The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-07-31

The CALL OF DUTY

BY HALLE HALE.

had been prepared for anything but
the boyish, appealing eyes which
looked up at him from the cYsvfcs be-
tween the two logs. But Duty, spelled
with a Haunting capital demanded 1t,
and Duty had ever been the lodestar
OF Carriers life. 1t afterwards seemed
to him that the thoughts of thou
sand years crowded his brain between
the time he identified the hunted man
by the teil-tale scar upon his cheek
and had seen the mans hand move,
move toward his hip pochet-a move
ment which caused Duty to call upon
Carter for the most extreme measures
and the time when, as the dogs
strained at the leash, he pulled the
trigger.
His orders had been to shoot at the
least suspicious movement. Well, he
had carried out his orders to the let
ter, and yet he felt as guilty as though
he himself were thrice an outlaw. The
smoking weapon fell to the ground
with dull thud-it had done its work
though the aim had not been good.
One quick look assured Carter of this,
then he turned away to tie the blood
hounds where they could not be seen
by the man they had Just tracked to
his death. Retracing his steps he
dropped down on his knees beside the
victim.
God forgive mel" he cried as the
eyes, more eloquent than ever in their
suffering, again looked into his.
Never mind" came in whispered
answer. "1t-had to be, but rrm
about done for think
| The outlaw lay with enc hand
pressed to his side, while through his
fingers bright, fresh blood oozed Car
ter had considered himself strong
man. but at this sight sickening
wave of weakness assailed him.
If it were only the bold desperate
his imagination had pictured instead
OF this trank-faced boy, who lay with
ing beside him,
Cod l wish it hadn't have had to
be mel broke from him.
"And-I-" spoke the other with DIFF
ficulty-"I only-wish your aim had
been better"
Isn't there something can DO to
ease you?" inquired Carter, trying to
pull himself together
Neutrality-suspicious. head-s
Quickly divining, Carter moved nearer
and raised the sufferers head on his
knee, Though elated to think it lay
within his power to add, be it ever so
little, to the wounded mans comfort,
Carter was moved to reflect upon the
strangeness Of thus pillowing the
head of the man he had Just shot in
cold blood.
Better" he asked a trife hoarsely
"Oh, yes-that is, don't mind
much"
Would you like-whisky?
The outlaw managed to move his
head in assent, and Carter after put
ting his hand carefully to his hip
pocket for his flask, held the liquor to
hts lips.
Il don't know-why i-should. want
to-DroIong it-but I seem to- NUT
tered the sufferer, as Carter set down
the flask. That eternal fight for life
why is it? If Id been-a man Id
have given myself up after-after L
did it-instead of taking to the wilds
and then having-to kill that other
in self-defeuse. That last was wrong
j admit it. But-no man can exact
ly-understand until-they are-up
there and know that it is his life-or
yours. There's no reasoning in it
we do that after. It's-siinply the
eternal fight"
Though the strong liquor had re-
vived the dying man somewhat his .
breath still came in deep groans
But the trst-Jones-you do not
regret that" Carter found himself say
ing
Regret? A thousand times
His vehemence caused the sufferer a
deeper pang of agony, and with
blanched lips he subsidized into silence
Carter pressed the flask again to his
lips.
Thanks" muttered the outlaw.
Then as though with an effort he
reused himself again I'D like to
tell you-before | CO." he began,
that l thank the Creator who made
me with my dying breath for having
given me the grace to send a bullet
through that blackguard's brain! And
If only Pd-given myself up then.
But remember thinking-that-I
couldn't let her know-that I'd killed
a man-she might not understand,
and / thought perhaps thts> way-she'd
never know. And-then, you know
the eternal fight"
Carter was silent before the glimpse
Of sacred secret. But the other
seemed disposed to speak out hfs
thoughts
lists rather good TO tain when
you know your talking days-are
about over" he muttered grimly-
Good to talk-even when 1t costs YOU
agony. But when-you get-to this
pofnt-some way-agony doesn't count
1t tells yeu-you're living any way
and that's something. I'm not
crying for favor-you understand
only-oniy wouldn't any man who de-
served the name have shot him down
when he said that-of her? OF course
they would. And theD-afterwards
i thought 1t would be best to get
away. You see-no one knew my
name here-I went over 10 Fritz's
about the first thing -where-where 1t