Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-26
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bullet had taken effect, the two men
maintained the rigid attitude they had
assumed; then Mal1affy was seen to
turn on his heels, next his arm drop
ped to his side and the pistol slipped
from his fingers, a look of astonish-
ment passed over his face and left 1t
vacant and staring while his right
hand stole up toward his heart; he
raised 1t slowly, with difficulty, as
though 1t were held down by some In
visible weight. =
A hush spread across the held. 1t
was like one of natures invisible
transitions. Along the edge OF the
woods the song OF birds was stricken
into silence. Ware, heavy-eyed-Fen-
tress. his lips twisted by a tortured
smile, watched Mahaffy al he painted
for breath. with his hand clenched
against his breast. That dead, oppres-
sive silence lasted but a moment;
from OUT of 1t came a cry that smote
ON the wounded mans ears and
reached his consciousness.
tits Price" he gasped, his words
bathed In blood, and he pitched for
ward on his face.
Ware and Fentress had heard the
cry, too, and running to their horses
threw themselves into the saddle and
galloped off. The judge midway OF
the meadow roared out a furious pro-
test, but the mounted men turned in
to the highroad and vanished from
sight, and the judges shaking legs
bore him swiftly in the direction Of
the gaunt figure on the ground.
Mahaffy struggled to rise, for he
was hearing his friends voice now,
name. AT last painful effort brought
him to his knees. He saw the judge,
clothed principally in a gatly coiored
bed-quilt, hatless and shoeless, his
face sodden and bIeary from his
nights debauch. Mahafry stood erect
and staggered toward him, his hand
over his wound, his features drawn
and liyid, then with a cry he dropped
at his friends feet.
"Solomoni Solomon!" And the
Judge knelt beside him.
"It's all right, Price; / kept your
appointment" whispered Mahaffy; a
bloody spume was gathering on his
lips, and he stared up at his friend
with CLASSY eyes.
In very shame the Judge hid his
face In his hands, while sobs shook
him.
uybv ala vo,,
do this?'' he cried miserably.
The harsh lines on the dying mans
face erased themselves.
You're the only friend I've known
in twenty years of loneliness, Price.
I've loved you like a brother" he
painted, with q pause between each
/ word.
Again the Judge buried his face in
his hands.
II know 1t. Solomon know it,"
he moaned wretchedIy.
price, you are still q man to be
reekoned with. There's the boy; take
, your place for his sake and keep it
you can"
II will-by God, | Will" gasped the
judge. "You hear me? You hear me,
Solomon? By Gods good help, l will"
you have the presidents letter
I saw it, said Mahaffy in a whisper.
"Yesi" cried the judge. Solomon,
the world ts changing for us!"
FOR me most of ALL" murmured
Mahaffy, and there was a bleak in
slant when the judges sshen counte-
nance held the full pathos of age and
failure. Remember your oath, Price"
gasped the dying mar. A moment OF
silence succeeded. Mahafry's eyes
closed, then the heavy lids slid back.
He looked up at the Judge while the
harsh lines OF his soul old face soft
ened wonderfully. "Ktss me, Price,"
he whispered, and as the judge bent
to touch him on the brow. the soft
ened lines fixed themselves In death,
while on his lips fingered e smile that
was neither bitter nor sneering.
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