Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-09-27

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that he held no "ill will or grudgs
against any man on this earth.n
The court was satisfied; Forrest
was discharged and Howard was ad-
lvised by&he court TO let matters rest
as they were.
= WITH RIVALS SHARP EYES.
The men returned to their houses,
one fearful of the other, the second, ,as
Subsequent events have proved,
treasuring In his heart a burning de-
sire for the life OF him whom he held
responsible for his troubles and for
that OF her who had once been the
object OF hia undivided attention.
Weeks passed and the fateful Sunday,
Sept. 0, came, the Sunday OF the toll
ers Of Rock Greek, the day OF rest for
those who for months had labored
from early morn till dusk in the field
and on the range. The day was q
beautiful one, and, as is the custom,
ranchmen came from far and near to
the little church on the banks OF that
mountain stream to attend the even
ing service.
Before the first notes of the organ
rang out on the evening air the house
was filed with men, women and
children, and among the number were
Willis Howard and Flora Linn, Ac-
companied BY Mr.. and Mrs. Linn, who
entered shortly before the opening
services and took their seats near the
front. A moment later the form Of
Forrest passed through the door and
took a back seat. Nothing happened
to mar the service, and after the
divine blessing had been invoked
upon the members of the little con-
gregation all present arose and slowly
fled out.
THE HOUR HAD COME.
As Howard passed from the door Of
the veatlbule into the open air with
Flora Linn leaning upon his arm, the
man who had quietly entered the
church but an hour before sprang
through the open doorway and in the
twinkling Of an eye had pressed re-
volver against the side of Howard and
pulIed the trigger, A second later
another shot rang ont andHoward reel
ed and fell face-downward at the feet
OF his slayer with bullet through the
other side.
With q scream the young woman
turned and ran for the vestibule door,
but not In time to avoid bullet which
struck her In the right shoulder and
passed through her breast. AS she
staggered forward second shot pass
ed through her side and wrist and she
fell fainting into the arms Of gentle
man who had stood awe-stricken while
the terrible tragedy was being enacted
before his eyes. With q bound For
rest cleared the space between the
church deor and the timber, and a few
minutes later the crashing in the di-
re ction of the brush was followed by
another report on the banks of Rock
Greek, and the body Of the assassin
plunged headforemoat into the deep
est pool of the pretty little stream.
Kind hands placed q coat under the
head Of the murdered man, kinder and
tenderer hands lifted the form of the
dying girl into vehicle and conveyed
her to the home Of her parents, where
9 mighty battle between life and death
enlisted the sympathies of hundreds
throughout the country.
At 8 O'Clock the following morning O
group Of ranchmen, still dazed by the
terrible happenings of the night be-
fore, gathered around two forms that
lay side by side In front Of the little
church door. One form bore every
trace Of the manllness 1t had known
| In life, the other was wet and drip
ping, the hair matted, CHASTITY wound
in the breast, where its own hand had
sent bullet through its heart.
THREE LIVES THE AWFUL COST.
By the aid Of a fiickering lantern the
coroner recorded the stories OF those
who had Witnessed the deed Of the nighi
before, and just as the sun began tG
rise over the top Of the Crazles, the
under sheriff, assisted by several
friends of the dead men, procured
clothes In which the bodies were wrap
ped and conveyed into the yestibuit
| OF the church, to await the arrival oi
collins in which they were each con-
signed to mother earth. Flora Linz
lay racked with pain, from the fatefu
Sunday night until the equally fata
morning ofyesterday, Thursday. Con'
slant and faithful attention availet
not. Death ended sufferings, ant
this brought to its grim fnish the lasl
chapter in distressing crime.
Thus ends the story of Rock creel
, and its tragedy. Each man had hi'
friends, each has his defenders. Posi-
bly, one may have been too iealous,to'
, revengful; possibly the other was TOT
, hasty. But that they both loved aD'
loved to desperation and death canno
be denied, and whether friend or fo'
, the verdict OF all is recorded In on'
hriaf uentsnce. otis too bad"