The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-01-15

him farther than the nearest corner 10
my own lodgings. When We came 20
shake hands. be held on 70 mine like a
drowning man 70 a plank and seemed
half inclined 70 eonflds something 10
me. He opened his mouth several
times al II be were going 70 speak.
but each tine he seemed 70 think bet.
ter Of It and merely wished me q
hearty good night"
Az we stood talking. noticed Halt
day passing down the opposite side Of
the street and be Bcovled scrOEs at ~
Indignantly. ! asked Majors II he
were armed. and limited TO him the sus-
piciOnB that | had formed concerning
Halliday. for ] was certain that the
agitator knew tina, II Majors was GU,
Of the way the strikers would carry
their point and he and his confederates
who had wrecked the train would
probably escape punishment
Majors laughed my fears away and
sale he had never carried a weapon 10
his life and that be had never seen the
time when he needed one. As walked
back 10 my hotel, saw Halliday Ekulk.
ing along In the shadows on the far
side Of the street didn't Ike the
lOOkg Of It and decided 70 follow hlm
and II be intended harm TO my friend
TO prevent him from accomplishing H..
He lodged into q aide street q short
distance farther or and : plunged In
after him, as / fancied that he intend
ed intercepting Majors On the way 10
his rooms. Nor was ! wrong HALL
day cut through alleys and unfrequen,.
ed streets until he came out upon the
main thOfoughfafs where the railroad
Offices were located and less than q
block distant from them. He took up
position Ia the mouth Of a dark
, alley. behind q telegraph pole and I
was now convinced that he meant
harm 70 my friend.
The streets were deserted. II was
about midnight and people In small
towns retire early. Before long
could hear footsteps approaching and
readily recognized the athletic tread
Of Majors. / slipped up behind Hall
| day with great caution. SO that might
pinlon his arms II he attempted TO FIRE
the big revolver that nov detected 10
his hand. Majors had almost reached
the mouth Of the alley when ] saw
Halliday's hand being slowly raised.
knew IL would be dangerous 10 walt
longer 30 ! sprang upon him from be
hind and clasped him In a hug that
made his ribs pop like pack Of FIRE
crackers.
He was taken so completely by sur.
prise that ne was at my mercy. and
although he struggled like a demon.
dlsarmed him and handcuffed him In a
very short space Of time. Just as
accomplished this. Majors came rush.
ing up The mouth Of the alley was
In complete darkness bu, out on the
street there vas faint light from the
arc light at the corner. called 70
Majors 80 that he might know Of my
presence A. this. he stopped stock
still and peered into the gloom Of the
alleyyay
Great Heavens, Dickson" he ejac.
ulated. what are you doing IN thereT"
I blurted out q few words Of eIpla.
nation, and Majors was in the the act
Of stepping into the darkness 70 join
me when there was a loud report and
saw him stagger and pitch forward
Oh bis face. He fell half In the light
and half In the gloom Of the alleys
mouth
ran forward and gathered him into
my arms. lifting bis face out into the
light OF the street. / saw that he was
fatally wounded, the clammy sweat Of
death being uDoP his brow. Halliday
had not tried 10 escape but had run
forward with me. and an | looked up
at his from the face of my PROSTATE
friend I saw that he was almost as
white az a corpse. A moment before
he had been intent upon taking the
life Of my friend, but nov the enormity
Of his contemplated act was full upon
him and he trernbied like leaf In a
gale
MY God" he moaned. Il might
have been his murderer! Thank God
! am not"
The seal Of death was upon the
kIanched face Of my friend, hig breath
came In long. rasping gasps, and hfs
eyes were rapidly setting in that
CLASSY stare which comes but once In
the life of human being. He looked
up at me. an expression Of content
melt upon his marbled features. and
made an effort TO speak.
bent my ear close to his Lips.
"Old man. be breathsd. 20 low that
could scarcely hear him. you don't
know what your friendship has been
10 me these last few days. have
never had any other whom ! conSid-
cred my friend. knew This was com
ing. There was no way TO escape II
and am glad your hands win be the
ones TO close my eyes"
He paused q moment for breath,
The candle of his life was burning low
and I knew that the tiny fame could
80 fNx fxnr that ha