Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-21

lH the month George Buckley
was awakened by gentle rap
ping on the window Of his
room. He rose and stood listening.
The sound was repeated
"Who's thereY he called out.
Its me. George" answered Hill
yer's voice II want to see you a
minute. You needn't dress. live
got key to the front door. but was
afeard you mought jump up an shoot
before you found out who it was
Buckley's delay in answering show
ed his surprise at the unusual visit.
Hillyer heard him strike match and
saw him in the light it furnished as
George applied 1t to the wick of his
lamp.
"All right, Mr.. Hlllyer." be said,
come In
In moment the merchant opened
the great. rattling door in front and
came slowly back to his clerks apart
ment
Cit back in bed" said he. I've
got my overcoat on an my teeth are
chatterin' feel like wasn't nothin'
but skin an bones"
"Why, it's not cold. Mr.. Hillyer."
coat, and he hastily drew 1t on and
sat down on the bed. Hillyer re-
manned standing in the middle Of the
room, staring wide eyed and pale faced
at his clerk Then he bethought him
self OF chair and drew one to him
and sank into it.
You went to call on Miss Lydia to-
night, didn't you. George!"
Eyes, sir. was there till about 10
O'clock
Maxim any progress. George7 I
mean
I'm not trying to make any prog
ress, Mr.. Hiliyer." said the young man
quickly. I'VE are simply friends-that's
all"
1t was as If the merchant had not
heard the reply to his question. He
stared blankly at Buckley for a mo-
ment, and then. with groan, he buried
his face in his hands and rocked back
and forth like man in pain. Sudden
ly he said:
George, I'm in a awful-awful fxf
Buckley found himself unable to
formulate reply. He could only
answer the astonishing statement with
an almost alarmed stare.
George. I'm sufferin' -sufferin'. It's
that old thing. thought after my talk
with you down here awhile ago that
I would feel better, but it's back ag'in
like million devils had hold O. every
nerve in my brain an body. Fer the
last week it has been CROWN wuss an
Wuss. an now eff sonle'n' hain't done
I'll jest die. But must tell you. You
know said hadn't spoke about it fer
thirty year to single soul. an talkin'
to you here that night seemed to do
me some good, an so tonight when
couldn't sleep / thought I'd come to
you"
I'm glad you came. Mr.. Hillyer."
''You remember. George. said that
Hank Williams, the man whose testi-
mony had cleared me, was livin' in
Texas?"
Yes, remember you said that, Mr..
Hillyer."
well, Jest week ago last Thursday
he come back to this county to see his
old friends an kin. When / heard
he'd come l was settin' at my desk.
kenner an Hanks was a-talkin'. an
one of 'em mentioned it, All my
strength went out O. me, fer they said
he'd got religion an was leadin' up
right life Do YOU know what I'm feared
Of now. George? I'm afeard he's come
back toto AK me toto let i'm con-
Tess the truth. They say men will git
that away as they nigh the grave, an
he's gittin' old. Some'n's wrong, I
know, fer he acts quar- in not comm
to see me. I'm as nigh crazy as a
man ever was. Do you know what
done last night? 1t was as dark as
pitch, an l knowed nobody wouldn't
see me. You know the old livery sta
BILE whar the shootin' occurred Is still
l had never been past it
since then. I Jest couldn't. But last
night. IN the pitch dark an drizzlin'
rain, got out'n bed an went thar an
knelt down right whar he fell. an
begged an begged God to let me die
then an thar an face whatever was
comm to me. even eff it was eternal
want my punishment-the rail thing |
TO begin, an go on an on eff it's Gods
will l don't care how long. I cayn't'
stand this uncertainty. Hank Will
Jams intends to come to me, but he's
,uttin' it of to the last minute. But I |
want him to spout It all out an be done
With 1t. Ef he don't, will. Then tonight
went up to the graveyard an picked
tut Lynn Hambright's grave an laid
Town on it amongst the weeds an
,riers an prayed to his bones to rise
Up an do some'n. Anything's better
han this awful silence OF God an
nan"
With his hands tightly pressed over
lis face the merchant sat- breathing
heavily. George Buckley stood over
lin, his handsome face heavy with
,ity.
us there anything on
.arth that l can do, Mr.. Hillyerw he
Questioned II would do anything to
elieve you. I'd cut Off my right arm
o do you service"
Yes, you can do some'n'," said the