The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-08-04


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 IL there was a sudden movement
back OF him. The man in the door.
way turned sharply.
What" he cried 10 his wife You
would. you"
At that instant the boy was con.
scious OF a sudden flash of light and a
sharp detonation. The room was
filled with noise 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 20 his side. With convul.
sive movement he pulled the trigger
The bullet buried itself in the floor.
while the man sank down on his
knees, swayed n moment. frightful
look in his eyes. and then pitched for.
ward on his face and lay stil.
Good God. whispered the boy
turning TO his companion. you've shot
him"
He stared at the woman. who still
clasped the little silver.mounted
weapon she had used with such ter
rible effect
1T was his life, or your life or
mine was the answer IL did II for
you, she said quickly. seeing n look
Of horror and repulsion spreading over
the face Of her companion.
"Yes-yes! l know" he replied;
but"
Come, we must get out OF here
Immediately"
"Of course, OF course" whispered
the boy nervously. I'VE 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 II 90 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 20 be done and at
once
Forcing himself 90 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.
He's not dead yet" said the boy
slowly.
NO; but he soon VIII be-" The
woman stopped over and unbuttoned
the mans coat and waistcoat "rhere!"
she said, pointing 10 a ghastly hole.
Would 10 God it'd been in his black
heartl" she added. Don't you see
that we must 20 now and quickr
Come, we can't delay any longer"
"I1l take the blame on myself II
we're caught" said the boy. 1T was
my fault 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 CO." continued the other
Qui1otically.
There were q few tattered books on
the shelf lie took one down, tore
out the Hyleaf. drew pencil from
his pocket, scribbled on II few
words. signed IT, held It TO the woman
to read. laid the leaf down on the
body of the dying man, and then
turned 20 the door. He opened IL, and
the woman followed him out into the
night
The room was very still Except
for the long, slow, faint, and fainter
breathing OF the man, there was not
sound within the howell
Death hovered over him the long
night through The morning found
him still alive, yet barely breathing.
He was trembling on the eternal
verge later in the day when men seek
ing him burst into the room. They
found the letter OF confession still
lying where II had been placed. They
revived the man sufficiently by stim-
ulauts TO enable him TO speak n preg.
nRnt word or two before his lips
closed forever.
The confession, the bullet that had
killed him. the empty revolver. and
the mans last words. solemnly attest
cd by those present were carefully
preserved by the leader Of them all
! They might be useful some day; who
! knew For the rest IL was evident
what had happened. The boy and the
woman were gone from the camp. No
search was made FOR them; none was
possible. The blizzard had spent II
self by that time; but the prairie vas
covered deep with drifted snow. A
period Of intense cold supervened. II
was hardly within human possibility
that the two fugitiyes could have got
safely away. They must be buried
somewhere 10 the Eouthward In the