Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-02

I1Olu vi, tudls lNSh, III SoAASa 0oAI
81 want to speak to you."
Ronald paused and Dave got down
from the wagon and Joined him.
Look heer, have you got anything to
shoot with?" was Dawes anxious Ques-
ton.
mot thing" returned our hero;
"why do you askT'
Before answering Dave drew his re.
volver from his hip pocket.
"Well," he said, as he proffered it,
you'd better take this, an be on the
safe side. sgd Hart and Thad Williams
is in town, an they are due long heer
about now. sgd may pass you without
u word it's all OWN to his load O. rot.
gut. He kinder likes me, an / told i'm |
one day If he ever harmed you I'd make
q sitter out'n his damn carcass, an he
knows l meant 1t; 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.
81 don't want any row." he said. set
ting his lips firmly, but will not be
shot down in q public road
Now you are talking like . 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
mans voice singing rolllcking song.
1t was Sydney Harris voice, and its muf
fed quality indicated inebriation. He
was still hidden from view by 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 Atty 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 1t 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
his antagonist had drawn his revolver
only in spirit Of drunken bravado.
But this hope was quickly put to fight
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 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, UT l won't leave q
piece o yore carcass big enough to bal.
a gnat on"
81 don't want to have any trouble
with you, Hart" answered Ronald, who
had still not drawn his revolver, "but
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 lodging 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 did not know which
of his last two shots hud done the work
but suddenly he saw The horse plunge
into the road without its rider and star,
down towards Carnleigh at the speed
of a runaway. For moment Ronald re-
NAMED where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know but tina,
Hart might be unframed, hiding in am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer
AT this juncture another horseman gal
Hoped up. 1t was Thad Williams, III,
long stringy locks flying in the breeze
his revolver drawn, ready for use. HI
refined his horse in at point In the road
from whence he could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from Ron,
AIDS view. For fully a minute he sal
astride his snorting animal, his eye.
bufging from their sockets.
Damn you, you've done 'iml" h
said, with deep breath, and he swunf
his revolver round till 1t pointed at oul
hero.
Mine is empty" answered Ronald
I'm in your power"
With another oath, the stalwart fel
low thrust his revolver into his belt ana
swung his right leg over the rump O
his horse and stood on the ground.
you've killed 'im," he gruntcd. as hi
stepped towards the bushes; dare t.
come nigh i'm, an I'll let dayligh
through you'll"
Ronald stood as If rooted to the spot
He had no desire to see the man wht
had fallen by his hand. A chill like tina
of death stole over him. He had killed
a man-killed man! Then his hear
bounded suddenly little ray of hop,
burst upon him, for he heard Thad vii
AdAAo WIN, 1ON anu lSuOei. ARE yOt
hurt, Sgd, old boy? Say, old chum
come off; don't play tricks on mel
There was a low monotonous respons.
to this, and it continued for fully hal
minute. Then Ronald heard gut
tural, labored coughing, and when i
had ceased he knew that Sydney Har
was dead. Striding forward, he parted
the branches of the bushes. He fount
Thad Williams holding the dead man
head on his arm, as he might have hell
. that. of an infant.
as he dead?" Ronald asked.
, The giant lowered the lolling hea'
with its glazing eyes to the turf an,
looked at the speaker with a glare O
hate.
"He don't look like he's runnin' of
! foot race, do he?" he sneered, and
: sinister look took root in his face a
he went on: Men him used to stan
! by one another, but as you say yor