The Elbert County tribune., 1904-11-24
CHAPTER xxxmI.
A Mendacious God.

Here's a message for you, Jessie!
The man says he will wait for an an
swer. I'm just dying from curiosity"
Jessie Garden was reading when
Edith Hancock rushed into her room
Too impatient to wait, she leaned
over Jessie's shoulder. The note bore
the letterhead of a hotel and was
written in a firm but scrawling hand.
It read:
Miss Jessie Garden,
"Mr. James Blake has been serious
ly wounded by a pistol shot and may
not recover. He wishes to see you.
II possible, come at once.
SAMUEL l.. ROUNDS"
When the purport of the message
dawned upon her. Edith snatched the
paper from Jessie's hand and de-
voured 1t with straining eyes.
He may not recover!' she moaned
He may not recover! Oh, what has
happened? am going to him! He
shall not die! Hurry. Jessie. hurry"
Two white-faced girls rushed in
upon General Garden. His lips COM
pressed as he read the message.
This Is Morris work." he said
Tell the messenger we will come at
once"
The hotel entrance was blocked by
a mob when the Bishop carriage drew
up. The blue helmets of police Of
ficers formed a line which marked
the edge of a struggling crowd.
"One moment, sir!" ordered an Of
ficer holding his baton in front of Gen
eral Garden. Make way for the am
bulance corps!"
The folding doors of the side en-
trance opened and four men slowly
advanced bearing a stretcher. 1t con.
toned a motionless mass covered
with a white cloth. Jessie clung to
her fathers arm.
With a low cry Edith Hancock
sprang forward and raised the cloth.
She looked into the dead, staring eyes
of Arthur Morris. The bearers paus.
ed while she gazed intently at the
face. She nervously replaced the cev
ering and turned to Jessie and her
father.
IT'S Arthur Morris! He's dead.
Perhaps it is all mistake about Mr..
Blake. Find out, general; find oat
at once! Well wait for you here"
General Garden returned and silent
ly conducted Jessie and Edith to a
room on the second floor.
A case of surgical instruments luy
on the center table, but the room hud
no occupant. AS they stood hesltat.
ingly by the entrance, the door cen.
Meeting an adjoining room opened
and tall man with red hair, sharp
blue eyes and enormous hands enter.
ed. Jessie recognized Sam Rounds.
"Heou dew We dol" he said son.y
advancing with an awkward bow.
Sorry tew meet you in such a place,
but the bitter goes with the sweet
Jim's badly hurt, out he has a chance
so the doctors say"
In whispers the four talked Of the
tragedy. Sam mad entered the hotel
office just before the first shot was
fired.
'It all happened SO quick I couldn't
do thing" Sam explained. THE
second shot fired by Morris just miss
ed-some one else-some one jim
was tryin' tew save-an' went
through the top of Mr.. Hawkins hat
Morris was dead before he struck the
floor
The door opened and a grave-faced
surgeon entered the room.
Miss Garden may see Mr.. Blake
for few minutes" he said.
In the dimly lighted room Jessie
Garden saw two figures-one propped
up with pillows SO that only the head
and arms showed against the white
linen. The curling, black lockg fell
back from the pale brow, and the
handsome face seemed chiseled In
purest marble.
Ito be continued.)
Answered the Call.
On the bank of the Mohawk river,
midway between Amsterdam and
Tribes Hill, New York, is the farm OF
Aaron Pepper. The proprietor is the
possessor of several horses, and
among them one that is blind, Of
which Our Dumb Animals tells this
story:
The horses frequently resort to tAe
islands in the river for pasturage.
They ford the stream at a point near
the dwelling. and the blind mare
usually follows the others. During a
recent freshet the horses attempted
to return. while Mr.. Pepper, anxious
as to the result, stood watching them
from the north shore. Two horses
and colts had entered the stream,
then their blind companion followed.
In few minutes all were strug-
Cling against the rapid current and
failing to make any headway, the
leaders sought the large island, while
the blind beast became separated
from them and drifted a considerable