Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-27
The
Main
Chance
BY
Meredith Nichokson
CoPyRIGHr 1903
THE BoBBs- MERRILL COMPANY
-
CHAPTER XIII.
CoPYR1GHr 1908
THE BoBBs- MERRILL COMPANY

zero was mUcn TO 90, ana JOnn sax
to had been back and forth twice be-
tween the ranch house and the village
before the sun had crept high into the
heavens. The little village had been slow
to grasp the fact of the tragedy at its
doors which had already carried its name
afar. There was much to do and yet it
was so p%itifuliy iittle after ali: Wary
Raridan was dead, and eager men were
securing the country for his murderer ;
but John Saxton sat in the room where
Wary had died. 1t seemed to John that
the end had come of all the world. He
sharpened his grief with self-reproach
that he had been a party to an exploit so
foolhardy they should never lave at
tempted a midnight descent upos an I'M
known foe and yet it was Raridan's own
plan.
Saxton had ministered to the boy Grant
with characteristic kindness. Grant knew
now of Warry's death. and this, with his
own sharp experiences, had unnetred him.
He chung to Saxton. Inc John soothed
him until he slept, in one OF the upper
chambers. .rH
Wheaton stood suddenly in the door,
and beckoned to Saxton, whe Went out TO
him. They had exchanged no wo4'ds since
that moment When the old bishopb prayer
had stilled the room where Wars5 Rari-
dan died. Through the events of the
morning hours, Wheaton had beea merely
a spectator of what was do~ne--Saxton
had hardly noticed him, and glancing at
Wheaton now, he was shocked at the look
of great age that had come upon him.
II want to speak to you a minute
| you and Bishop Delafield," said Wheaton.
The bishop was pacing up and down in
the outer hall. which had been quietly
cleane dand put in order by men irom the
village. Wheaton led the way to fae room
once used as the ranch Office.
Twill you sit down, gentlemca?" He
spoke with so much calmness that the
others looked at him curiously. THE bish-
op and SaXton remained standing, and
Wheaton repeated, sharply, "Wiu you sit
DOWN. The two men sat down side by
. side on the leather-covered ben III that
ran around the room, and Wheaton stood
up before them.
II hav something to say to you, be-
fore you-before we co." he sai1. Their
silence seemed to confuse him for a mo-
ment, but he regained his compoSure. He
looked from Saxton to the bishop, who
nodded, and he went on:
THE man who killed Wary Raridan
was my brother" he said, and saited.
Saxton started slightly; his numbed
senses quickened under Wheaton's words,
and in a flash he saw the explanation Of
many things.
He was my brother" Whea.o on went
on quietly. II had wanted moaey from
me. had refused to help him. He car
ried away Grant Porter thinking to in
jure me in that way. 1t was that, I think,
as much as. the hope of getting a large
sum for the boys return"
A great quiet lay upon the huAse; the
two men remained sitting, and Wheaton
stood before them with his arms crossed,
the bishop and Saxton watching him, and
Wheaton looking from one to the Other
Of his companions. Contempt aad anger
we're rising in John Saxton's heart; but
the old bishop waited calmly shis was
not the first time that a trorl led soul
had opened its door to him.
go on" he said, kindly.
My brother and I ran away from ibe
little Ohio town where we were born.
Our father wa a harness maker. 1 hated
the place. I think / hated m, father
and mother" He paused, as we do
sometimes when we have suddenly spoken
a thought which we have long csrried in
S~A ASAAS ~ u tICIV r ~
words had elements Of surprise fer James
Wheaton, and he waited, weighing his
words. and wishing to deal justly with
himself. my brother was a bad boy:
he had never gone to school, 40 1 had
he had several times been guilty of petty
stealing. I joined him once in 4 theft;
we were arrested, but he took the blame
and was punished, and I went free.
am not sure that l was any hetter, or
that l am now any better than he is.
But that Is the only time I ever stole"
Saxton remembered that Wary had
nee said of James Wheaton that lie
would not steal.
Il wanted to be honest /; I tried my
best to do right. l never expected to do
O. we'll ~ I$have-I mean in business
and things like that. Then after all the
years In which. l had not seen anything
Of my brother he came into the sank one
day ~ . tramp, begging. and. recognized
me. AZ first 7 helped him. I sent him
here ; you will remember the man Snyder
you f6undshers when you came" turning
20 SAxton. = knew you would not keep
Nm. There was nothing else thar
could do for him. I had new ambitions"
his voice fell and broke. .sthere we're
there, we're other things that meant 4
great deal to mel could not have him
about. 1t was he who assaulted ME one
night at Mr.. Porter's house two Yeas
ago, when you," he turned to the bishop.
came up and drove him away. After
that I gave him money to leave the coun-
Try and he promised to stay away; but
ne began blackmailing me again, AMI l
thought then that I had done enough for
him and refused to help him any more.
Wien Grant Porter disA ppeared I knew
at once what had happened. He had
threatened-but there is somethiog-
something wrong with me !" +
These last words broke from him like
d cry, and he staggered suddenly and
would have fallen il Saxton had no.
sprung up and caught him. He recovered
quickly and sat down on the bench.
Let US drop this now" said Saxton,
standing over him "it's NO time
"Thers's something wrong with me"
said Wheaton. huskily, without hes ling,
and Saxton drew back from him. was
. vain. cowardly fool. BukJ did the best
I could,' he passed his MAnd over his
face, and his fingers crept ~nervously to
His collar, '.but 1t wasn't any use!s 1t
wasn't any use ~ He turned again to
Ne bishopk II heard you preach a ser
FnoaA6nee. e uns about our ~opportuni-
tes. You sAid we must live IN the open.
lad never thought Of that before and
~ licked at the bishop with = foolish
grinssal1e faees He stood mp suddenly