The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-07
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARLEM.
Copyright. 1900. by
A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Company.


| For a moment Ronald remained
where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know but that
Hart might be unframed, hiding in am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer.
At this juncture another horscman gal
Hoped up. 1t was Thad Williams, his
long stringy locks flying in the breeze,
his revolver drawn, ready for use. lie
refined his horse in at a point in the road
from whence he could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from ROM
AIDS view. For fully minute he sat
astride his snorting animal, his eyes
bullying from their sockets.
Damn you, you've done inn" he
said, with deep breath, and he swung
his revolver round till il pointed at our
hero.
mine is empty" answered Ronald.
I'm in your power"
With another oath, the stalwart fell
low thrust his revolver into his belt and
swung his right leg over the rump of
his horse and stood on the ground
you've killed 'im," he gruntcd, as he
stepped towards the bushes; dare to
come nigh i'm, an I'll let daylight
through you'll"
Ronald stood as If rooted 10 the spot,
He had no desire TO see the man who
had fallen by his hand. A chill like that
of death stole over him. lie had killed
man--killed a mani Then his heart
bounded suddenly-a little ray of hope
purst upon him, FOR be heard Thaa Will
liams' voice, low and tender; "Are you
hurt, sgd, old boy? Say, old chum,
come off; don't play tricks on mel"
There was low monotonous response
TO this, and IL continued for fully half
n minute. Then Ronald heard gut
tural, labored coughing, and when it,
had ceased he knew that Sydney Hart
was dead. Striding forward, he parted
the branches of the bushes. He found
Thad Williams holding the dead mans
head onshis arm, as he might have held
that of an infant.
us he dead? Ronald asked.
The giantrlowered the lolling head
with its glaring eyes to the turf and
looked at the speaker with glare OF
hate.
Gle don't look like he's runnin' OF q
foot race do hep" he sneered, and a
sinister look took root in his face as
he went on: "Me'n him used TO stan
by one another, but as you say yore
ammunition is out, reckon men you
had as well not take II up. Thelaw will
ntten' to yore case-it ort to make ithot
fur cold-blooded murderer"
al shot him in self-defense," answered
Ronald, averting his eyes from the re-
pulsive sight.
"Self nothin'," sneered Williams.
Jest before he died he toll me how IL
come about. He said you shot fust, an
that you said you had intended to Stay
i'm ever since that night at the swamp.
reckon the court will take my testi-
mony, an you bet III swear the truth"
you are going 10 swear to that,
then?" said Ronald, too deeply
shocked by what had occurred to reals
lie the full importance of the threat.
Williams nodded as he bent over the
corpse and began to stroke the hair
back from the clammy brow. There
was rumbling Of wheels, and two cot
ton wagons filled with negro and white
laborers rounded the bend in the road.
"IIold on tharlp Williams cried, Is
he Strengthened himself up and waved
his two hands. IL want one o. them
thar wagons to take a dead comrade
home TO his flrcsidel"
The wagons stopped. The men
nlighted, aud, stricken with horror.
stepped lightly TO where the lead
man lay. Ronald turned to GO II
am going to give myself up to the
sheriff." he said, more to the staring
group than TO Williams. ~ did Il In
self defense"
"The court will pass on that,"
threatened Williams, with q growI
Ronald walked on. Under the con-
demning stare Of his ncighbors he felt
almost as II he had committed de-
liberntc crime. They gave way for
him TO pass as II his garments held
the germs Of death. Round the bend
the strident voice of Williams heu
him MP. "A
Handle Inn easy, mens he was not
afccrd o. anything that evcr3woie
hide; you don't git to tctch many
sech In lifetime; his dead neat is
better'n a mcetin-house full y the
common sort. in the best o. hath.
Easy tharl put yorc han undf his
head; he aint a-goin' 20 pizen you.
He's no more, fur this worlf fou'n
never heer HIS Jolly laugh agin on this
earth. My Godl Is II possible you are