The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-12-02

0H yWcTCO, VIII tn0 odkuS DOACtkleys
may have mercy upon him."
s'f4e is not dead ?" The McMurrough
cried, his voice rising on the last word.
II have little doubt he u.s." the Col
onel replied. Dead, sir. And the men
who were with him--dead also, or the
most part of them. Dead, James Nc
Murrough. on h errand they went for
you"
The shock of the news struck the
young man dumb. and for some mo-
ments he stared at the Colonel, his face
colorless. At length, ''all dead?' he
whispered, mot ALP"
For what I know" Colonel John re-
piled. Heaven forgive them. And
in half a dozen sentences he told him
what had happened. Then, they are
the first fruits" he continued sternly.
God grant that they be the last fruits
of this reckless plot! Not that / blame
them, who did but as they were bid.
Nor do I blame any man or any woman
who embarked on his with a single
heart, for the sake of an end which
they set above their own lives. But
but"-and Colonel Johns voice grew
more grave-"there was one. who had
not a single heart. There was one who
was willing to do murder. not In blind
obedience. nor for a great cause, but to
serve his own private interests"
mo! MOI" the young man cried,
covering before him. 1T Is not true!"
zone who was ready to do murder"
| Colonel John continued pitilessly. be-
| cause ii suited him to emove a mani!
mo. mol" the wretched youth cried,
almost grovelling before him. 1T was
all OF them!-it was ALL"
'It was not ALL" Colonel John re-
torted; but there was a keenness In
his face which showed that he had still
something to learn.
ut was-those two-on deck!" The
McMurrough cried eagerly. Il swear
1t was. They said-it was necessary"
"They were one with you in condemn
ing! Be it so! 1 believe you! But who
spared?"
'I!' The McMurrough cried, breath
lessly eager to exculpate himself. 1T
was l alone. l swear it! / sent the
boy!"
"You spared? Yes, and you alone!"
the Colonel made answer. you spared
because you learned that I had made
will, and you feared lest that which
had passed to ms in trust might pass
to a stranger for good and all! You
spared because it was to your interest.
your advantage! / say out of your
own mouth you a-e condemned"
James McMurrough had scarcely
force to follow the pitiless reasoning by
which the elder man convicted him. But
his conscience filled the hiatus, and
what his tongue Gid not own his color
less face, his terrified eye expressed.
you rave fallen into our hands"
Colonel John continued, grave as fate,
"Why should we not lea with you as
you would have dealt with US? No!"-
the young man by a gesture had APP
pealed to those on deck-"no! They
may have consented to my death; but
as he judge condemns, or the soldier
kills; you, for private profit and advan-
tage. Nevertheless, l shall not deal so
with you. You can go as they are go
ing--abroad, to return. l hope, a wiser
man. Or
"Or-what?" the young man cried
hurriedly.
cor you can stay here" Colonel John
continued, land we will treat the past
as il it had not been. But on a con-
dition."
James color came back. "Whatll you
be wanting?" he muttered. averting his
gaze. =.
pursue this foolish plan further. That
first" =,
what can I be doing without them?'
was. the sullen answer
Very true" Colonel John rejoined.
But you u swear. also. my friend'
that you will not attempt anything
against me, nor be party to anything
"What'd I be doing?"
" L lDO NtiS SoiOAAOA pa 49,
ing his temper for a single instant
'Tve no time to handy words, and
you know how you stand. Swear on
your hope Of salvation to those two
things, and you may stay. Refuse. anc
I make myself safe by your absence"
The young man had the sense tic
know that he was escaping lightly. HI
was willing enough to swear h a he
would not pursue that enterprise fur
Their. But the second undertaking
stuck in his gizzard. He hated Colone
John-for the past wrong, for the pas
defeat, above all for the present hui
initiation.
ging his shoulders.
Very good" Colonel John answered
curtiy. And, going to the door. h
called Bale from his station by tn
hatchway, and dispatched him to thu
bishop and to Admiral Cammock. re
auesting them to do the honor to de-
scend.
They came readily enough, in thu
hope Of some favorable turn. But thu
coionel's words quickly set them right
Gentlemen" he said politely, "
know you to be men Of honor In pri
vate life. Fol this reason l have aske'
YOU to be present as witnesses to tn
bargain between my cousin and myself
= Blood is thicker than water; he has n
) mind to go abroad, and / have no min
) to send him against his will. But hi
? presence, after what has passed, is
, standing peril to myself. To meet thi
difficulty he Is ready to swear by al
that he holds sacred. n upon hi
honor, that he will attempt nothing
against me, nor be a party to 1t. /
t that so, sir?" the speaker continued
do you willingly, in the presence o
these gentlemen. give that undertake
ing?"
Continued Next Weekly