Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
CHAPTER w.
The Verge Of Confession.

pHS utteieu oHS sputteiihS ely Va Sui
prise. f1inging his hand instinctively to his
hip. but attempted more. Hampton's
ready weapon was thrusting it's muzzle into
the astounded face, and the gray eyes
cleaning along the polished barrel held the
fellow motionless
Hands up! Not move. Murphy! 1 have
the DROP" The voice was low, but stern.
and the old frontiersman obeyed mechan-
ically, although his scanned face was fairly
distorted with rage.
you! you'll thought 1 knew-the
voice"
Yes, I am here all right. Rather odd
place for us to meet, isn't 1t? But, you see,
you've had the advantage all these years:
you knew whom you were running away
from. while 1 was compelled to plod along
in the dark. But I've caught up just the
same. If it has been long race"
What do ye-want me fer?" The look
in the face cunning.
Hold your hands quiet-higher. you fool!
That's it. Now, don't play with me. 1
honestly didn't know for certain I did want
you. Murphy, when I first started out on
this trip. l merely suspected that 1 might
from some things l had been told. When
somebody took the liberty of slashing at my
back in a poker room at Glencaid and
drove the knife into Slavin by mistake. I
CHANGED to catch glimpse of the hand on
d
fifteen years before 1 was acting as officer
of the guard one night at Bethune. 1t was
a bright starlight night. you remember. and
just l turned the corner of the old pow
der house there came a sudden flash, re-
port, a sharp cry. l sprang forward, only
to fall headlong over dead body; but in
that flash l had seen the hand grasping the
revolver. and there was scar on the back
of it. very peculiar scar. 1t CHANGED 1
had the evening previous slightly quarreled
with the officer who was killed; l was the
only parson known TO be near at the time
he was shot: certain other circumStantial
evidence was dug up. while Slavin and one
other-no, 1t was not yOu-gave some dam
aging. manufactured testimony against me-
AS a result l hello guilty of murder in
the second degree, dismissed the army in
disgrace and sentenced to ten years i'm
prisonment. So. you see, it was not eX-
actly you I have been hunting, Murphy-it
was scar.
Murphys face was distorted into hideous
grin.
Il notice you bear exactly that kind of
scar, my man, and you spoke last night as
If you had some recollection of the case.
The mocking grin expanded; into the
husky voice crept snarl of defiance, for
now Murphy's courage had come back-he
was fronting flesh and blood. 'Oh. stop
preachin'-an' shoot-an' be - ter yet"
You do me a grave injustice. Murphy.
In the first place. do not possess the ma
ture of an Indian. and am not out for re-
venge. Your slashing at me down in Glen
caid hasn't left much a sting behind.
It's completely blotted out. forgotten.
haven't the slightest desire to kill you, man:
but do want to clear my name of the stain
of that crime 1 want you to tell the whole
truth about that nights work at Bethune;
and when You have done so. you can go.
I'll never lay finger on you; you can go
where you please.
"Bah!-ye amt got no proof-agin me-
sides, the case is closed-it can. be opened
agn-by law
you devil! I'd be perfectly justified in
killing you," exclaimed Hampton, sayagely.
Murphy stared at him stupidity, the cum
ming of incipient insanity In his eyes. En-
whar-do ye expect-me ter say-all this,
pervidin', Of course-I wus fule 'nough-ter
do it?'
up yonder beforr Custer and the officers
of the It'll, when We get in.
They'd nab me-hkely."
Now, see here, you say 1t is impossible
for them to touch you. cause the case Is
closed legally. Now, you 20 not care very
much for the opinion of others. while from
every other standpoint you feel perfectly
safe. But I've had to suffer for your
crime. Murphy. suffer for fifteen years
ten Of them behind stone walls; and there
are others who have suffered with me. 1t
has cost me love. home, all that a man
holds dear. I've borne this punishment for
you. paid the penalty of your act to the full
satisfaction of the law. The very least you
can do In ordinary dscency is to speak the
truth now. 1t will not hurt you, but 1t will
llIt 1l6 Oul VI -.
Murphy's eyes were cunning. treacherous-
ly shifting under the thatch Of his heavy
brows; he was like an old rat seeking for
any hole of refuge 'Well-maybe might
Anyhow, I'll go on-wtth We. Kin l sit up?
I'm dog tired-lyin' yere."
4.Unbuckle your belt, and throw that over
first"
.'Fm - If will. Not-in no Injun-
country
II know it's tough" retorted Hampton,
with exasperat ting GOODNESS. his revolver's
muzzle held steady; but, just the same. it's
got to be done. ! know you far too well to
take chances on your gun. So unlimber."
.'Oh, I-guess not" and Murphy spat con-
temptuously. do We think-Fm afeard O.
yer-shootn'? Ye don't dare-fer I'm no
good ter ye-dead.'
You are perfectly right. You are quite
philosopher In your way. You would be no
good to me dead, Murphy. but you might
prove fully as valuable MANNED. Now I'm
playing this game to the limit, and ttat
limit is just about reached You unlimber
before l count ten you murderer, or III
spoil both your hands!'
The mocking sardonic grin deserted Muir
phys features. 1t was sullen obstinacy,
not doubt of the others purpose, that par
alyzed him.
:'Unlimber! It's the last call"
With snarl the scout unclasped his army
belt, dropped 1t to the ground, and sullenly
kicked it over toward Hampton. Now
now-you, you gray-eyed-devil, kin 1-sit
up?"
The other nodded. He had drawn the
fangs of the; wolf. and now that he no longer
feared, "a Sudden, unexplainable feeling of
sympathy took possession of him. Yet he
drew farther away before slipping his own
gun into its sheath. For time neither
spoke their eyes peerlng across the ridge.
Murphy sputtered and swore, but his VIC
torious companion neither spoke nor moved.
There were several distant smokes out to
the northward now, evidently the answering
signals Of different bands of savages, while
far away, beneath the shadow Of the low
bluffs bordering the stream. numerous black.
moving dots began to show against the
light brown background. Hampton, MOTTO
ing that Murphy had stopped swearing to
gaze. swung forward his field glasses for a
better view.
They are Indians. right enough" he
said, at last. Here, take look, Murphy.
/ could count about twenty in that bunch,
and they are travelling north
The older man adjusted the tubes to his
eyes, and looked long and steadily at the
party. Then he slowly swung the glasses
toward the northwest, apparently studying
the country inch by inch, his jaws working
systematically, his unoccupied hand clutch
ing nervousy at the grass.
"They seem-to be a-closin' in" he de-
clared. finally, staring around into the 9TH
er's face all bravado gone. There's an
luther lot-bucks all o. 'em-out west yon-
der-an' over east smudge is-just startin.