The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-11-03

old man Corley,a rather ugly temper
ed old fellow, and at once saw he
was in an unusually nasty temper,
| but determined to pacify him if
possible.
Good evening, Mr.. Corley," I
said. You must pardon my care
lessness for running into your bug
| gy. was upon you SO quickly had
not time to turn aside. No damage
done, | hope
| IF there isn't, it amt your fault
he snarled. IF you had any sense
you wouldn't be driving SO fast on
a public road"
| was rather nettled, but did not
| wish to get into quarrel with him
SO replied:
We'll, | was driving little fast,
admit, but | assure you | had
no intention Of running into your
buggy, and don't think there is any
| occasion for hard words
| Look here, young fellow, don't
get fresh with me or | will horse
whip you
| These words made me angry and
replied rather sharply.
| Before | could dodge or resist the
i old man leaned forward and with
his whip dealt me singing blow
across the face. Maddened with the
pain | sprang to my buggy, seized
my gun and not stopping to consid-
er the result, shot the old man
through the heart, killing him in
stantly.
My reason came back in a flash
as the old man fell forward into the
bottom of the buggy. | realized
the awful thing that / had done and
then came the thought Of the pun
ishment that would come upon me.
All evidences Of the crime must be
removed. First | must hide the
body, and at once too, for at any
time someone might come along
and then it might be too late. TAX
ing hold of the arms OF The dead
man, I dragged him from his buggy
and out through the bushes to one
side where concealed the body I'M
der some brush Next I drove the
buggy some distance through the
woods and taking out my knife, cut
The horses throat saw the danger
4 OF allowing the animal to return tC
l its masters home. Thinking that
OF signs of the crime had been re
moved. I returned to my buggy and
! drove home.
During this time. a large ugly
I whelk had risen on my face where
/ the whip struck and fearing to be
\ questioned about this at once went
\ to my room and locked the door.
YEARLY dropping into a chair
4 gave my thoughts free rein. All
the old fortune teller was right at
tta. all. The 18th had proved to be
a most unlucky day for me, anC
/ through no fault Of my own. As
/ fas as | could see i had no contro
l over the events Of the day. was
q murderer ! had killed human
beng and upon my soul was stair
4 that eternity, itself, could not erase
I glanced at my hand and uttered
a shriek. The number 10 was out
/ lined in my palm in blood Hor-
rows, it must be removed. / ran t.
my washstand and frantically
1 rubbed the spot with soap and wat
B err. But it would not wash off how
! ever hard | rubbed now under
4 stood how Macbeth felt after MUIR
} dering his king. Finally | desiste(
from nay fru tiess attempts and re,
4 sumed my chair. | set myself calm
BIZ ~ to think over the events of tn
4 aay and consider what | had better
1 do.
/ Il have killed d man. I unused
but why worry? True if | an
\ found out | will probably hang, bu
I I don't ATTEND the deed to be dis
/ covered and don't think it will be
Even if the body is found there il
no proof that | did the deed.
But the voice which we, for lacl
Of better term, call conscience
whispered:
4 Even if your crime is never foun6
I out your life is ruined. Fool, dc
YOU think that punishment lies on
h Il ly in the hands of society You have
i that in you which will punish you
4 far more than it would ever be
possible for man to do. You have
i taken the life of your fellow man
The mark of Cain is on your brow
81 - q -