The Washington times., 1905-06-04
CHAPTER VII (continucd).
kkT HEN to think OF the sight that
would hasn into Ward s
eyes. The gloom of the tun-

HEN to think OF the sight that
would fiasn into Wards
eyes. The gloom Of the tun-
nel-1tke curved shed sud-
denly lined by two faint silver streaks.
then a dun fash against the left wall,
to burst. whilst the heart only loses
two beats, into the direct glare Of a
plunging headlight evil red eyes
glowing beneath. God help him, If, in
the realized horror. his brain nurnbed
more chill than did mine.
Well. what did next is only a con-
fused recollection. : can only Femem-
Der an insane idea to go somewhere,
where no one would ever see me again.
What possessed me 10 collect these tel
egrams I know not. Turning down
the light 7 left the office. The rest is
a jurnpie of wide. stretching sage
dotted plain, and the dash Of sleet
against my face, When morning broke
was out Of sight Of HallaIn, out over
the bleak desert toward the distant
white-capped range.
1T must have been about noon when
I came TO little ranch, Before the
door sat a man-rough and unkempt-
he was very true to his type. A type
into which enters the solemnity OF
wide space, the freedom Of great
winds and the boundless instructive
sympathy OF nature.
I'm trouble. stranger he said sim
ply, as I approached.
MY answer must have satisfied him,
for I next remember him removing my
boots and carefully tucking me into
his bed Tt was morning when ]
awoke. My host prepared breakfast,
then said:
Set up. partner. there is your place
as long as you choose TO stay: there is
lots Of chuck and plenty OF room
Lordi I was afraid ia have to bunk
alone this winter. sure.'
NO questions were asked. In my
possession was the master key to al
Western hearts. I was III trouble.
"A few days after he went to Hallau
for winter supplies. returning IN few
days with two laden horses. Thai
night as we sat bafore the fire he ex,
tended a copy of the HalIam News
Taking it I found a portion OF the Ioca
page torn of.
".Diek,' said. where is the rest OF
the paper?
. Well boy he answered. you dom,
really want to see 1t. do you?'
Upon my insisting he took this from
his inside pocket"
newspaper adding. Read it, The boys
glanced over the lurid recital Of thc
Kane collision; the ghastly narrative o.
the horror and tragedy was very com
plete. The little paper possessed in it;
editor a practiced descriptive writ
er. and The details were shaded
with the intensity of q Hugo
The awful death of Ward
pinned against his boiler head amid The
fiendish shrek Of broken steam pipe:
and the debris of the collapsed snow
shed-his agonized appeals growing
faint into the silence from the seethinf
white he'll. The crushed fireman ant
brakemen. and the pathos of the broker
homes were graphically portrayed i
its closing sentence the article said:
y ~
As TO the man on whose shoulder
rests the awful responsibility Of thi
sickening tragedy. we find it matter 0
common comment that he had long vol
unfairly placed Himself IN "a position b
habits OF dissipation 70 invite the occur
renee OF the fateful event OF October i
His presence in the barroom in a semi
intoxicated condition at the precise mo
Taent when his drunken brain ha
launched the first number one agains
the ni-fated g. and his purchase OF
pint OF whisky are all known 10 on
citizens. The vindictiye unanimity c
expressed public opinion is for once jus
tilted. and but for his strange disap
pearance he would have been the frs
visible evidence of the deaths darken
ing our city. Although justified, we ar
glad the wrath of cur citizens wa
foiied What comparison would bay
been quick death to the burden no.
carried by the remorse-stricken out
law? Fated 10 hear IN the wailing win
the death cry OF his victims. TO see
the purple OF the gloaming their re
proaehful faces as long q just Go
allows him TO exist.
Lawrence. this is awful said How
as he showed the papers aside.