Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-05
THE MURDER OF
ARNOLD GRANGE
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BY HERBERT ALLINGHAM.

\ GOOD many years ago two young
n men were prospecting for gold in
California. They met with incredible
luck, and in less than a year had made
their pile.
One day they went together on a
shooting expedition. The younger of
the two, Phil Mason, was accidentally
shot by his companion and badly
wounded.
For some hours Phil was tenderly
nursed by his companion, and then
he fell asleep.
When he awoke he was alone. At
first he could not believe he had been
deserted, but as the hours passed the
horrible truth sank into his mind.
He had been left to die.
The agony Of thirst and the pain of
his wounds made him delirious. To re-
late what he suffered would only pro-
vide grewsome reading; and, after all,
it is past and done with these 40 yeaTe
and more. Besides, the subject is to me
a particularly distasteful one, for l
was Phil Mason, though l am known
by quite another name to-day; and
the horror of those lonely hours of
torment filled my soul with a bitter
hate that lasted five and 20 years.
Enough, then, to say that l was res
cued by a black fellow, and that a
fortnight later l was back among
men. able to get about, although only
a shadow of my former self.
On making inquiries I found that
my chum had cleared out Of the coun-
try, taking with him our united saw
ings.
Penniless and weak in health, /
could not follow him, and when some
months later l got a little money
together, all trace of him had disap-
peared.
So the years passed on in this endless
quest, interrupted by spells of hard toll.
Then one day, after five and 20
years, the knowledge which I had
sought SO hungrily came to me by &C
cident.
A careless conversation, overheard
by mere chance, told me the present
name and habitation of the man who
had wronged me.
1t was nearly ten o'clock at night
when l presented myself at the door
of the handsome house in Hammond
square, the residence of Arnold Grange,
the eminent banker.
Not for a moment did l anticipate
any trouble in obtaining an interview.
The man would not dare to send me
away.
| was right. In a few moments the
old butler returned and conducted me
to his master.
| found myself in a large, richly
furnished room, lighted only at the
farther end by a shaded electric lamp
on a big open desk covered with pa
pers.
At the desk stood a man with his
head turned towards me, but I could
not at first see his face. Quietly
walked across the room to him, and
for a moment we confronted each other
in silence.
Prosperity had changed him, ever
as adversely had changed me
For n thing, he did not look his
years. File could have passed for As,
and yet l knew that he must be well
over so.
He wore a we'll trimmed beard and
mustache and his skin was white,
When I had known him he was clean
shaver and deeply bronzed.
"You do not recognize me, Tom
Warner" I said at length, addressing
him by his old name.
He kept a bold front, but I thought
I detected a lurking fear in his eyes.
ut is long since we met" he said
in low tones.
Long, indeed" l replied, with a bit
ter laugh. ut is rs years since you
left me, a wounded lad, to die of thirst
in the mountains. Twenty-Five years
since you robbed me of the gold I had
worked and sweated for!"
He fdgeted %nervously, but offered
no defense, no excuse.
But J have hunted you down at
last, Tom Warner-or Mr.. Arnold
Grange, if you prefer that. / have
hunted you down, and by heaven you
shan't escape me now!"
II sea case Of blackmail!" he
said coolly.
7 took a step towards him, and
think the look in my eyes frightened
him.
There, there!" he said hastily.
1--WE need not quarrel. The past is
dead. Let's forget It. Come and see
me tomorrow and we will go into fig
uros. Meanwhile here is something to
60 on With"
I took the bills and recounted them.
Thank you I said, as 7 placed them
in my pocket. II will call upon you
tomorrow; but understand this, |
shall not be satisfied with a cent less
than half Of your fortune. If you try
to rob me Of a single dollar, by heaven
the whole world shall know your
story!"