Evening star., 1912-09-29

which declares such an act to be m1Sde-
meanor and punishable by a fine of from
twenty to fifty dollars!
Very likely, if it had been anybody else
playing solitaire in that particular place that
morning, the Sheriff WOULDN'T have happened
to come driving by. But he did, and he saw
Hopkins, and of course he had to arrest him.
Hopkins wouldn't pay the fine the magis-
trate inflicted on him. He said he had rather
go to Jail. He was beginning to feel safer
and happier in Jail. There was less nervous
strain. And then he had something to think
about, and the jail would be good place to
do it in. The doctor asked to be allowed to
pay his fine for him; but the Judge wouldn't
permit that, in view of what Hopkins had
said. The doctor didn't like the look in
Hopkins eye, and said so; but when the
Judge asked if he meant to say that he con-
sidered the prisoner insane, he had to say no.
HE served his term quietly and contented-
- ly enough, and no one to see him could
have guessed the dreadful thing that was in
his mind. On his release from jail he made q
call on the doctor, paid his bill, and assured
him that he was completely cured. He
added that he had entirely recovered from
the fixed idea, the morbid dread, of trans
crossing the law, which had been worrying
the medical man more than anything else.
"No more statute books for mel said Hop
kins in tone of complete tranquility.
He walked out of the doctors office, down
the main street of the village to hardware
store, where he purchased Winchester rifle
GA caliber) and box of cartridges. He
slipped the box into his pocket, tucked the
rifle under his arm, and walked out into the
street. Right there he met the Sheriff. looked
at him in thoughtful way that made the
officer of the law little uneasy, shook his
head, and said, @You won't do"
wont do for what?' asked the Sheriff.
"I'm afraid l was talking to myself said
Hopkins. 3It's habit one picks up in jail
But I'm glad to see you. If you'll come
along with me, I'll show you something in
teresting.'
"Where?1 asked the Sheriff.
ooh, almost anywhere said Hopkins.
The Sheriff hesitated little; but Hop
kins' manner made him curious so he fell in
beside him, and they strolled together down
the main street and out into the country.
When they got outside the town, Hopkins
got out his cartridge box and filled the maya
zine of his rifle
The Sheriff asked him what he was going
to do, and Hopkins said:
"a little shooting at a mark.
The Sheriff warned him that he wanted
plenty of room before he tried target shoot
ing with that weapon, as 1T carried long
way and might do some damage Hopkins
didn't count upon. "And you don't want
to work out any more fines, l suppose he
concluded.
Hopkins smiled in sort of tranquil way
and said there was no danger of that.
They left the road and climbed up the
hillside a little way to where they could
command view across the valley. Over
on the other side, above little creek, was
a large clearing. Hopkins sat down on a
boulder and began adjusting the sights on
his rifle, while the Sheriff reamed out his
pipe, cut few shavings off his plug, and got
ready for smoke. He'd stepped ten PAGES
away from Hopkins, when he looked round
at him, and saw him deliberately aiming his
rifle out across the valley.
Better look out, he said, "There may be
somebody in that clearing. That's not a
safe mark to shoot at
AS he said that, he looked across and saw
that there was a man there, mountaineer
with an AK, who had just come out from a
thicket of trees. Before he could realize
what Hopkins meant to do, or make move
to prevent it, Hopkins fired.
The man threw up his hands, whirled
round and dropped like a log.
The Sheriff faced Hopkins, fully expecting
tO oct the next shot himself h11t intent on