Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-06-01
A Dead Mans Eyes
By william A. Taa8s.
VIRGINIA CITY, New, in the flush
" DAVIS of the areat Cornstncl, 1or1e.
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At point where the trail diverged he
stopped, as if for short rest, and with
his hat in his hand, turned to view the
scene below him.
Another man trudged up the trail and
paused when he deserted the figure
ahead of him. He was not cast in the
heroic mold of the first. His face be-
trayed the Latin blood. There was q
look of vindictive envy in his small.
bead-like eyes as he watched the con-
tented man above him. He wondered
if all the things they said about Jim
Sanders were true. Why was it he had
no partner and worked his claim alone?
Was there any truth in the rumor that
Jim's claim was paying well, and that
he was keeping his money hid instead
of banking it? AS to his own claim
well, Gus was q good and uncomplain-
ing worker, and the cabin was all right
to sleep in. Mining was a gamble any
way, and SO was faro. Still one knew
there was money in faro, if the cards
came rightly. But this evening Jose
Casadra was broke. A week before he
had won thousand dollars ut single
sitting.
After little while the object of his
gaze moved on and Casadra follower,
keeping well in the rear. When he ar
rived at the Sanders cabin, Jim stood
in the doorway.
Hello, Joe!'
''Hello, Jim!''
allow they comin'?''
e'Rlamed bad" savagely.
Better leave the chips alone, Joe
there's nothing in it, said Jim, philo-
sophically. why don't you help the
poor Dutchc1an out? More money in
that, joe
'.Advice is cheap" replied Casadra,
ill-naturealy. 'Dye think ye'd be will
in to give me anything else?"
II might" said Jim, calmly knock
ing the ashes out of his pipe against his
boot heel.
''Then lend me hundred dollars
''No, Joe, won't; it wouldn't do ye
any good"
II want none of you or your advice!"
exclaimed Casadra, angrily, striding
swiftly away and up the trail to the
cabin he shared with Gus.
The next morning, on his way to
town, he stopped ut Jim's cabin. In his
mind was ahalf- formed resolution tosay
some commonplace thing to Jim which
the latter might accept as an apology
for his rudeness of the previous even
ing. There was no sense in making an
enemy of him. He threw away his ciga-
rette and hesitatingly approached the
door, which stood ajar, and looked in.
What he saw startled him. Jim was ly-
ing on his side on the bed, with one arm
thrown over his head. His big gray
eyes were wide open and seemed to be
looking Casadra full in the face.
s'Mornin', jim"
There was no response-not even the
CULVER of an eyelid. Casadra watched
him uneasily for moment, and then
turned and went on his way to the
town. He wondered if Jim always slept
in such q queer fashion, and if such
sleep was a sound one? 1t was late in
the night when he passed the cabin
again. The door was still ajar, and oil
was dark within.
The following day, shortly after sun
rise, found him before the partly
opened door. He had q premonition of
what he would see as he suddenly
pushed it wide open. Jim was still ly-
ing on his side with his arm over his
head, the open eyes fixed on the door
way. In two steps Casadra was be-
side him. He put out his hand, invol-
UNFAIRLY withdrew it for second, and
then, with an effort, placed it on the
forehead of the man in bed. The touch
was Jelly cold, Down over the heart
went the hand; there was no response
from that fountain head. Then Jose
knew he was not looking upon sleep.
Murder or suicide? He threw off the
bedclothes, expecting to see blood, but
there was none. Just then he saw a
sheet of writing paper lying on table
by the bedside. Picking it up eagerly,
he read:
Dear Brother: have been taken sud.
denly Ill tonight. II the worst should
happen, when you come on, go at once
into the shaft. In the second drift. exact
~ q AVSt AAOAA lu0 SAdlt, OA5@
In an instant the paper was crushed
in his hand and thrust into his shirt
bosom. Furtiyely he looked around, as
if in fear of being detected. He never
thought of the body in the bed until his
wandering gaze fell upon the pailid
face and the distended eyes staring
fxcdly at him. Nervously he moved to
the door; the eyes followed him. He
stepped almost behind the bed, and yet
felt himself almost within the range of
the awful vision. Many dead men he
had seen before, but some one had al
ways closed their eyes for them. These
eyes seemed to move like those of some
old portrait.
: 1t was late in the afternoon when he
notified the coroner of his discovery.
The body was taken down to the UNDER
taker, and the coroner decided an in
quest unnecessary. Sanders belonged
to masonic order that took charge of
the funeral arrangements. The fact
that Casadra left Virginia the night of
the day the body was discovered was
lee s-I -