Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-04-09
vicious side blow at the merchant and

vicious side blow at the merchant, and
throwing himself upon the sergeant,
horse, regardless of a bullet from the lat
ter's carbine, he galoped away and was
speedily out of range. AS to Williams
from the beginning of the skirmish, he
had lain face downwards upon the ground
twisting his thin limbs about in an agony
of fear, and bowling for mercy.
Hes gone" Ezra said, ruefuly, gaz-
ing after the fugitive. I'VE have nothing
to so after him with"
I'm well nigh gone myself" said the
policeman, mopping up the blood from his
stab, which was more painful than dan
gerous, He has given me a nasty prod.
Never mind, my friend, you shall iot
be the loser. Get up"--this to Williams,
who was still writhing himself into the
most extraordinary attitudes.
"Oh, please, Mr.. Girdlestone," he cried,
clutching at Ezra's boots with his long,
thin, fingers, sit wasn't me that hit you.
1t was Mr.. Burt. l had nothing to 10
with robbing you, either. That was Mr..
Farintosh. l wouldn't have gone with
him only | knew that he was clergyman
so l expected no harm. l am surprised at
you, Mr.. Farintosh, really am. I'm very
glad that Mr.. Girdlestone has shot you"
The ex-parson was sitting with his back
against gnarled stump, which gave him
some support. He had his hand to his
chest, and as he breathed a CHASTITY whist
ling sound came from the wound, and
spurts of blood rushed from his mouth.
His glazed eyes were fixed upon the man
who had shot him, and curious smile
played about his thin lips.
Come here, Mr.. Girdlestone," he croak.
ed, come here"
Ezra strobe over to him with face
as inexorable as fate.
You've done for me-" said Farintosh
family. Its a queer end for the best
man of his year at Trinity-master of
arts, sir, and Jacksonian prizeman. Not
much worth now, is it? Who'd have
thought then that l should have died like
a dog in this wilderness? What's tho
odds how man dies, though? If l had
kept myself straight l should have gone
off few years later in feather bed as
the Dean of St. Patrick's maybe. What
will that matter? I've enjoyed myself
the dying mans eyes glistened at tho
thought of past designations. IL had
my time to do over again." he continued,
I'D enjoy myself the same way. I'm
not penitent, sir. No deathbed mivelins
about me, or short cuts into heaven.
That's not what l wanted to say, though.
l have choking in the throat, but dare
say you can hear what l am driving a.
You met a man driving towards Jacobs
dal, did you not?"
Ezra nodded sullenly.
You didn't speak to him? Too busy |
trying to catch yours truly, eh? VIII you |
have your stones back, for they are in the |
bag by my side, but they'll not be very |
much good to you. The little spec won't
come off this time. You don't know what
the news was that the man was bring
ing?"
A vague feeling of impending misfor-
tune stole over Ezra. He shook his head.
His news was said Farintosh, lean
ing up upon his hand, that fresh dia
nond fields have been discovered at ia
yersfontein, in the Orange Free State.
So Russia or no Russia, stones will not
rise. Ha ha will not rise. Look at his
'ace It's whittier than mine. Ha lid
IA !" With the laugh upon his lips,
great flow of blood stopped the clergy
mans utterance, and he rolled slowly over
lpon his side, dead man.
Ito be continued.)