The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-09-29

ment Kirby's listleSs hand swept up.
| and without breaking step he tircd.
The drifting smoke parted III shreds
and streamed away. The startled
crows had ceased cawing. and off
somewhere b!uejay ventercd to tim
! idly call its mate. once more the cool
serenity had descended upon the duel
ing oaks. Kirby was still advancing.
| but Colonel Moreau. giving little
| cough. heSitatcd Il moment, then fell
prone, Il small blue indentatiGn distiS-
uring the purity of his lofty forehead.
Cameo Kirby locked grarely down
| upon the body OF his late enemy; then
! as gravely he parted the trees and.
! with bowed head. slowly threaded his
way toward the distant town.
Kirby had not long left the scene Of
conflict before Tom Randall, coming
from an almost diametrically opposite
| direction. IArSt into the grove and
triupeG heaGloug over tile life!cSS form
Of Colonel MCrcau Recovering him
self. the boy stared in Mortified amaze
meut at what he had never expected
to see That God should have thus
defended the impiouS seemed imposSi-
BILE Astonishment quickly gave place
to a sense OF burning outrage, bitter
ness. adherence and vindictiveneSS
which immeasurably overswept all
previous feelings of treasured animosi-
ty and hatred Now, Kirby must
atone not only for the suicide Of John
Randall. but for the death Of that
gentieman's fancied protector and
champion.
Swayed by his present emotions,
! baked of revenge and thirsting for
some means of expressing it. young
Randall now stopped to an action
which diShonored his name. race and
country In cooler moments he would
have repudiared an action which for
feited the respect OF all decent men.
But he was hostage to tempestuous
and violent passion which counted not
the means TO an end Single handed
he might not hope to hunt down kir-
by. but if he could enlist the assist
ance of the. authorities, make every
man the gamblers enemy. the latters
capture would be assured.
With difficulty loosening Moreau's
fast stiffcning fingers from their death
grip upon the pistol. young Randall
hastily concealed the weapon upon his
person and thus by n single movement
transformed what hGd been an honor
able ard fair encounter into a SEEM
insly deliberate and Geld blooded MUIR
der. The fact that Moreau had used
the late John EanG2lrS weapon. leav-
ing his OWL ut Nine. na"eZar's, would
be but additional proof that Cameo
Kirby had SHOT down an unarmed
man. Bur one living witness other
than Tom Randall had Eeen present ut
this exchange of weapons. and he,
Aaron. would be expected to keep ST.
lent. Revenge. may it ever be honor
able, but. honorable or dishonorabre.
revenge at all costs-such was the
boys slogan.
He had hardly resumed possession
of his fathers weapon and thus cast
the stigma Of murder upon Kirby
when several men, attracted by the
shots and whose rapid approach had
spurred the boy to instant action. came
running into the grove. To them young
Randall breathlessly recounted his YER
sion Of the tragedy. You see, the gen.
tleman has no weapon" he concluded.
pointing to Moreau's barren hands.
"This, therefore. is deliberate and
carefully planned murder. Like your
selves, was attracted by the shot"
But there was two of 'em. for I
counted" put in one Of the newcomers.
'The murderer evidently missed at
his first fire." said Tom. "My name Is
Randall of Plaquemine. so you may
accept by word that found the gen.
tleman as | have stated. This Is a
great and villainous outrage. l happen
to know the victim. a most estimable
and honorable gentleman. who had
the misfortune to incur the enmity OF
the notorious river gambler Cameo
Kirby. The latter swore to get even.
and there Is no doubt he has fulfilled
his murderous and cowardly inten-
ton" u
II seen tbs KirDy in town yester-
day." commented one of the men. ex-
emining with morbid curiosity Mo-
reau's death wound. He's bad egg
from all accounts. Done his job neat.
Shot from ambush. l reckon"
I'VE passed him Oh the road as we
come into the grove" added a second.
81 know him by sight-a youngish
looking. gray eyed blade with sort OF
dandy getup to him. We asked MIN
il there had been dooel, and he said
yes. he thought so'-
"He lies. as YOU can see!' cried Tom.
sprinsinG to his feet. What road did
he take"
"He come from that Away" inter
rupted the informant, pointing In the