Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-20

DOT"
Mason's figure was still rigidy erect.
only the finger that stia!cd 80 restlessly
over the trigger of his rifle moving. Ills
face remained pale. but was "a, hard as
stone aud the eyes. showing no mercy,
sought those of Markham. which waver-
ed aud turned away in fear
you have been liar and sneak all
your life be- repeated.
Its true. Dan. its truc-all that you
gay about me Il true. groancd the man.
IL know I'm scoundrcI, and | lied about
you. and | mad" her think that you were
all that said YOU were
You made me lose her with your lies"
said Mason.
Yes. its so, Dan" cried Markham,
"but this war will be- over some day. and
then you can go home, and you'll have
another chance
II don't know about that" said Mason
grimly. 81 may be dead when the war
is over But at any rate you'll never
20 back 10 tell any more lies about me
1T would bee murder, Dan, You know
ii would be 10 Kill me now, when I'm un-
armed" cried Markham.
What right has a hound like you 20
talk Of murder?" said Mason. III he
making the world better 10 put you out OF
il. Besides, I'd only be Kidding the Of
fcers Of "A dirty job. You're a spy. Tom
Markham, and, according 10 the laws 81
war You re 20 be put TO death. ! send
a bullet through your head. and the thing
is done neat and quick
He stepped back a little and cooked his
rifle The man threw up his hands again
and begged for mercy Standing farther
away now, Mason could scarcely see his
60. 4 J.
drifting cloud, and the shadows had
come over the glen. There was no sound
in the woods about them. His comrades
had returned TO camp. having finished
their part ~ the task. He looked up at
the Hill where the army lay. II was
bright with many lights. and now and
then he saw a dark traccry appear upon
its luminous shield. lie knew that il
was the soldiers passing and rcpasSing
between him and the fires. He would be
back with them soon, and there would
be one scoundrcl less in the world. There
was satisfaction in the thought that his
own hand would achieve the good work.
The fierce mountain blood was hot In
his veins and called for the death atone
mcnt upon the man who had done him a
wrong.
1.-THE shepherds went their hasty way
And found 'Hr Iuulv stable shed
Whore the Virgin mother lay;
And now they checked their eager tread.
For 90 the lahe that al t.r bosom chung
a mothcrs song the Virgin sung"
The hymn had diod for little while,
but now il rose again, borne aloft by a
hundred voices, louder, clearer than ever
and filing the night with melody. All
other sounds were hushed al the distance.
1t alone sounded in the ears Of the two
men-the one who knelt and begged for
mercy and the one who stood over him,
cooked rifle in hand. That same sense
Of awe which he had felt earlier in the
evening and then had shaken off began
to steal over Mason again.
Dan. Dan. Do you hear thatT
suddenly cried the man.
eyes, hear il.
"Do you know what il means?'
"Ycs; il is Christmas night You need
not tell me that. ! know it. What have
you or the likes Of you to do with such a
night as this
Markham looked up into his face.
Its not me, Dan; it's you that ought
to think about it" he said. It's muir
der, Dan, if You kill meme an unarmed
man. And think of 1t, Dan, on such a
night as this-Christmas night. with that
song ringing in your ears. Whenever you
lay down To sleep, you'll hear it again."
"The shepherds went their hssty way"
The note penetrated all the woods and
seemed TO Mason to increase in fulness.
1t annoyed him. He wished they would
stop. There had been enough OF such SEN
timent. lie was not weak child 10 be
turned aside from his just revenge. He
was merely the eXecutioner whom this
criminal deserved.
"Say your prayers, II you know any to
say, he exclaimed roughly. our
times short, and its going fast"
Dan, Dan, you won't do it!'
Il will"
"Listen how they sing, Dan! Are you
any better than they are? This IS the
night that a man ought TO forgive his
enemies. You wouldn't murder me on
this OF all nights in the year. Remem-
Der, Dan, that we were friends once.
You won't forget that. will you2'
you forgot it," said Mason.
He looked again at the kneeling figure
and thought how he had longed more
than two years for this moment He had
often pictured it TO himself and had mag
incd in advance the JOY which now he
did not feel. How could he with the
words OF that song ringing in his ears?
If it were only any other night.
ITS not murder; it's a punishment"
he said at last
1T IS murder, and you know it, too,
Dan. That sound would haunt you! Lis
ten to it, DAM"
'The shepherds went their hasty way
And found the lowly stable shed"
1t was growing darker and darker In
the glen aS the drifting clouds piled up
between them and the moon. Mason
could scarcely see the outlines OF Mark
hams face, and he was glad that the
supplant's look was not visible TO him.
He knew that the mans face expressed
abjcct entrcaty. He raised his rifle again
and lcvelcd il, but his finger would not
press the trigger. The warning hymn
sounded in his ears and echoed again and
again.
Don't Kill me, Dam" said the man.
Take me a prisoner 10 the camp"
And if | do" replied Mason shortly,
they'll hang you for a spy. Don't for
get that"
Markham was silent
The song did not cease. 1t seemed now
to Mason that it was addressed to him
alone. Would il be murder, and not n