Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-24
CHAPTER xxx.
The Verge OF Confession.

Murphy uttered one suffering cry
Of surprise, f1inging his hand instinct
lively to his hip, but attempted no
more. Hampton's ready weapon was
thrusting its muzzle into the astound-
Cd face, and the gray eyes cleaning
along the polished barrel held the fell
low motionless.
Hands up! Not a move, Murphy!
have the DROP" The voice was low,
but stern, and the old frontiersman
obeyed mechanically, although his
scanned face was fairly distorted with
rage.
You! Damn you'll thought
knew-the voice"
Yes, am here all right. Rather
odd place for US to meet, isn't it? But,
you see, you've had the advantage all
these years; you knew whom you
were running away from, while | was
compelled to plod along in the dark.
But I've caught up inst the same, if it
has been a long race"
What do ye-want me fer?" The
look In the face was cunning.
Hold your hands quiet-higher,
you fool! That's it. Now, don't play
with me. | honestly didn't know for
certain l did want you, Murphy, when
/ first. started out on this trip.
merely suspected that l might, from
some things l had been told. When
somebody took the liberty of slashing
1t my back in poker-room at Glen
caid; and drove the knife into Slavin
~ mistake, ! CHANGED to catch a
glimpse of the hand on the hilt, and
there was a scar on 1t. About Is
years. before, / was acting as officer of
the guard one night at Bethune. 1t
was a bright starlit night, you remem-
Der, and just as turned the corner of
the old powder-house there came
sudden flash, report, a sharp cry. |
sprang forward only to fall headlong
over a dead body. but in that fash |
had seen the hand grasping the re-
Tolver, and there was a scar on the
back OF 1t, very peculiar scar. 1t
Glanced | had the evening previous
slightly quarreled with the officer who
was killed; was the only person
known to be near at the time he was
shot, certain other circumstantial evil
dence was dug up, while Slavin and
one other-no, 1t was not you-gave
some damaging, manufactured testi.
mony against me. AS a result | was
held guilty of murder in the second
degree, dismissed from the army in
disgrace, and sentenced to ten years
Imprisonment. So, you see, 1t was not
exactly you l have been hunting,
Murphy,-it was scar"
Murphy's face was distorted into a
hideous grin.
Il notice you bear exactly that kind
OF a scar, my man, and you spoke last
night as If you had some recollection
Of the case"
The hooking grin expanded into
the husky voice crept snarl of de-
fiance, for now Murphy's courage had
come back-he was fronting flesh and
blood "0h, stop preachin'-an shoot
an be damned ter ye,"
You do me a grave injustice, Muir.
ply. Your slashing at me down in
Glencaid hasn't left so much as 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. | want you to tell the whole
truth about that nights work at Be.
thune, and when you have done so,
you can go. III 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't
be opened agin-by law"
You devil! Id be perfectly iusti.
ned in killing you" exclaimed Hamp-
ton, savagely.
Murphy stared at him stupidly the
cunning OF incipient insanity in his
eyes. En- whar-do We expect-me
ter say-all this, pervidin', of course
Il wus fule 'nough-ter do it?"