The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-05-19


forgotten his companion for the mo-
ment, but growing oath recalled him
to his surroundings, and he shivered.
Il crawled out and looked round the
end of the log, and 1 saw him threaten
you with his fist and pass you by, and l
saw you" He stopped short and shiv-
cred again.
AN then l caught sight of YER" said
the murderer, slowly, after short pause,
and turning his bully's gaze upon his
companion; ''an' why L didn't put u
stopper on you, too, l don't 'ardly know"
Perhaps" retorted the eyewitness,
with feeble flicker of spirit, perhaps
because hadn't got my back turned"
whats your name?" he demanded.
1--WE tried to forget" said the other,
blinking painfully, but the last thing
| was called when-when | knew any
one, was 'Gin-and Misery
I'll call you Misery for short" with
a hoarse chuckle. I'm knoWn-not
about ere, but in the parts come from
as Black Jock Now were intro
dooced, which is just as we'll, COS we're
soin' to be very close company Ter some
time TO come. Understand?
If you'll only let nee so, lswear-take
my dying oath, | will-that III never
tell soul. III so straight away and
keep my mouth shut. III forget all
about it. l swear | will! Let me go
for Gods sake, let me go my way and
you so yours" He poured it all out in
an awful frenzy Of agonized, desperate
fear, but the other shook his great head.
No. he said, and beat the ground
with his cudgel at each repetition OF the
word no" Il tell yer, no-no-no!
Yer might keep yer word or yer might
not. You'll be within reach O me till
we've put two counties 'twiXt us an this.
Out O my sight you're not goin' ter stir.
An you'd best not try any yamoosln'
games. I'm quick on my feet an I'm
quick with my 'ands-as you know" he
added, grimly. Now, come along.
Night had fallen and yellow moon
shone through the tree tops when they
halted, foot-sore and weary, at the gate
OF field.
Looks like barn O. some sort yon-
worse than that for nights lodgin.''
Why not sleep in the open?" quay
cred Gin-and-Misery, whose courage the
falling of the night had not served 10
increase.
Because" retorted the other, turning
upon him, Il want door | can sleep
across. See?"
Jock pulled open the door and mo-
toned bis companion to enter
Strike light he said.
The other did so. A pile of tWigs and
branches was heaped against one end
of the interior; the rest of the floor was
hidden by thick layer of straw.
Couldn't do better" observed the
murderer. "Douse the glim an turn in
corner.
Jock shut the door carefully and dark
ness thick and impenetrable settled upon
them.
What was that? Wide awake and
trembling in every limb, he strained his
eyes and ears. A rat? He could have
sworn he had heard the straw rustic,
lily.
More torturing sleeplessness and
gnawing suspense, and waiting for he
knew not what. Once again he nodded,
once again the mysterious rustling tore
his heavy eyelids open.
Even as he once more fumbled for the
matches, lie noticed something that
petrified him as he sat.
He could see the streak Of moonlight
under the door again.
Then JOCK had moved-was not asleep.
Another match fared. The murderer
lay still in precisely the same attitude,
breathing loudly and regularly.
Could it be his fancy? Perhaps he had
shifted slightly in his sleep. Yet surely
he was nearer than at first.
Black Garkness again, the same mad
dening moments of staring and listen
ing. The sweat ran down through his
unkempt beard and he clenched his teeth
to keep from laughing aloud.
There, again-there was no doubt OF
the rustling this time. Frantically he
struck third match, and as it flared up
something touched his foot. He
shrieked, and in an instant the murder
er's hand was at his throat and the muir
derer's knee on his chest. The match
flew from his fingers and he struck and
bit and struggled with the desperation
of frantic terror.
Twice the terrible stick was raised for
| ctr hor lace Txy