West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-03-04

-Backf"e Dick paused. Back TO
whatr' he asked himself. "She's your
wife, isn't sher' he demanded.
That's what the law says" an
swered Jack.
With the thought OF the evening I'm
the garden when he heard Jack ana
2 Eeho pronounced man and wife surg
ing over him Dick murnured. "what
God hath Joined together let no man
/ put asundcr."
! That's what the book SAYS" an.
swered Jack. "But when hands alone
are Joined and hearts are asunder it
/ can't go ON record as the work OF God -
! Dick bowed his head In his hands.
/ II don't understand"
Stubbornly Jack pursued his mes
sage 60 Dick. "She doesn't love me. I
thought l had won her, but she mar
ried me with your image IN her heart.
She married me, yet all the while you
were the man she loved-you-you-
4 and I'm the end found Il out"
Jacks voice sank almost into whis.
per as he finished HIS revelation TO
Dick. who raised his head and cried.
And yet she broke her faith with
me-
Jack arose I'm his misery. His task
was harder than he expected. Dick
was forcing him to tell all without
concealing even the smallest trIae OF
his shame.
she thought-you were dead. nev.
er told her otherwise. lied TO her-I
lied to her"
"she never knewI" asked Dick joy
fully. The letter.
Il never gave II To her" answered
Jack simply.
Dick leaped TO his feet, pulling his
revolver from his holster "And
thought her false 10 her trustr' He
aimed his gun at Payson's heart. 81
ought TO kin you for thisw
Jack spread out his arms and calmly
replied. I'm ready"
Dick dropped his gun and slipped IL
into the holster. with gesture OF de-
spalr. but It's too late now-too later
In his eagerness to tell Dick the way
he had solved the problem Jack spoke
nervously and quickly. "No, It isn't
too late. There's one way out Of this
one way I'm which 1 can atone for the
wrong I've done you both, and stand
ready TO make that atonement. 1t is
your right TO kill me. but II Is better
that you go back 20 her without my
blood on your hands"
"Go-back-to her" questioned Dick
as the meaning OF the phrase slowly
dawned upon him.
Yes" said Jack, holding out his
hands. "Go back with clean hands 10
Echo Allen. lt Is you she loves.
There's my horse up yonder Beyond
there's the pack mule loaded with wn.
ter and grub-plenty OF water. Wen
just change places. that's all. You
take them and go back TO her, and I'll
stay here"
| Dick walked toward the spring. but
a spell OF weakness came over him.
and he almost sank TO the ground.
Jack caught him and held him up.
ut would be justice" muttered Dick,
as IL apologizing for his acceptance OF
Jacks renunciation.
Leaning over his shoulder, Jack said
| "Sure. that's II, justice. Just tell her |
| tried TO work IL out according TO my
lights. Ask her to-forgive-to forgive.
| that's ALL"
Jack took or his canteen and threw
the strap about Dicks neck. AS Lane
weakly staggered toward the mouth OF
the canyon. where the horse had been
staked out, Jack halted him with n re.
| quest:
There's another thing. left home
under cloud. Buck Mckee charged
me with holding up and killing 'Ole
Man Terrill for $1,000. Tell Slim
Hoover how you paid me just that
sum OF money"
81 VIII, and I'll fix the murder
where It belongs and then fix the real
murderer"
Jack stepped TO Lanes side and,