The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-08-19


ed at me while he said 1t, jingling the
money that was in his pocket. And I
was his nephew, and by his arts and
practices he'd jockeyed mo out Of farm
of three hundred acres, most of 1t good
and a mill upon 1t.
Il remember very we'll what l said to
him-never mind what 1t was-but
warrant he laughed no longer. though
he kept up his bullying to the end. and
told me to go to destruction my own
way, and the further from my native
parish the better.
$50 1 left him and walked away
through Watercourt to John Exon's Inn.
where 1 sat all that day drinking. l
told nobody what had happened, but they
guessed very we'll that I'd had quarrel
with my uncle, and all the world knew
by that time how he'd got my land into
his own possession.
| "About o'clock In the evening Harry
Rabjahns, the blacksmith, came to the
| inn, and Grandfather Derges with him,
and they had a mug Of cider apiece. And
| then l began to talk to them about my
own affairs. l said L should 60 away
that very evening. I should walk to
Bovey Tracey, l said; should take the
train to Newton-Abbot, and SO to Bris-
toll, where / should find ship bound for
foreign parts. That was what l said
and perhaps it was lucky 1 said so much
But 1 don't know, because the verdict of
the jury l never heard.
| "We shook hands and l came away.
| Twas then about eight, and there was
1 ho14 T fhn
thought came into my head that l was
fool to 60 to Bristol when Plymouth and
Falmouth were nearer and would suit
my purpose better. l could walk to Ply
mouth easy, and SO save the railway
money. Therefore I revolved to change
my plan, and instead Of turning to the
left l turned to the right and walked
across the church yard, and took the
road which goes to Widdicombe.
"It was only chance, mark you, that
took that road. l did not know, and
did not suspect, that my uncle had
ridden over to Ashburton after l left
him. All a chance it was. l never
thought to meet him; and he might have
been living till now if it hadn't been for
| that chance"
The man who was listening groanel
aloud at this point
''The first two miles Of the road is a
narrow lane between high hedges. Pres
emily l passed through Heytree Gate
and so out where the road runs over the
open down, and here l began to think
| what l would do If l had my uncle be-
fore me; and the blood came into my
eyes, and l clutched the cudgel hard
Who do you think put that thought into
my head? The evil one. Why did he
! put that thought into my head? Beca use
the very man was riding along the road
on his way home, and because I was 60
| ing to meet him in about ten minutes.
CHAPTER II.
II heard the footsteps of his pony a
long way off. I was in the middle of the
open road when 1 saw him coming along
in the moonlight. l stood still and wait
ed for him. Murder him! Murder him.
whispered voice in my ear. Whose
voice was that? The evil ones voice.
'My stick was a thick, heavy cudgel
with knob. 1 grasped it by the end
and waited. He did not see me. He
was looking straight before him, think
ing, l suppose, how he had done we'll to
get the nephew out Of the wayne had
robbed and ruined. So, as he came up
to me 1 lifted my arm and struck him
on the head once. saying, Give me back
my land. villainv But l do not know
whether he heard me or saw me; for he
| fell to the ground without a word or 9
groan.
HE fell, 1 say, from his pony clean
on to the ground, his feet slipping away
from the stirrups. His face was white
l stood beside him, waiting to see if he
would recover. l hoped he would, be-
caus it is a dreadful thing to think that
you have murdered a man, even when
you are still hot with rage. If he would
only recover little and sit up thought.
should be happy man. But he did
not He lay quite still and cold.
Then l began to think that if 1 were
caught should be hanged. Would they
suspect me? Fortunately, no one had
seen me take that road. must 20 away
as quickly as could, and leave no trace
or sign that would make them suspect
me.
Then thought that if 1 were to rob
him, people would be less inclined to
think of me; because, though l might
murder the man who had ruined me,
they would never believe that l would
rob him.
Il felt in his pockets. There was his
watch; no, would not touch his watch.
There was some loose silver, which l
left. There was a bag containing money.
l know not how much, but it was a light
bag. This l took. Also he had under
his arm a good-sized tin box in a blue
bag, such as lawyers carry. The box |
knew would contain his papers, and his
papers were his money. So thought
would do as much mischief to his prop
erty as could, and I took that box.
Then l went away, leaving him there.
with his white cheeks and gray hair,
and his eyes wide open. felt sick when
l looked at those eyes, because they re-
preached me. l reeled and staggered as
left him.
II was NOT going to walk along the
road. That would have been q fools
act. turned straight OF and struck for
the open moor, intending to make for
Plymouth. And I remembered a place
where the box could be hidden away, a
safe place, where no one would ever