Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
Stare Jour Damn BLACK Eues Out Of
Tour Head

night, how best to ruin forever this being
who had returned thus inopportunely from
the grave. He Shook in secret: his rage
nearly choked him unseen; and at last
caution was thrown to the winds: craft
was forgotten; passion whirled Sim out of
himself; he played his part no more. and
as Daniel 10 his friend had proclaimed the
living truth behind the black veil that
hid IL. so now Titus also revealed him
self, spoke in frenzy of disappointed
passion. and stripped his heart to the
tempest and springtide of his fury. Sim
perceived that he held the upper hand.
and made that clear to Sweetland. The
truth indeed he told: but without a wit
ness; and 1t was beyond the listeners
power TO prove anything. He might
peat Sims Infamous confession, but there
were none to substantiate the story. Only
one man could have done So anu he lay
waiting 70. his funeral on the morrow.
I've heard you; now hear me-" said the
footman- The devils kept you for the
rope. Dan Swee;land; and twas l wove
the rope and shall I've to know you've worn
1t Your friend once. your bitter enemy
TO the death from the day that woman
put you before me and chose you for her
husband. After that | cursed your shadow
when you passed, and only waited the right
moment to get you out OF my road forever
more. In the nick of time the chance fell,
and that you trusted a pig trusts a
butcher-l caught you like a rabbit in a
snare. Glare at me! Stare your damned
black eyes out of your head | did it-did it
all, And I've not done with you yet-re-
member that. RiN Parkinson's dead man
nuw-gune to have 1t out in hell with
Adam Thorpe. Twas Rix that shot him.
and twas | that thrashed your father the
same night. We worked very well together
-RX and me- Look out of the window.
Only six-foot drop-you'l have the same
drop presently-with a rope round your
neck Down that wall I've gone a hundred
times. RiN drank damnation with his
money: l put my share away and let 1t
NOII the black sheen In
body mouth. THAT was twice and twenty
times the skilled sportsman you was-I
went my way quiet and unsupported Many
ana many and many'S the night me and
Parkinson thinned the peasants. Then came
that hour when your old fool of a father
and Adam Thorpe Numbered on us. The
best men will make mistake now and
again; yet. after alIS said, the mistake
was theirs. for one lost his life and
tOther got his gray head broken. And
then twas. after we'd gathered our birds
again and gone, that the thought of what
might be came to me. Sweetland's the
man for this dirty work, says the devil TO
me. and In hour, when Rix away
with the birds. l went up over TO your new
home and found you at hand. You almost
walked on top OF me you went away:
then | slipped into the howell by unlatching
back window with a bit OF wire. and
there was your gun waiting for me, with
cartridges In 1t as had Just been fired!
saw you hanging in ENeter gaol from
that moment IL Thorpe died. The rest
you know. l hid the gun that night afore
the hue and cry. and. come morning,
found II put away very carefully where
twas supposed you meant to come for II
some other day. Meantime Thorpe died
in hospital. Twas all as easy as lying
And now you stand where you stood the
hour that you were arrested You're a
doomed man. for only l can prove your
innocence. and that l never WILL That's
what II Is to come between a man and a
woman he loves. II l don't have her no
body shall have her-least of all you
The other rose and gasped In amaze
ment at this narrative.
BE II Sim l hear. or some cold-bloode6
BOWL as have got into his shape?'
You know well enough. ruin seize you
Wrecked my life-thats what you've done
but the last words mine. l haven
worked and toiled by night and day fol
this I'll have her yet. Why not? You're
dead alreadyl Go-get out of my sight
sleep your last easy sleep. Go, l say. Of
I'll do for you with my own handi I'll!
time you were In hell. An there I'll follow
you: but not yet-not yet. Many Ions
years start of me you'll have. / mus
marry and get children: and il l live lont
enough I'll cheat the devil yet; but you
your threads spun: dead and buried IL
quick1ime you shall be!'
Nothing could have exceeded the franti
passion with which Sim uttered this whir
OF words. They burst from him with ex
plosions and nearly choked him. Hi
eyes blazed. his limbs worked spasmodi
cally. For the time he behaved like
malignant lunatic.
Sweetland perceived that little was to b,
gained by further speech with one insane