River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-01-14


shake hands, he held on to mine like a
drowning man to a plank and seemed
half inclined to confide something to
me. He opened his mouth several
times as if he were going to speak,
but each time he seemed to think bet
ter of 1t and merely wished me a
hearty good night"
AS We stood talking, 1 noticed Halli-
day passing down the opposite side of
the street and he scowled across at us
Indignantly. 1 asked Majors if he
were armed, and limited to him the sus-
picions that 1 had formed concerning
Halliday; for 1 was certain that the
agitator knew that if Majors was out
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
said he had never carried weapon in
his life and that he had never seen the
time when he needed one. AS / walked
back to my hotel, saw Halliday skulk-
ing along in the shadows on the far
side of the street. [ didn't like the
looks of it and decided to follow him
and If he intended harm to my friend
to prevent him from accomplishing it..
He lodged into a side street a short
distance farther on and | plunged in
after him, as | fancied that he intend
ed intercepting Majors on the way to
his rooms. Nor was l wrong. Halli-
day cut through alleys and unfrequent-
ed streets until he came out upon the
main thoroughfare where the railroad
offices were located and less than a
block distant from them. He took up
a position in the mouth of a dark
alley, behind telegraph pole and l
was now convinced that he meant
harm to my friend.
The streets were deserted. 1t was
about midnight and people in small
towns retire early. Before long l
could hear footsteps approaching and
1 readily recognized the athletic tread
of Majors. I slipped up behind Halli-
day with great caution, so that | might
pinion his arms if he attempted to fire
the big revolver that now detected in
his hand. Majors had almost reached
the mouth of the alley when l saw
Halliday's hand being slowly raised. l
knew it would be dangerous to wait
longer so l sprang upon him from be-
hind and clasped him in a hug that
made his ribs pop like a pack of fire.
crackers.
He was taken so completely by sur
prise that he was at my mercy, and
although he struggled like demon, l
disarmed 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 but out on the
street there was faint light from the
arc light at the corner. 1 called to
Majors so that he might know Of my
presence. At this, he stopped stock
still and peered into the gloom OF the
alleyway.
Great Heavens, Dickson" he ejac-
ulated, what are you doing in there?'
blurted out a few words of expla-
nation, and Majors was in the the act
of stepping into the darkness to join
me when there was loud report and
/ saw him stagger and pitch forward
on his 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 his face out into the
light of the street. / saw that he was
fatally wounded, the clammy sweat OF
death being upon his brow. Halliday
had not tried to escape but had run
forward with me, and as / looked up
at his from the face of my PROSTATE
friend I saw that he was almost as
white as a corpse. A moment before
he had been intent upon taking the
life of my friend, but now the enormity
of his contemplated act was full upon
him and he trembled like a leaf in a
gale.
my God" he moaned, II might
have been his murderer! Thank God
I am mott"
The seal of death was upon the
blanched face of my friend, his breath
came in long, rasping gasps, and his
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
ment upon his marbled features, and
made an effort to speak.
I bent my ear close to his lips.
'Old man. he breathed, so low that
could scarcely hear him, you don't
know what your friendship has been
to me these last few days. l have
never had any CHER whom l consid-
cred my friend. / knew this was COM
ing. There was no way to escape it
and 1 am glad your hands will be the
ones to close my eyes"
He paused a moment for breath.
The candle of his life was burning low
and I knew that the tiny flame could
not last for long. I saw that he was
making a desperate effort to live until
he could tell me something, for look
of his old time determination came
into his face and he half-lifted himself
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