Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-06-22

it had been when he entered the
cabin. while the other mans, similarly
snow wounded, was red with rage;
and, though he was covered and even
a drunken man could scarcely miss at
such range, he nevertheless drew his
own weapon. But before he could
raise it there was a sudden movement
back Of him. The man in the door.
way turned sharply.
What" he cried to his wife. "You
would. you"
At that instant the boy was con.
scious of a sudden flash of light and e
sharp defamation. The room was
filled with noise, a little cloud OF
smoke blew down on him. Standing with
his own pistol butt clasped tight in his
hand, he saw the man in the doorway
reel. The arm that held his weapon
dropped to his side. With a convul-
sive movement he pulled the trigger
The bullet buried itself in the floor,
while the man sank down on his
knees, swayed a moment, a frightful
look in his eyes, and then pitched for
ward on his face and lay still.
Good God!"' whispered the boy
turning to his companion, you've shot
him!"
He stared a. the woman, who still
clasped the littls silver-mounted
weapon she had used with such ter
rible effect.
1T was his life, or your life or
mine," was the answer. 81 did it for
you," she said quickly, seeing q loo
Of horror and repulsion spreading over
the face of her companion.
"Yes-yes! I know" he replied;
but"
Come, we must get out of here
Immediately"
"Of course, Of course" whispered
the boy nervously, 1--WE can't stay here
now"
Drag him into the room and shut
the door,"
The lad hesitated.
Are you afraid?" sneered the
woman, making as if to do so herself.
Certainly not" was the answer;
but the boy nevertheless was afraid
afraid of death, with more fear than
| he had ever felt for any one living,
: Yet something had to be done and at
once.
Forcing himself to the task at last,
, he stopped down, seized the man by
the shoulders, turned him over on his
: face, and dragged him farther into the
room. Then he shut the door. The
two stared a moment at the PROSTATE
figure.
Hes not dead yet" said the boy
slowly.
mo; but he soon will be-" The
woman stopped over and unbuttoned
the mans coat and waistcoat. 'There!"
she said, pointing to a CHASTITY hole
IT struck him fair in the breast
Would to God it'd been in his black
heart!" she added. Don't you see
that we must go now and quick:
Come, we can't delay any longer"
I'll take the blame on myself il
! Ee're caught" said the boy. ct was
ny fadft and you saved my life"
That's noble of you" returned the
woman indifferently; but we won't be
caught"
well, then. I'll save your reputa
ton before I 60" continued the othel
Quixotically.
There were a few tattered books or
the shelf. He took one down, tore
out the flyleaf. drew a pencil from
his pocket, scrubbed on it a few
words, signed it, held it to the woman
to read, laid the leaf down or the
body Of the dying man, and the1
turned to the door,. He opened it, anl
the woman followed him out into The
4 night.
4 The room was very still. Excep
4 for the long, slow, faint, and faintel
1 breathing of the man, there was no
4 a sound within the howell.
4 Death lowered over him the lon
him still alive. yet barely breathing
He was trembling on the eterna
verge later in the day when men seek
ing him burst into the room. The,
found the letter of confession still
lying where it had been placed. The
revived the man sufficiently by stin
ulants to enable him to speak a pree
nant word or two before his lip
closed forever.
The confession, the bullet that ha
killed him, the empty revolver, an
the mans last words, solemnly attes
ed by those present, were CAREFUL
preserved by the leader Of them al
They might be useful some day; VIII
knew? For the rest it was eviden
what had happened. The boy and tn
T. woman were zone from the camp. N
% search was made for them; none wa
q possible. The blizzard had spent j
+ self by that time; but the prairie wa
covered deep with drifted snow.
period of intense cold su%pervened. ]
= was hardly within human possibilit
"a that the two fugitives could have &C
safely away They must be burie
w somewhere to the southwark in til
vast drifts. Spring might reveal the1
ID fate, it might remain forever a secre
So far as the d%enizens Of the countr
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