Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-03
HIS LAST SHOT.

hdu' tOo' the unml3takaDie cut or
military man. though he was dressed
in citizens garb.
The horseman to whom we allude II
our opening sentences was riding leis
urely along rugged road-or rather
l2ne-bordered by tall hedges. with 8
sprinkling here and there of pine. larcf
and oak.
Suddenly the horse stopped. tremb
ling in every limb.
And no wonder. either, for right In
front OF them. and not more than hall
dozen PAGES away, was suspended q
human form. with CHASTITY face and
wlde-open eyes, flooded up by the full
light of the yellow moon.
The form was that of a man who, a
few short hours before. was In the
very plenitude OF health and strength
but who swung now with pendulous
motion in the night winds.
In the first place, the victim was NOT
suspended by the neck. as is usually
the case
A strong rope had been secured I'M
der his arm-pits, his arms being pin
Toned tightly to his sides; and then the
rope had been thrown over the stout
limb of an oak and tied there.
This was not all.
A closer inspection revealed the fact
that a bowie-knife had been driven
through the suspended mans heart.
and the merciess haft, where its silver
mountings caught the light. emitted a
metallic glitter in the moons rays.
There was no doubt but the man
had been murdered before he had been
suspended to the tree-but not a drop
of blood could be detected where the
murderous blade had entered his body.
The horseman had by this time dis
mounted. and approached the corpse.
His attention was attracted TO an
article of the mans dress to which
small square Of paper had been Az
tached.
There were two or three scrawllng
lines on the paper-lines of dread i'm
port.
They warned him to beware OF the
fate which had overtaken the corpse,
and II he set value on his life, to
pass on without inquiry.
Whoever you may be. I'll act on
your advice" said the horscman. as
an icy shudder passed through him
Poor ellow!"-gazing pityingly at
the murdered mani am sorry for |
you. but l can do nothing! And by |
staying here endanger my own safety |
to no purpose"
He was soon mounted again, and |
passing along the read as before.
But he could not Danish from his
vision that CHASTITY face. those staring
eyes; they seemed to be continually
in front Of him.
About three-quartcrs Of a mile farth-
or on the road took an abrupt turn.
Horse and rider had just emerged
from the shadow Of some overhanglng
trees, so dense that not ray of moon
light penetrated their interlacing
branches.
The road had been pitch dark for
about three hundred yeards. when this
sudden turn brought him once more
into the clear moonlight.
Here he discovered that he was not
alone.
Not more than five yards in front
was rather tall, stalwart-looking
man, mounted on a fine bay horse.
Horse and rider stood motionlcss in
the road,
The strangers back was turned at
the time, so that our traveller did not
at first see his face but the sounds OF
horses hoofs on the now hard, flinty
road fell on his ears, and hearing
such. he wheeled with the suddenness
Of thought. until the light of the gen
erous moon reflected on features that
we're pallid and corpse like.
Our traveller could not repress the
of horror and surprise
which broke from his lips-for there
sat the exact prototype on the bay
hat he had seen suspended from the
oak tree.
lie could scarcely believe It possible
hat two men could look so much alike.
gain he rubbed his eyes, TO make
;ure that he was not dreaming
Dreaming-indeed
He wished he was at that moment.
No, he was not dreaming, for there
sat the man with the identical face
md expression OF the corpse, even TO
he clothes he wore; in fact, every
hing that could identify him with the
lead, excepting that the one was on
orseback and the other hanging some
hree-quarters Of mile lower down i,
he road.
II was a marvellous resemblance.
"Hillo, friend!" shouted the man on
he bay. "You look as though you had
cen ghost! You're not afraid of me.
re you?"
afraid Of you-why?" gasped the
raveler
THAT leave for you to explain. You !
eem to be. anyhow. Going far in this .
irection?' asked the stranger with q
mister look on his CHASTITY face.
Eyes" u
might / ask where?"
'You may II you like" replied our
'aveler. recovering from his nervous i
ess somewhat; "but I'll reserve the
IL