The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-01-15


he did not move or touch his gun, and
he told himself that he had banishee
his silly fears. The plight was cold
| but somehow he did not feel the chill.
During the last half hour before mid
night Josiah held his watch on his
palm, and with his fingers followed the
long hand as it mounted the dial. Any
body would know that if the half
breed Henry Flatfcot were coming to
prevent his location notice from being
torn down he would not have waited
until so late to come.
Josiah could feel his palm perspiring
beneath the cold case of the watch
when at last both hands were squareiy
upon the figure H. In moment he
was upon his feet ripping the half-rot-
ten cloth sign from its place upon the
tree. The new piece of cloth 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 in tacks with his
heavy pocket-knife. Tie sound of the
hammering was like the laundering
of a stamp-mill to him, and yet his
ears caught that cautious sound in tho
chemise. He dropped his knife and
drove in the rest of the tacks 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 rabbit or by a toad.
Something good deal larger than
either had moved in the brush within
100 feet of him. He was On his own
ground now, but somehow he was more
nervous than before Tensely he
waited. At last it came again, just as
he knew il would. Something or some
body was moving slowly toward the
little clearing. in the midst of which
was the tree beneath which he
thing would stop. wait in silence, and
then come on. With his long pistol
across his knee and gr.pped tightly.
Josiah bent forward. Tie sound was
most like that which a man would
make in crawling. Only one man on
earth could have any reason to ap-
proach that lonely spot Icy stealth at
that hour of the night. and. that man,
would be Henry Flatfoot. the half
breed desperado, coming to see
whether 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
law is now on my side; you'd better
go back-so help you Gawd!"
There was a light commotion in tbs.
chemise. Perhaps the unseen hal
needed the warning and was now re.
treating. But in another ten seconds
the steps came on again.
Upon the strained gaze of Josiah
there 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
ness there into his own, Josiah Cod
bolt had never dreamed existed. and
he knew negro superstitions like a
book. The hellish eyes were growing
into the size of full moons, and they
seemed to be coming. coming. 1
Silence, awful, ominous; then a pis-
tol shot rang out Two screams sue
ceeded almost on the instant. One
shrill cry from Josiah, who had fred,
The other from the spot where the
eyes had vanished. and the brush
cracked as with heavy body plunged
back into 1t.
When, just as daylight was chas-
ing away the last shadow, Pete Bar
LAY stepped from the trail into the
clearing where he had left his part
1er, the spectacle which met him |
caused him to- stop and utter char |
lcteristic exclamation. In a heap upon |
he ground by the tree was Josiah.
His face was white and drawn almost |
last recognition. His eyes were
cleared and teary. In both hands his
PISTOL was clutched, and 1t was held |
'eady for instant use Barclay moved |
Up to him and gently wrenched away
he weapon. What in the name of all !
he ghosts has happened to you, Jo?"
he asked, with a tenderness of which
10 one would have suspected him.
"Over there" whispered Josiah, |
,ointing.
Whats over there, the ghosts? "-
The half-breed," piped Josiah.
Lord Gawd, had to kill him." He
u n
Pete Barclay went over to where the
rush was beaten down, and peered
nto the thicket. There, lifeless, lay
gaunt, ugly form. Josiah had shot
ne panther squarely between the now
alf-closed eyes.-San Francisco Argo-
aut
Il