Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-24

The CALL or DUTY
BY HALE HALE.
BY HALE HALE.

1t was the only thing to be done,
and yet Garter hated to do it. He
had been prepared for anything but
the boyish, appealing eyes which
looked up at him from the crevice 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 a thou
sand years crowded his brain between
the time he identified the hunted man
by the tell-taie scar upon his cheek
and had seen the mans hand move.
move toward his hip pocket-a move
ment which caused Duty to call upon
Carter for the most extreme measures
land 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
ne himself were thrice an outlaw. The
smoking weapon fell to the ground
with a dull thud-it had done its work
though the aim had not beer 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
MS death. R~etracing his steps he
dropped down on his knees beside the
victim.
God forgive mel" he cried as the
eyes, more eloquent than aver in their
suffering, again looked into his.
Never mind" came in a whispered
answer. "It-had to be, but I'm
about done for think"
The outlaw lay with one hand
pressed to his side. while through his
fingers bright, fresh blood oozed. Car
ter had considered himself a strong
man, but at this sight a sickening
wave of weakness assailed him.
If it were only the bold desperate
his imagination had pictured. instead
Of this frank-faced boy, who lay with
Ing beside himi
God! / wish it hadn't have had to
be mel" broke from him.
"And-I-Y spoke the other with diff
iculty-"I only-wish your aim had
been better"
Isn't there something / can do to
ease you?" inquired Carter. trying to
pull himself together.
"Nothing-only-my head
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 h~oarsely.
"Oh, yes-.that is. don't mind
much"
Would 0 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
his lips.
Il don't know-why I-should want
tO-prolong it-but | seem to-" NUT
tered the sufferer, as Carter set down
the flask. That eternal fight for life
why is It? If I'd been-a man I'd
have given myself Up after--after r.
did it-instead of taking to the wilds
land then havingLto kill that other
In self-defense. That last was wrong
II 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-simply the
eternal fight"
Though the strong liquor had re-
vtved the dying man somewhat his
breath still came in deep groans.
But the irst-Jones-you do not
regret that?" Carter found himself say
Ing.
Regret? A thousand times-no!"
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.
Tnanks, muttered the outlaw.
Then as though with an effort he
reused himself again. I'D like to
tell you-before l 60" he began,
that thank the Creator who made
me with my dying breath for having
given ms the grace to send a bullet
through that b~lackguard's brainl And
If only Td-given myself up then.
But remember thinking-that-I
couldn't let her know-that I'd killed
, man-she might not understand,
and thought perhaps this way-she'd
eve know. And-then. you know
the eternal fight"
Carter was silent before the glimpse
Of a sacred secret. But the other
seemed disposed to speak out his
thoughts.
: 'It's-it's rather good to talk when
you know your talking days-are
about over" he muttered grimly-.
Good to talk-even when it costs you
agony. But when-you get-to this
point-some way-agony doesn't count