Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-12-28
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARLEM.
Copyright. 1900 by
A. N. kellogg Newspaper Company.
CHAPTER X.-CoNT1NUED.

A.
For a moment Ronald remained
where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know bit that
Hart might be unframed, hiding in am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer.
At this juncture another horseman gal
Hoped up. It was Tha6 Williams, his
long stringy locks flying in the breeze,
his revolver drawn, ready for use. He
refined his horse in at a point in thesroad
from whence he could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from Rom
AIDS view. For fully a minute he sat
astride his snorting animal, his eyes
bufging from their sockets.
Damn you, you've done inn" he
said, with a deep breath, and he swung
his revolver round till it pointed at our
hero.
mine is empty" answered Ronald.
I'm in your power"
With another oath, the stalwart fell
Vow 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 grunted. 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 to 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. He had killed
a man-killed man! Then his heart
bounded suddenly little ray of hope
burst upon him, for he heard Thad Will
Eams' voice, low and tender: care you
hurt, sgd, old boy? Say, old chum,
come off; don't play tricks on mel"
There was low monotorous response
10 this, and it continued for fully half
n minute. Then Ronald heard gut
fural, labored coughing, and when it
had ceased he knew that Sydney Hart
-uas dead. Striding forward, he parted
the branches of the bushes. He found
Thad Williams holding the dead mans
head on his arm, as he might have held
that of an infant.
-.Is he dead?" Ronald asked.
The giant lowered the lolling head
with its glazing eyes to the turf and
booked at the speaker with glare of
hate.
ale don't look like he's runnin' of
foot race, do he?" he sneered. and a
sinister look took root in his face as
NE 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 it up. The law will
atten' to yore case-it ort to make it hot
FUR a cold-blooded murderer"
--Ishot him in self-defense," answered
Ronald, averting his eyes from the re-
spulsive Sight.
self nothin'," sneered Williams.
Jest before he died he toP me how it
come about. He said you shot fust, an
that you said you had intended to slay
i'm ever since that night at the swamp.
Z reckon the court will take my testi-
mony, an you bet I'll swear the truth"
you are going to swear to that,
4heH?" said Ronald, too deeply
shocked by what had occurred to real
fze 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 a rumbling of wheels, and two cot
ton wagons filed with negro and white
.l1borers rounded the bend in the road.
Hold on thar!" Williams cried, as
he Strengthened himself up and waved
his two hands. 81 want one O. them
thar wagons to take dead comrade
home to his fireside!"
The wagons stopped. The men
AIighted, and, stricken with horror.
stepped lightly to where the dead
man lay. Ronald turned to go. 81
ann going to give myself up to the
sheriff." he said, more to the staring
group than to Williams. 81 did it in
self defense"
~The court will pass on that"
threatened Williams, with a growl.
Ronald walked on. Under the con-
demnipg stare of his neighbors he felt
almost as if he had committed de-
fiberate crime. They gave way for
aim to pass as if his garments held
the germs of death. Round the bend
the strident voice of Williams held
him up.
Handle i'm easy, men; he was not
afeerd o. anything that ever wore
hide; you don't git to fetch many
eech in lifetime; his dead meat is
better'n meetinehouse full O. the
common sort, in the best o. health.
Easy thar! put yore ham under his
head; he amt a-goin' to pizen you.
He's no more fur this worp. You'll
sever heer his jolly laugh agin on this
earth. My GodI is it possible you are
&eAd-dead. old comrade ?.