Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-02-14

shook his head.
"No." said he. 1.-THE bushranger was
inches taller. ! can't swear to MIN
after all"
"Not swear to himY roared Mr.. Nat.
"why. you took your oath he was the
manp'
"Not swear to himT' said Daintree.
stepping forward. "Happily, my good
fellow
But Toms eye was on him, and the
police were in the room.
"Try the girl" said one constable.
"Ginger is right" said Peggy prompt
". 'Its q taller man he was entirely"
"But you're looking at his feet"
Peggy raised her eyes, and calmly
and coldly they met Toms for the last
time.
mo" said she. "This Is not the man
at all"
"The - liarsw Nat Sullivan scream
ed. They've made up their minds to
lie, and you two fools stand there and
listenv' He stormed and wept, grew
violently abusive and was put out oy
the constables before they left them
selves. In the scufde and confusion
Ginger found an opportunity both to
grip Toms hand and to whisper that
one good turn deserved another. But
Peggy O'Brien turned her back with
out word or look. Warm heart and
nimble brain had done Tom Erichsen
their last service, had undone their
first and only injury, and this was the
end between these two.
When the three men had the great
room once moro to themselves Tom
turned quietly to Daintree, who was
now perfectly livid with rage and cha
grin, and inquired whether he still de-
MED his own crime.
"Deny I'll" cried Daintree. 1T is too
preposterous to be worth denying.
Show me what you have stolen. Let
us see this precious proof"
81 have live witness, too, If you
force me to call him in."
Tom went to a window and had
thrown up sash before the other two
Joined him. Outside was the curricle
and Wyeth seated at Fawcett's side.
"Stop! Stop! Don't call to himr'
whispered Daintree in choking voice.
"I-killed him."
"Good Godw cried Nicholas Harding.
Tom shut down the sash.
ayes, l killed him." cried Daintree,
recovering his spirits, "and I'd do 1t
again this minute. Why? You shall
hear-and then Claire shall hear-for
mean to see her. 1t will take all Sgd
ney to keep us apart That night she
refused me. God alone knows why.
She loves me now and will stick to me
in spite of you all. but she refused me
then. l stayed for an hour where she
left me- Then / got out by the back
way and wandered through the fields
Just as / was-thinkfhg Of her. At
last-I hardly knew where 1 was or
what / was doing-I heard voices. His
was one. Yours was the other, Erich
sen--I didn't know it then-and you
were just leaving. heard him say
he was thinking Of being married. l
Joined him when you had gone and
asked who the happy lady might be.
What do you think he said? What do
you thinkf What do you thinkT
'Claire" said Nicholas Harding.
eyes, Clairew screamed Daintree.
"That incarnate devil-and my angel!
He said he loved her-that smooth
homeland she had limited she did
care for somebody. God knows what
more he said! You would consent.
He had you In his power. Either he
said that or I saw It, At any rate he
tainted me-maddened me-and when
1 looked about for something to strike
him with there was the very thing at
my feet. I killed him. I meant to
kill him. / have never for one mo-
ment regretted killing him. What do
you suppose was the first thing found
in his pocket? No, Harding, I'm not
thinking of you, my honest friend. 1t
was a letter that showed the kind OF
cur he had been. I let Claire see 1t.
I thought of a way. I showed her that
dead devil in his true colors, cured
her Of her folly. and thanked God I'd
put him out of her way and mine. Re-
greet 1t? Repent 1t? Never for an In
slant! Never to this hourw
"You let an innocent man suffer for
your crime" said Nicholas Harding,
with shiver.
did L? And do you suppose would
have let him hang? ! was UNDER the
Impression that I saved his neck.
would have saved 1t with my own had
that been necessary. Only yesterday
risked my life to save his. Who took
him away from the iron gang? l had
to commit a forgery and risk my iloer-
ty to do 1t. Who would have treated
him like a brother from that day? 1t
was his own doing, mark you, that
made him q meniall And he would
hang me, would he, for Kidding the
earth Of the crying rascal who picked
his own pocket like common their
He shakes his head, but / know him
better. And that's his gratitude-after
ell I've done! Something like yours,
you, Harding! save your daughter
from a poisonous scoundrsl. 80 l am
not to marry her for my pains. A just
pair-convict bushranger and fraudu-
Ioo+ M pf precious pair to join
forces against an honest man! Do
YOUR worst. shall marry her against
you both. / shall, shall. l shall"
Tom knew this voice. He wondered
no had not heard the madness In 1t
from the first
.Neyerw cried Harding. Il would