The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-08-18


face, black eyes. low, wrinkled fore
head and lips that barred bis teeth on
occasions like a dog preparing to bite.
"My quarrel is with Harry Blake"
he snarled. sit is none Of your affair"
"WelL Wickliffe," Blake cried good
naturally. IF you will quarrel, won't.
I'll say no more"
Evidently Wickliffe was bent on
trouble. for he muttered something
which brought cry of ''Shame!"' from
every one in the room. Blake's face
became deadly pale. "Wickliffe," he
said steadily, Il didn't hear what you
said, but l dare you to repeat 1t. If
you do and there's one improper word
in it, this hour will be the bitterest of
your life"
Once more the offensive words were
flung at him, and in an instant Blake
had seized Wickliffe and thrown him
across the room. For a moment he
lay stunned. but presently, his face
dark with hatred he rose and. shak
ing his fist at Blake, exclaimed:
you may take your measure for a
coffin. You will need one"
mot before you," was Blake's reply.
Shortly after the quarrel Wickliffe
left the Blue Horse for his home.
Blake. whose road lay in the same di-
rection, followed SOON Ten minutes
later two more of the loiterers. also
going over the highway taken by
Wickliffe and Blake. started on their
homeward way.
The last two travellers had ridden
several miles. talking earnestly Of the
stirring events which then engaged
| mems minds, when loud cry was
heard at little distance In a moment
it was repeated.
| Mercy" the voice pleaded an' hen
"Oh, Harry!'
"Can Blake be settling q
| Wickliffe?" exclaimed Grayse
the two riders.
In moment they had ga
around a copse of trees at benz
the road. Within twenty yards \
them, on his back in the dust. lay
Wickliffe dead. Bending over hin
stood Blake. grasping knife driver
to the haft in his bosom. NJ
"Taken red handed" Grayson or
while Walton. his companion, himse,
magistrate. sprang from his horse
exclaiming, "Blake. / charge you will
murder"
"Why, didn't kill him." Blake salt
earnestly. You are mad. l fount
Wickliffe lying dead and was about t.
pull this knife from the wound whel
you came up"
Grayson shook his head. 81 wish
could believe you, Harry" he said
"but as l hope to be saved / saw yo'
stab him. l did"
1t would be hard to imagine a situa
ton more likely to convince jury o
the prisoners guilt. Conan Doyle L
: his widest fancies in deduction neve
presented more damning evidence t
Sherlock Holmes and DR.. Watson-th
quarrel in the Blue Horse tavern, tn
epfthet resented. the fight, the countel
threat of death. the departure of bot
while their temper yet was warm an
| then the terrible tableau on the higl
4 way.
, What might man expect even no'
with the thousand loopholes that tn
law provides for escape? There coul
be only one conclusion now, as thei
q and that conclusion the jury reache
= without leaving the courtroom. Blake
e protestations were vain. He died o
the scaffold declaring his innocence.
Three months after the execution I'll
Judge who presided at the trial wa
summoned to Albany to see prisont
g under sentence of death. Grayso
n whose testimony chiefly had convicte
v Blake, also was summoned. Much
It wonder. they entered the cell togethe
=. "You." the prisoner said to II
: judge. presided at the trial of Hari
Blake"
II did"
n "And you." turning to 0rayso
Y. .swore you saw him stab Wickiiff
a On your testimony he was hung"
:. II saw Blake stab him." Grayst
said. "a
d. "You did not" the prisoner sneere
a. "for I killed Wickliffe. 1 sprang in
n the wood at Blake's approach. 81
ID story was true."
M The confession was so clear and II
i. that 1t left no doubt in the judge
= mind that fearful wrong had be-
done Blake. As for Grayson, the chi
witness. he committed suicide. T