The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-12-01
BY HALE HALE.


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 strong
man. but at this sight sickening
wave of weakness assailed him.
II 1t were only the bold desperate
his imagination had pictured. instead
OF this frank-faced boy. who lay with
ing beside himi
"Godi / wish it hadn't have had to
be mel" broke from him.
"And-I-" spoke the other with DIFF
f1culty-T only-wish your aim had
been better"
isn't there something can do to
ease your" inquired Carter. trying to
pull himself together.
Nothing-only-m 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 80
little. to the wounded mans comfort,
Carter was moved to reflect upon the
strsngeness of thus pillowing the
head of the man he had just shot in
cold blood.
Better" he asked q trifie hoarsely.
"Oh, yes-that Is. don't mind
much"
Would you 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 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 +
did it-instead of taking to the wilds
and then having-to kill that other
In self-defense. That last was wrong
i admit It. But-no man can exact.
ly-understand until-they are-up
there and know that 1t Is his nfe-or
yours. There's no reasoning In it
we do that after. It's-simply the
eternal fight"
Though the strong liquor had re-
vived the dying man somewhat his
breath still came in deep groans.
But the first-Jones-you do not
regret that?" Carter found himself say.
ing.
Regret? A thousand times-nol'
His vehemence caused the sufferer q
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 Id-given myself up then
But remember thinking-that-
couldn't let her know-that I'd killed
a man-she might not understand
and thought perhaps this -she't
never know. And-then, you know
the eternal fight"
Carter was silent before the glimps,
of sacred secret. But the othei
seemed disposed to speak out hill
thoughts
'It's-it's rather good to talk wher
you know your talking days-art
about over" he muttered grimly-
Good to talk-even when It costs 20,
agony But when-you get-to THU
point-some way-agony doesn't coun
1T tells you-you're living any wa,
and that's something. I'm no
CRYING for favor-you understand
only-only wouldn't any man who de
served the name have shot him dow
when he said that-of her? OF cours
they would. And then-afterward
Il thought 1t would be best to &c
away. You see-no one knew m,
name here-I went over to Fritz
about the first thing where-where 1
happened, you know; and no one knew
/ was coming her-and she
didn't know when. had them fooled
all right / hear they called me tbs
Unknown-to be identified by the
scar"
Carter nodded.
"Pm-glad the old name shant b.
dragged IN the dust-no one shall evel
know" went on the sufferer. And
I'll go down through history as the un
known outlaw-who came to your
quiet village-killed q mani wish
they could know how he deserved kill
ing-and then killed another. and was
finally tracked to death-by dogs
Thank God my mothers dead-ant
all the folks. But what will she-sht
will never know, never hear-My God
what will she think"
Then through the trees, gladstone
and gay as the twitter OF the birds
came the sound OF a woman's voic'
singing. It startled the silence OF tht
woods, and q greater contrast to th'
tragedy which had just been enacted
there could not be imagined.
The outlaw had raised q haggart
face.
do you know what that meanar b
cried hoarsely. DO you know wha
that means, man7 1t means that sh'
is coming-that am going to see he
once more-before 1t is too latei"
The trilling voice was becoming
louder. Carter went from red Il
white as he listened. Then suspicion
became certainty. and he broke out:
TT can't be-because-that ID N,
sisters voicel"
Then she is your sister. 1t is tn
song taught her-over at Alban,
where I met her"
"She visited there" murmured tn
other DULY. my God!" he cried 40