The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-05
CAMEO
By Booth
Harrington and
Harry Leon
Wilson
a corYR,eur. i,ss. sY ruE

eroWs had ceased cawing. and o6
somewhere bnejay ventered to tim
IDLY call Its mate. Once more the cool
serenity had descended upon the duel
ang oaks. Kirby was still advancing.
out Colonel Moresu, giving a little
cough. hesitated q moment, then fell
prone. a small blue indentation disflg-
uring the purity of his lofty forehead.
Ameo Kirby looked gravely down
upon the body OF his late enemy; then
90 gravely he parted the trees and.
with bowed head. slowly threaded his
way toward tho distant town.
Kirby had not long left the scene Of
counict before Tom Randall, coming
from an almost diametrtcally opposite
direction. burst into the grove and
fripped hesdlong over the lifeless form
of Colonel Moreau. Recovering him.
eslf. the boy stared I'm hcrrified amaze
ment ut what he had never expected
TO see. That God should have thus
defended the impious seemed impossi-
'bis. Astonishment quickly gave place
90 q sense of burning outrage. a bitter
ness. adherence and vindictiveness
which immeasurably overswept all
previous feelings OF treasured animosi-
~ and hatred. Now. Kirby must
atone not only for the suicide of John
Randall. but for the death OF that
gentleman's fancied protector and
champion.
swayed by his present emotions,
baked OF revenge and thirsting for
some means OF expressing Il. young
Randall now stopped to an action
which dishonored his name. race and
country. In cooler moments he would
have repudiated an action which for
feited the respect OF all decent men.
But he was hostage to a tempestuous
and violent passion which counted not
the means TO an end. Single handed
ne might not hope to hunt down Kir-
oy. but II he could enlist the assist
ance OF the authorities, make every
man the gamblers enemy. the latter's
Rapture would be assured.
With difficulty loosening Moreaus
fast stiffening fingers from their death
strip upon the pistol. young Randall
hastily concealed the weapon upon his
Berson and thus by n single movement
transformed what had been an honor
able and fair encounter into a SEEM
fngiy deliberate and cold blooded mur-
der. The fact that Moreau had used
the late John Randalrs weapon. leav-
ing bis own at Nine. Davssac's, would
be but additional proof that Cameo
Kirby had shot down an unarmed
man. But one living witness other
than Tom Randall had been present at
this exchange OF weapons, and he.
Aaron. would be expected to keep ST.
lent Revenge, may IL ever be honor
able. but. honorable OF dlshonorable.
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 or the tragedy. "You see, the gen.
fiemsn has no weapon" he concluded.
pcinting to Moreau's barren hands.
This. therefore. Is q deliberate and
carefully planned murder. Like your
selves. I was attracted by the shot"
but there was two Of 'em, for I
counted" put IN one Of the newcomers.
THE murderer evidently missed Mt
mis- frst fire." said Tom. my name is
Randall OF Plaquemine, 30 you may
accept by word that found the gen
flenan as ! have stated. This Is n
great and villainous outrage. happen
90 know the victim, a most estimabls
and honorable gentleman. who had
the misfortune 10 incur the enmlty Of
the notorious river gambler Cameo
Kirby. The latter swore TO get even,
and there II no doubt he has fulfilled
his murderous and cowardly irt cen
ton"
81 seen this Kirby In town yester-
day" commented one OF the men. ex-
amining with morbid curiosity Mo
reau's death wound. He's a bad egg
from all accounts. Done his job neat.
Shot from ambush. reckon"
I'VE passed him on the road az we
come into the grove" added a second.
II know him by sight-a youngish
looking. gray eyed blade with a sort OF
dandy getup to him. We asked him
AZ there had been a dooel, and he said
yes. he thought so''-
He lies. as you can seer cried Tom.
springing to his feet. what road did
ne takeY'
He come from that away" inter.
rupted the informant, pointing I'm the
direction Kirby had taken. But you
al know the road forks farther down"
"Come! Wen separate. and he can
not escaper' cried Tom. Its our
duty to hunt the villain down. TO aid
the law all we can. Ducllng js one
thing. but murder such as this de-