Mower County transcript., 1907-06-05
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER xxx.
How the Aveneer Bung'ed His
Vengeance.
At last he stood up, slowly, unsteao-
ilv. grasping Follett by the arm Tor
support. He spoke almost in "nls-
per. ,-
then I'll go with YOU"
He entered the house, the young
man following close, suspicious mar
rowly watchful.
mo fooling now,-feel the end OF
that gun in your back?' The other
made no reply. Inside the door ne
took a candle from the box against the
well and lighted it.
Don't think I'm trying anything
come here"
They went on, the little bent man
ahead, holding the candle well up. His
room was at the far end of the long
house. When they reached it, he
closed the door and fixed the candle
on the table in some of it's own grease.
Then he pointed Follett to the one
stool in the little cell-like room, and
threw himself face down on the bed.
,- Follett, still standing, waited for
him to speak. After a moments
silence he grew impatient.
I "Come, come! What would you be
saying if you were talking? I can't
wait here all night" - ~~sa ~ r@s
But the little man on the bed was
still silent, nor did he stir, and after
another wait Follett broke out again.
! IF you want to talk, talk, tell
you. If you don't want to. can say
all I have to say, quick"
Then the other turned himself over
on the bed and half sat up, leaning on
his elbow.
I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but
you see I'm so weak"-the strained lit
tie smile came to his face-"and trem-
bic 50, there's so much to think Of
do you hear those women scream
there! did you hear that?-but of
course not Now-wait just moment
have you come to kill me?"
!; "You and those two other hellions
1.-The two that took me and that boy
out that night to bury u.s.
; did you think Of the conse-
Quences?"
Il reckon you'd be called paid for,
any time any one come cunning for
you. l didn't think there'd be any con-
sequences" =: = :*',:<:"
Thereafter, I mean; to your soul.
What pity you didn't wait a little
longer! Those other two are already
punished"
Don't lie to me now?" -.
The little smile lighted his face
again.
II have load of sin on me-but I
don't think ever did lie to any one-l
guess never was tempted"
"Oh, you've acted lies enough.
you're right-that's so. But I'm
telling you truth now-those two men
had both been in the Meadows that
day and it killed them. One went
crazy and ran off into the desert. They
found his bones. The other shot him
self few years ago. Those of us
that live are already in hell"
He sat up, now animated for the
moment.
C in hell right here, I tell you.
I'd have welcomed you, or any other
man that would kill me, any time this
Is years. I'd have gone out to meet
you. Do you think like to hear the
women scream? Do you think I'm
not crazed myself by this thing-right
back of me here, now-crawling, bleed
ing, breathing on me-trying to come
/. here in front where I must see it:
Don't you see God has known how tc
punish me worse than you could, just
by keeping me alive and sane? oh
man! you don't know how I've longed
for that bullet Of yours, right here
! through the temples where the cries
sound worst. / didn't dare to do Il
t myself was afraid I'd make my pun
| ishment worse If tried to shirk; but
| used to hope you would come as yor
| said you would. wonder I didn't
know you at once"
He put his hands to his head and
| fell back again on the pillow, with +,
little moan.
well, It amt strange l didn't know
you. was looking for big man
You seemed as big as house to n.
that day. forgot that I'd grown vi
and you might be small. When thos.
fellows got tight up there and let Of
nike It was you that some folks hintet