The Rice belt journal., 1907-08-30

geance was well thought out On, no"
much more He can make US suHer
than you could with your clumsy Kill
ings! She must go, but walt-not yet
not vet. Oh. my God! | couldn't
stand it to see her go. 1t would cut
into NV heart and leave me to Dleed
TO death. No, no, no-dont! FIease
don't, Don't pile it all on me at the
last. The end has come anyway
Don't do that-don't, don't"
"Tbere. there, be still now" There
was a rough sort of soothing in Fol
letts voice, and they were both Silent
moment. Then the young man
went on:
"But what do you expect? Suppose
everything was left to you, Mister
Come now, you're trying to talk 1alr.
Suppose leave it to yOu-only you
know you can't keep her
Yes, it cant be. but let her stay
a little while; let me Sc her few
times more; let me know she doesn't
think I'm bad; and promise never to
tell her all of it. Let her always think
| was a good man. DO you promise me
that. I'd do it for you, FOllett. 1t
won't hurt you. Let her think | was
a good man
How long do you want her to stay
here?-a week, ten days."
1T will kill me when she goes"
ooh, well, two weeks"
That's good of You; you're kinder
at your age than | was-l shall die
when she goes"
well, wouldn't want to live If
were you"
Just a little longer, knowing that
she cares for me- I've never been free
to have the love of woman the way
you will some day, though I've hun.
gered and sickened for it-fOr a WON.
an who would understand and be
close. But this girl has been the soul
Of it some way. See here, FOllett, let
her stay this summer, or until I'm
dead. That cans be long time. I've
felt the end coming for year now.
Let her stay, believing In me. Let me
know to the last that I'm the only man
who has been in her heart, who has
won her confidence and her love. Oh,
| mean fair. You stay with us your
self and watch. Come-but look there,
look, man."
ell,-what?"
That candle is going out,-we'n be
in the dark"-he grasped the others
arm-"in the dark, and now I'm afraid
again. Don't leave me here! 1t would
be an awful death to die. Here's that
thing now on the bed behind me. It's
trying to get around in front where
I'll have to see 'it-get another candle.
No--dOn't leave me,-this one will go
out while you're gone" All his
strength went into the grip on Fol.
let's arm. The candle was sputtering
in its pool of grease.
There, it's gOne-now don't, don't
leave me. It's trying to crawl over
mel smell the blood"
"Well-lie down there-it serves
you right. There-stop it'll stay
with YOU
Until dawn Follett sat by the bunk,
submitting his arm to the others fren.
zied grip. From time to time he some.
what awkwardly uttered little words
that were meant to be soothing, as he
would have done to frightened child.
When morning brought the gray
light into the little room, the haunted
man fell into doze, and Follett, gent
ly unClasping the hands from his arm,
arose and went softly out He was
cramped from sitting still SO long, and
chilled, and his arm hurt where the
other had gripped it. He pulled back
the blue wOOllen sleeve and saw above
his wrist livid marks where the nails
had sunk into his flesh.
Then out of the room back Of him
came sharp cry, as from one who
had awakened from dream of terror.
He stepped to the door again and
looked in.
There now-don't be scared any
more. The daylight has come; it's all
right-all right-go to sleep now"
He stood listening until the man he
had come to kill was again quiet. Then
he went outside and over to the creek
back Of the willows to bathe in the
fresh running water.
NLhDTED WV