The Washington herald., 1908-09-02

working for my bread. I haven't got
n0wt 10 offer; I cant give sam Nane
new fencing and barns and pasture where
he want IT, nor paint his house, nor be
easy il asking for the rent cant co
nowt OF this. Mr. Shil, and you've the ad-
vantage of the likes OF me- but as man
10 man. I tell 'ee that I've a strong pair
OF hands"
If you wish to fight said John Shu
slowly. and with a CHASTITY attempt at a
smile. I'm afraid can't oblige YOU II
You wish 10 force quarrel on me. you
wiII I fear. be unsuccessful Goodnight
The path IS open 10 you and he stepped
aside, thrysting the thick UndergrowJh
back with his broad shoulders But Ben
! Holland did not pass
you be poor thing. after ALL Mr.
Shil.' he said. with a sneer. for all the
sreat talk I've heard Of YOU / may be
Z but a farmer. but I'd let no man stand in
I my path. and I d step aside fo- no man
either.
'The path is open 10 you" said John
/ ShI hoarsely- I do not seek 10 quarrel
. with any man
No" sneered the farmer, you'll be
] getting your own back some other way.
I Youu not forget tonight, and III feel
I your whip on my hack one OF these days
/ I shouldn't wonder If the rent Of my farm
( isn't raised fore long. You've the power
/ 70 deal with better men than yourself
] That's how you got the gal She's for
Z the highest bidder, she is But there be
those that can bid higher than you, Mr.
ShiL"
'SileTce, you sCoundrel-' cried the
[ young man. no longer able TO keep guard
( over his tongue; you're not fl 70 scraDe
the mud OF her boots. and Il you dare
to
All. that touches You Up. doesn't it2~
{ the farmer interrupted with a brutal
/ laugh. Another bidder. eh2 1Ir. VII
liam TaLkerlane'u bid too high for you.
I John Shl- YOuu not want 10 marry the
glrl when you know all know He's
/ bid already. you fool. and the goods have
/ been knocked down 70 him Solled goods
I by now, 1 warrant 10 be passed OF as
1ew-ah-"
I The mans words came 20 an end IN a
/ CRY Of rage and pain John SliTs fist
I rad shot out OF the darkness and caught
I him on the biack-hsarded Jaw Il was
/ a terrible blow, struck With che fCl.
I strength of a strong man stu1E 20 mad
/ ness
! Ben Holland staggered back, and be
Z fore he could recover himself. John ShI
got IN his right hand over the man S
/ heart and the huge body reeled over onto
3 the fence which b1r5ered The quarry.
There was a cracEle OF spiiu-erilg
T wood. a yell OF terror. and then. motion
+ less as a statue. John S1I waited for the
/ sound that he knew must fouow-th5
E crash Of the heavy body on the bottom
[ Of the quarry far beneath
But there was no sound save the rattle
I Cf the stones and pieces of wood that tAe
/ force Of the impact had sent spinning into
} the depth OF the pit
---1- q for -ar- --=- r-f, ~EI- --F--1--
piercing. agoniziag. terrible IN its ID
teEsity- John SlI spTaCg forward. and
I II The gray light he saw two dim hand.
. gripping q tiny bush close 20 the roots
Ee saw the bush slowly st-ainicg up ths
! ueager soil around Il He saw how little
stood between Ben Holland and death
He saw. too. that Il would be bur -hs
work Of a moment 10 catch hold Of The
mans wrists. and draw him up into
safety All this he saw. and yet ne do
I net stretch Out his hand
He stood uotl0rIess for nearly half Z
minute II seemed a h56eous eternity
with the shrieks OF lost souls ringing f.
-Is ears He watched the roots Of n.
little bush slowly tear themselves ou
of the SOL, and the sight fascinated him
He saw the din hands shift their posi-
Ciol 70 the SOL itself and tye heard n,
sound OF the mans fngeruaIls o- a pate.
OF bare stone And al the tine the dew
= whispered 10 him that the man must die
Then. suddenly. as lightning breaks from
a dark sky. the binding truth burs
through the clouds OF passion and Shove,
HIN the danger 10 his soul With a bit
Ter cry he flung himself forward an,
stretched out his hands 10 save hi
enemy But he was too late Even as h
moved, the edge Of the quarry brok
away He clUtched wildly at some I'm
gers. brown with earth and crooked Tx
claws. missed them. and feI on his face
with the gulf beneath his oUtstretche,
arms.
There was a crash or The stones eight,
feet beneath him and then silence
For a few moments he lay there. 70,
stunned with horror 10 move Then ?.
staggered 10 his feet. ard made his wa
along the edge OF the quarry Til =
reached the side which sla-ted gentI,
I down % the bottom
: With the aid Of q few matches h
= reached the place where Ben Holland
body lay we5ged between two great piece
/ Of yellow limestone \ very brief exam
5nati-n sufced 70 tel him that the ma,
was dead The face was battered out O
! al recognition John Shl blew out n
match. and was glad 10 be in the dark
/ ness