Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-08-29
THE MOUNTAIN FlEND.
(COntinued Frorn Page p

an opposite part of the room Law the
son. not so seriously hurt, but in crit
lcal c"niition. The scene itself told of
horror palmer than pen can tell The
father was in the twilight of Old age.
and to see him thus stricken down by
murderer in his declining days was in
deed terrible.
Then on the floor lay the three dead
outlaws and two dying ones. and close
by the wall lay another. who afterwards
proved to be better off than any of his
frierds who had been left with him in
the house. although he had not yet re-
gained consciousness.
The two mountaineers now procured
water and washed the blo~d from the
old mans face and hair They then
stripped his clothing. which were in a
gore of blood, and dres ,ed MS wounds
In the best way their limited knowledge
would allow, and wrapped him in com
Portable manner as possible.
They next turned their attention to
the wounded outlaws, who were row in
the last agonieS of death.
Yes" said Jim. lifting the head Of
one Of the outlaws, you tried 70 kill
me and would done hit eff hadn't
bin quicker n YOU wuz But now. q We
air shortly goin' on yer final journey I'll
assist We all l can in gittin' an easy
start. You, my friend, yes. III call We
trierd, beca'se We air leavi1' us-will
md IN Their country whar y"u'se q goin'
not only smoke, but fire, and hot fire at
that
by the time Jim had gone this far in
his speech to the dying outlaw, II suben
had spread blankets on the floor for the
accommodation of the two almost lifeless
desperadoes. The mountaineers then
laid he two men as gently as possible
on the rude pallet. Jim took a seat
close by the dying outlaws, while Reu-
ben took his near the elder Randolph's
bed and Ben Moore by that of Pete
The little girl all the while was crying
piteously for her father, grandfather
and mother, whose absence was vet un-
explained.
The two outlaws on the pallet now
began to struggle and groan in a man.
ner which showed that the Pickering
spark of life was about to be extinguish-
ed. The one nearest Jim began to quiv
er and his bullying eyes seemed as if
they would burst from their sockets
The limbs relaxed, and with a deep sigh
the soul of the desperate winged its wav
-
Jim saw at glance the man was dead.
and turned his gaze at once to the other
desperate, who at that moment also
breathed his last. The spirits of two
outlaws had gone to try the Great I'm
known together.
It's all over" said Jim sorrowfully,
Somehow hit makes me sad ter see a
pore unfOrt' nate sinner fo'ced ter leave
this world, an specially so when thar
Is little er no chance Nv betterin his
condition. 1 know them pore devils
thar would give their lives, almost.
fer chance at mine; but in sum way
their deaths make me mighty sad. -
Jim gazed steadily into the faces of
the dead outlaws for a moment. then
kneeling, closed their eyes in their last
long sleep.
Three of the outlaws now lay dead in
the cottage, two in the yard and three
close by the woodshed near the burned
store.
Jim crossed the room to where the
other desperate lay He was now begin
ming to show signs of returning con-
.sciousness. As he opened his eyes and
gazed wildly about. Jim said to him:
You re not as onlucky as sum NV yer
friends. Do We see 'em layin' over thar
on the fioor?'
Il believe he'll jine 'em shortly,
slough, Jim" chimed in Reuben.
mot tall, not tall" Jim replied.
hes only actin the 'possum.
The man remained silent, not seeming
to hear what the two mountaineers
were saying.
AT this point the elderly Randolph
spoke and all rushed over to where he
lay, leaving the wounded outlaw alone.
Taking advantage of the opportunity.
he dashed through the doorway and in
to the mountains.
Jim saw HIM as dashed out the house
but so earnestly was he engaged in ad-
ministering to his aged friend, Ran
dolph, that he made no effort to check
the outlaws flight.
"Son," said the elder Randolph ad-
dressing Pete, 81 must now say good
by, for as you see, must presently
die. My life's blood is fast ebbing awav
and my injuries are such that can't
last but little while. Where is Mr..
Sampson?"
Here's yer onwurthy sarvent," said
the mountaineer pushing close by the
bedside.