The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-02-09
CHAPTER XIV.

Half an III after George Bostock
announced his intention of making a
confession, a little crowd had gathered
in the ward where he lay, a scared,
weird look in his eyes, his %bloodless lips
twitching convulsively. the hand over
which he held power flung outside the
coverlet, Which it plucked in his
spasms of nervousness, his deathlike
face shining from perspiration in the
flare of the gas.
Seated at a table beside the bed was
George Coris, coming over the tesla
mentary declaration which had just
been made; a clerk, alert and shrewd,
standing just outside; a magistrate,
whose heavy countenance was lighted
by grim surprise, beside him Mack
worth, for whom the solicitor had sent,
keeping near the door, attentive, grave
and triumphant. HeadWick not far re-
moved; the house urgeo and a sister
at the lower end of the room, watchful
land ready to give their services at this
fateful moment; the former absorbed
in an interest which was centered in
scientific speculation, the latter scared
by the thought that the man she had
attended was a criminal, n awed by
the spectacle before her.
The silence, scarce broken by the
scratch of a pen, the occasional move
ment of feet, and the painful sound of
the patients labored breathing became
oppressive, and the atmosphere which
the ventilator in the high, narrow Win
dow did little to purify, grew heavy.
All present felt the strain and solicit
tude. the terror n tragedy Of the
scene, and We're awed by the almost
palpable presence of approaching
death. This nan declared himself to
be the shedder of human blood, and
now tardily removed the heavy blame
which had fallen OF IN innocent
woman.
1t was with something of relief that
they heard George Coris raise his
clear, distinct voice, and addressing the
patient, say:
Il will now read to you the confess
sion of murder you have made in the
presence of a magistrate II other wit
nesses here assembled"
George Bostock moved his head by
way of response, his eyes fixing them
selves eagerly upon the solicitor, who,
after a seconds pause, took up the
document he had written and read il
aloud as follows:
Il, George Bostock, of my own free
will, and in anticipation of my imme-
diate death, do hereby make confession
TENDER last, l encountered the late Da-
vid Dumbarton in the Hixton road neal
his wife's house, W~hereupon a quarre.
ensued between US which led to blows
and ended by my inflicting a wounG
upon him from which he died a few
minutes later in the presence of his
wife, whose protection he sought.
And 1 Furthermore declare that I
without solicitation or aid, but in 6
moment of passion committed this
g%rievous crime, the blame OF which
deeply depiore to have allowed to res
upon n entirely innocent Of its guilt
And in token of the truth of these
statements, I take my oath in the pres.
ence Of witnesses, and subscribe m.
\ name
The oath was hurriedly taken ane
then with feverish eagerness he hell
out his hand for the pen with which
he hastily wrote his name. Then let,
ting it droop from fingers, he, will
an air of intense relief, lay back upo,
the pillow Of that narrow bed from
which he might rise no more, his fac,
CHASTITY, his eyes luminous. wild an,
fixed upon space, his mind needless Q
what went on around him, the append
, Ing of h Witnesses signatures, tn
dispersal of the group which had wit
- EAEE tE hA GEE