The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-01-15

| him farther than the nearest corner to
my own lodgings. When we came to
shake hands, he held on to mine like a
drowning man to 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 it 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. l asked Majors if he
were armed, and limited to him the sus-
picions that l had formed concerning
Halliday; for I 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 a weapon in
his life and that he had never seen the
| time when he needed one. AS I walked
| back to my hotel, l saw Halliday skulk
| ing along in the shadows on the faI
side of the street. I 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 side street short
| distance farther on and | plunged in
| after him, as l fancied that he intend
| ed intercepting Majors on the way tC
| 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 q
block distant from them. He took vi
| position in the mouth of a dark
y. alley, behind telegraph pole and
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
| could hear footsteps approaching and
I readily recognized the athletic tread
of Majors. I slipped up behind Hallf
| day with great caution, so that | might
pinion his arms'if he attempted to fire
the big revolver that I now detected in
his hand Majors had almost reached
| the mouth of the alley when l saw
Hallidays hand being slowly raised.
| knew it would be dangerous to wait
| longer so l sprang upon him from be-
hind and cIasped him in hug that
| made his ribs pop like pack of fire,
crackers.
He was taken so completely by sur
prise that he was at my mercy, and
although he struggled like demon,
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?'
l blurted out 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.
1 ran forward and gathered him into
my arms, lifting his face out into the
| light of the street. l saw that he was
| fatally wounded, the clammy sweat OF
death being upon his brow. Halliday
| had not tried to escape but had rur
| forward with me, and as I looked III
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 upo1
him and he trembled like leaf in :
gale.
my God," he moaned, 81 NIGH
have been his murderer! Thank Goo
l am mott!
| The seal of death was upon the
blanched face of my friend, his breath
came in long, rasping gasps, and hi:
eyes were rapidly setting in tina
| CLASSY stare which comes but once il
the life of human being. He looked
up at me, an expression of content
ment upon his marbled features, an(
made an effort to speak.
l bent my ear close to his lips.
"Old man." he breathed, so low tina
l could scarcely hear him, you dom
know what your friendship has beer
to me these last few days. l have
never had any other whom I consid
cred my friend. knew this was com
ing. There was no way to escape i
and 1 am glad your hands will be thu
ones to close my eyes,"
He paused moment for breath
| The candle of his life was burning low
and 1 knew that the tiny flame coult
not last for long. l saw that he wal
making a desperate effort to live unit
he could tell me something, for lool
| of his old time determination cam,
into his face and he half-lifted himsel
| l.; Ill ~