The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28

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 When the bargeman started on Rider hood stared after him for few minutes; then with sudden resolution he started behind
 The next day Bradley Headstone was garbed again in his decent garments, walk ing decently in his accustomed decent places Little Miss Peecher, the school ma'am, who admired him. peered from her window. and seeing him so dignihed, so full of scholastic propriety. admired him more than ever. And Bradley Head stone, gripping the decent hair watch guard around his neck, was thinking how many better ways there were to do it than the way he had done 1t. Suppose the head had been held down under water for a while Suppose the first blow had been truer, the weapon heayierl Why had he not killed him instantly? Why had he struck so blunderingly that the weapon had turned? Why had he left him to drift away? And why--why. and Bradley Headstone felt himself burning up when he came to that thought to which he always returned-had it so turned out that she. she of all people In 1
 Presently school opened; and the school master standing at the blackboard, did the deed always, and always did 1t bet ter. He had half a mind to draw map of the river on the board.
 As the days went by he noted that if there ever had been suspicion of himself, it had vanished. He watched the papers, and saw from Mortimer Liehtwoods pub- llshed statements that that gentleman was straying farther and farther from the truth. And then, one terrible day, it flashed on him why this was so There came the news that Eugene Wrayburn had married Lizzie HoXam and that he would live.
 Then he saw that he had dipped his hands in blood only to unite them. Then he saw that Eugene Wrayburn, for his wife's sake, was leaving him to crawl along his blasted course He bit at his fingers in his rage Suddenly he knew in the countenance of his pupils that he must have frightened them. l As he turned again to the blackboard, he saw a slouching man with a bundle under his arm. in the door of the class l He saluted humbly, with a chuckle and a leer. Still more humbly, and showing 1 not a sign that he ever had seen the schoolmaster in another guise, he asked such questions as an ignorant man might ask about school, and presently begged permission 10 ask some of the boys some questions about geography. Headstone 1 dared not refuse
 "Wot sort of waters is there on earth 2" | asked Riderhood; and when the class re- piled Seas, rivers, lakes and ponds," he asked them what men caught in rivers. Aye, my lambs. ayer' he responded to their reply of "fshle Good! But do yon know wot else they ketches in rivers? I'll | tell you. Suits of clothes!" l Bradleys face changed.
 | "Leastwise" continued Riderhood that's wot I ketches sometimes. Strikes me, lambs, if I didn't ketch this very bundle under my arms, It's bargeman's suit O clothes. It had been sunk there | by the man as wore it."
 Wishing to see you at my lock next Saturday" whispered Riderhood as he slouched out.
 | Saturday arrived, ana Bradley Head stone arrived at the lock. Mir Riderhood wasted no time, but informed MT. Head stone that he intended to be paid And | 1 didn't care a curse for the man wot you 1 tried to kill" said he. But you laid your plots agin me-, Wot! You thinks as they'll spot me as wearn the clothes as was wore by him wot did 1t? You thinks as how they'll find blood on me! You take care as they should find blood on hie, Oh, you sly devil, I'll be paid for it-I'n be paid for it-Ill be paid for it-till I've drained you dry,
 They were standing close to the lock Let go," screamed Riderhood. Bradley Headstone had caught him around the body. Let gol Or I'll use my knife and slash youl Let go"
 Bradley was drawing to the lock edge Riderhood was drawing away from 1t. It was d fierce grapple, arm and leg.
 Let go,'' gasped Riderhood trying to get his knife. "1 come through drownin once. and a man as does that can't be | drowned"
 q can bel" snarled Bradley through | clenched teeth. I'm going to be. I'll hold l you living, and I'll hold you dead. Come l down.'
 Riderhood went over into the smooth