when you are innocent? But
rather than spoil her happiness l
would have died. She must believe
in her husband-always to the end.
And Sol could never speak. Only
now, only now, when it can do no
harm-and because it feels easier to
pass out without the stain than with
it. 1t is only that you may remember
that convict sixty-nine was innocent.
1 won't say anything about what I've