Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-07-12
A Dead Mans Eyes
By William A. Taaffe.

z n hidn htIb4ltu uOWu y street one
June evening, and then struck into a
trail which led upward along the slant
Of Mount Davidson. He was large,
broad-shouldered, full-bearded man.
At point where the trail diverged he
stopped, as if for short rest, and with
t 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 a
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 a good and uncomplain-
! ing worker, and the cabin was all right
| to sleep in. Mining was 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 at a single a
sitting. Il
After a little while the object of his
gaze moved on and Casadra followed, j
keeping we'll in the rear. When he ar
rived at the Sanders cabin, Jim stood =
in the doorway. II
Hello, Joel" -s.nt. III
Hello, JIM"
How they comin'?" "%Fa W
Blamed bad" savageIy. III
Better leave the chips alone, joe IN
there's nothing in it," said jim, philo- di
sophieally. why don't you help the
poor Dutchman out? More money in de
that, joe"
'Advice is cheap" replied Casadra, la
ll-naturedly. Dye think ye'd be will ey
n to give me anything else?" N
Il might" said Jim, calmly knock ser
ng the ashes out of his pipe against his rol
,oot heel.
Then lend me hundred dollars" an
mo, Joe, l won't; 1t wouldn't do We ore
NY good" All
Il want none of you or your advice!" it'
reclaimed Casadra, angrily, striding hol
Witty away and up the trail to the L''
abin he shared with Gus. but
The next morning, on his way to non
'wn, he stopped at Jim's cabin. In his you
lind was ahalf-formedr resolution say ,
'me commonplace thing to Jim which turi
he latter might accept as an apology Die
IT his rudeness of the previous even
g. There was no sense in making an l
lemy of him. He threw away his ciga- 'loh
tie and hesitatingly approached the sei'
'or, which stood ajar, and looked in. S'ai
hat he saw startled him. Jim was ly- SUI ,Ir
g on his side on the bed, with one arm
rown over his head. His big gray ". an
es were wide open and seemed to be =
oking Casadra full in the face. peat
'Mornin', jim" NOR
ivar - a., a,.,I;d -. 80 1i'9 silen
n pneasiIv for r,onaam+ va "a' ~ judg
rned and went on his way to the "', ~,
IN. He wondered if Jim always slept -,
such queer fashion, and if such 'e -. ~
ep was sound one? It was late in
syxl,
ain Tho daa, s.iI, 'ue 'aoi', great
S dark within. 40
So, 10 sur Wy "i'er sun exact
ned door. He had premonition OF - 81,
at he would see as he suddenly III.
'hed it wide open. Jim was stiIl ly- -
on his side with his arm over his LII
ID, the open eyes fixed on the door -
=. In two steps Casadra was be- :, ~,
2 him. He put out his hand. invol- ~. :
arily withdrew il for second, and Co.. !,
n, with an effort, placed it on the az,
ahead of the man in bed. The touch ~. -
>. ~, - - poNn over the heart eyes
N that fountain head. Then Jose hut !
w he was not looking upon sleep. TLin
RIDER or suicide? He threw off the Ill,
Clothes expecting to see blood, but a, lin
re was none. just then he saw tt,,,,g,
ct Of writing paper lying on a table r.
the bedside. Picking it up eagerly, -
read mace
lear Brother: have been taken sud- meme,
y I'll tonight II the worst should -,
pen, when YOU come on, 60 At once warn
the shaft. In the second drift, exact o you
feet from the shaft, dig" as vot
an instant the paper was crushed Ye do
his hand and thrust into his shirt nothir
'm. Furtiyely he looked around. as been
fear of being detected He never on We
lght of the body in the bed until his Come
dering gaze fell upon the palhd Come
and the distended eyes staring viii
iiy at him. Nervously he moved to the do
door; the eyes followed him. He power
ped almost behind the bed, and vet the nj
himself almost within the range of
awful vision. Many dead men he Rich
seen before, but some one had al and 7
$ closed their eyes for them. These stockb
seemed TO move like those of some fee an
portrait. ,ap,,r,
was late in the afternoon when he "Yot
led the coroner of his discovery. ''Yes
body was taken down TO the under "Wel
r, and the coroner decided an in story.