Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-03-11

insolent laugh, I've no wish to meet
your lady wife or"
Silence said Wesley. sternly.
cutting him short. DO not dare to
speak of my darling wi"
He got no further. for with a tiger
ish spring, the other was upon him
The attack was as sudden as it was
unexpected, AND Afford, taken un-
awares, was borne heavily to the
ground in the frenzied grip of his
| assailant
Then commenced a struggle for life
and death; and the two men wrestled
furiously with each other for the mas
terry.
! over and over they rolled. painting
and gasping, their veins standing out
like whipcOrd; while the odds were
In favor of first one and then the
other. But while one fought only in
seif-defense. the other fought with
murder in his heart and the determi-
nation of carrying out that grim re-
solve he had been nurturing so short
while since. as he came along the
road in the stormy darkness of the
night.
with sudden twist he jerked his
right arm free from the others clutch.
and frenziedly dived his hand into
the inner pocket of his coat, where
the revolver was concealed.
A second later there was a flash
and a sharp report. and Wesley Al
ford's struggling ceased. He groaned
once, and then lay perfectly still.
while his life's blood flowed. in a co.
pious stream. over the rich amber
hued carpet, dyeing it with horrible
crimson stain.
The murderer, another Cain, stag
gered to his feet and looked down.
for one instant, upon his evil work.
And then he turned swiftly towards
the table and with frantic haste hurled
aside the sheets of paper thereon.
every moment expecting to hear foot
steps descending the stairs. for some
one in the house must, he thought.
| surely have heard the report of the
pistol, in order that he might rife the
contents of the drawers which he re-
membered were concealed within the
table and in which his brother had
/ been used TO keep most of his ready
cash.
Once or twice. as he frenziedly
overhauled each separate recess, he
/ paused to listen. fancying that he
heard cautious footsteps in the CORR
dor outside the room. the door Of
which. however, he had previously
locked; but it was only the shrieking
of the wind. as It howled through the
70
the murderer supposed the roar of the
tempest had helped to deaden the
noise of the pistol shot.
With the dews Of fear gathering
fast upon his brow, he hunted on for
what he sought; and, at length. he
drew a deep breath as he touched a
secret spring and a tiny drawer few
/ open, disclosing to his eager, blood
shot eyes, the glitter of gold.
Cramming a handful of the coin in
to one of his pockets. he turned to
flee, starting guiltily as his gaze, once
more fell upon that silent figure upon
the floor, whose CLASSY eyes seemed
to fix themselves upon his own, with
haunting condemning glare.
Stumbling blindly towards the un-
/ latched easement windows he flung
them wide and rushed out into the
night, once more, with a crimson mist
before his eyes.
On, through the still falling snow he
ran, while the voice of the Evil One
seemed to howl and shrek in his
ears and a thousand devils seemed 10
/ be logging his footsteps.
Painting and gasping, like one pos
sessed. he sped along the silent, de
| serted country road. Cain, with the
indelible brand upon his brow, and
the crimson seal placed against his
name in the book of doom.