The Princeton union., 1900-04-12

~
Is in town, an they are due long heer
about now. sgd may pass you without
q word; it's all OWN to his load O. rot
gut. He kinder likes me, an told i'm
one day il he ever harmed you I'd make
a sitter ont'n his damn carcass, an he
knows meant it; but the sight O. you
might make i'm rabid.''
Ronald hesitated, but, on being
urged, he took the revolver and put it
into his pocket. @E
Il don't want any row." he said, set
ting his lips firmly, ''but 1 will not be
shot down in a public road"
'Now you are talking like q free
born American citizen," said Dave, and
he went off to unload his cotton.
Ronald had succeeded in .banishing
from his mind the unpleasant thought,
reused by Dawes fears, and had crossed
the creek bridge and was within sight
of the dormer windows of Carnleigh
! when, down the deserted road, he heard
a mans voice, singing a roilicking song.
It was Sydney Hart's voice, and it's muf-
fled quality indicated inebriation. He
was still hidden from view by u sharp
bend in the road but moment later he
came into sight, slowly riding along on
horseback. He did not recognize Rom
aid till he was within some fifty yards
of him. Our hero saw him rein in his
horse suddenly and then whip out his
revolver. Ronald paused and put his
hand on his own weapon, cooking it,
while it was still in his pocket. He
was, for the moment, conscious of no
other feeling than the instinct. of self
preservation. Even then he hoped that
bis antagonist had drawn his revolver
only in a spirit of drunken bravado.
But this hope was quickly put to flight
by Syd's erect carriage and the steadi-
ness of his aim, which was now directed
on him. sgd laughed harshly.
"This is the moment that has been
sent in answer to my prayers" he said,
deliberately. "Thar's been a sight O.
talk about yore spunk, but never be-
lieved in it myself. I've always knowed
yore liver war white. Now, this heer
road is entirely too narrow fur me an
you both to travel on. You jest git into
them thar woods, ur I won't leave a
piece O yore carcass big enough to bait
gnat on
Il don't want to have any trouble
with you, Hart" answered Ronald, who
had still not drawn his revolver, 'but I
will not allow any living man, drunk or
sober. to drive me from public high
way
'You won't, hey? Well, we'll see how
you like lead pills" Our hero saw the
barrel of the revolver steady itself, and
a blue puff of smoke rise from it, fol-
lowed by sharp report. Ronald heard
the ball whistle by him. He drew his
revolver, and, crouching down in the
road, that as little of his body might be
| exposed as possible, he began TO fire,
coolly and rapidly. His every shot was
returned by the dodging man on the
horse, which. frightened by the fire
above and in front of him, backed into
the low bushes that bordered the road
on the left. From behind these bushes
sgd continued to fire, and wherever
Ronald could catch sight of him
through the foliage he coolly directed
his shots. Ronald diG not know which,
of his last two shots had done the work,
but suddenly he saw The horse plunge
into the road without it's rider and start
down towards Carnleigh at the speed
OF runaway. For a moment Ronald re-
mained where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know but thai
Hart might be unharmed, hiding in am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer.
At this juncture another horseman gal
| loped up. It was ThaG Williams. lis
long str1ngy locks flying in the breeze,
his revolver drawn, ready for use. He
reined his horse in at point in the road
from whence he could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from Rom
aids view. For fully minnie he sat
astride his snorting animal his eyes
bulging from their sockets.
Damn you, you've done inn" he
said, with a deep breath, and he swung
his revolver round till it: pointed a 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 TIL let daylight
through you!"
Ronald stood as if rooted to the snot.
He had no desire to see the man who
had fallen by his hand. A chill like that
| of death stole over him. He had killed
q man-killed a man! Then his heart
bounded suddenly--a little ray of hope
burst upon him, for he heard Thad 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 a low monotonous response
to this, and it continued for fully half
a 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 on his arm, rs he might have held
| that Of an ;pfo1+