The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-06-16
josiah cvuld feeI his palm per.parins

Josiah could feel his palm persplrinI
beneath the cold case OF the watcl
when at last both hands were squareiy
upon the figure twelve. In moment
he was upon his feet ripping the half
rotten cloth sign from its place upon
the tree. The new piece OF cloth a
foot square he spread against the
trunk. whether right side or wrong
side to the bark he neither knew nor
thought. and began TO drive tacks with
his heavy pocket-knife. The sound of
the hammering was like the thunder
ing OF stamp-mill to him. and yet his
ears caught that cautious sound In the
chemise. He dropped his knife and
drove the rest OF the lacks with the
sheer strength OF his callous fingers.
Then he dropped to the ground upon
his knees and waited.
The quiet was absolute. Yet Josiah
knew that the sound he had heard was
not made by a rabbit or by toad.
Something good deal larger than
either had moved In the brush within
hundred feet OF him He was on
his own ground now, but somehow he
was more nervous than before. Tense
" he waited At last 1t came again.
Just as he knew 1t would Something
or somebody was moving slowly to-
ward the little clearing. in the midst
OF which was the tree beneath which
he crouched- Two steps, three steps,
the thing would stop. wait in silence.
and then come on With his long PTS
tol across his knees and gripped tight.
ly, Josiah bent forward The sound
was most Hike that which a man would
make in crawling. Only one man on
earth could have any reason TO APP
proach that lonely spot by stealth at
that hour OF the night and that man
would be Henry Flatfoot, the half
breed desperate. coming TO see wheth- |
er the notice by virtue OF which he
had held this mining claim had been /
disturbed The sounds were repeated. /
and again ceased. Another sound /
broke the hush: Henry Flatfoot. the
lawr is now on my side; you'd better
go back-so help you Gawdr'
There was light commotion in the
chemise. Perhaps the unseen had
needed the warning. and was now re
treating. But in another ten seconds
the steps came on again
Upon the strained gaze OF Josiah
here burst two balls as OF yellow fire
They dazzled him even as his senses
told him what they must be. Such
Eyes as those burning out of the dark
less there into his own. Josiah God
Jolt had never dreamed existed, and
lie knew negro superstitions like a
look The hellish eyes were growing
nto the size OF full moons, and they
eemed to be coming, coming.
Silence, awful. ominous; then a pis-
oil shot rang out. Two screams sue
eeded almost on the instant One
brill cry was from Josiah. who had
red. the other from the spot where the
yes had vanished. and the brush
rackled as with heavy body plunged
ack into it
When, just as daylight was chasing I
way the last shadow. Pete Barclay
topped from the trail into the clearing /
here he had left his partner. the spec /
lcle which met him caused him to stop e
nd utter characteristic exclamation I
4 heap upon the ground by the tree
as Josiah. His face was white and c
rawn almost past recognition His a
res were bleared and teary. In both
lnds his pistol was clutched, and II b
as held ready for instant use Bar a
ay moved up to him and gently Il
renched away the weapon what cl
the name Of all the ghosts has hap a
ned to you, Jo?" he asked, with a r,
nderness OF which no one would have b,
spected him
"Over there" whispered Josiah. CT
hitting.
What's over there, the ghostsT OF
The half-breed," piped Josiah III
ord Gawd. 1 had to kill him." He OF
nix his head upon his knees. hi
Pete Barclay went over to where the IA
1sh was beaten down, and peered
o the thicket. There. lifeless, lay :
unit, ugly FORM Josiah had shot the
nther squarely between the now Zee
f-closed eyes.-San Francisco Argo-