Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-06-09
Well. if You won't You WON'T" said
the man grimly. Stay where you are.

Eric. shuddering. turned his back
while the other man took up the limp
figure and. grooming under its weight.
struggled across the rocks to the dense
clump of vines that sprang from the
base of the wall.
Now you can look he remarked
coolly. Il few minutes later. He had
covered the body in the mass OF green
vines.
Eric looked on dumbly as the older
man, with furtive glances aloft and up
and down the lark c%revasse. began 81
thorough and systematic seartil of th,
ground, his methods not unlike those
OF "A dog smelling out Il buried bone. He
picked up a match-safe and pieces of
the broken crystal of the dead m;ll'S
open-faced watch. n few scattered
coins. part of IL gold collar button that
had been snapped in two by the STRAIN
on the band, the top of Il fountain pen
, nothing seemed to escape the tla.ur.:
eye of the searcher. who workc,l ~..
a sWiftneSs that was amazing. i'or
Yards in every direction he scailntl 'he
ground. AT last, with d satisfied grlnt
he gave over the search and began To
wash the spattered blood stains from
the rocks. scooping up water from Nc
trickling rivulet that stepped through 81
crack in the wall.
Young Midthorne, limp as Il rag. su,
on Il boulder. his chin in his hands. and
MtttIlel SuoSe RuOCeSuIllSS dS *
fanscinated.
Adam came over and Quebec him %,
the shoulder. Let's get out OF this, n.
said sharply. Without n word. l.ri"
arose and followed him up the deiil.,.
Not a word was spoken until they came
out upon the ledge far above. III
young man walked as ii i'm Il droAa.
He was completely unde the spell eA
oreised by this calm. emotionless mas
ter of destiny.
They seemed to be utterly alone in
the world. these two. The placid land
scape held no other living creatuvc
save themselves.
After a swift, penetrating glance
about him. Adam Carr stode out upo
the bridge. motioning his companion u
remain where he was. He renewed his
careful search. AT it's conclusion. he
calmly kicked away all that remained
OF the broken rail. 1t clattered upon the
rocks far below. bringing Il sharp
culver of alarm to the silent watcher.
Il guess there's nothing left TO CIV.
us away" remarked Adam, as coolly as
ii he were speaking of the most trivial
thing in he world. Nov, III give YOU
a few pointers, Eric. You can take MY
death, OF mine. Well go up there
but l want you to understand tina,
l am your friend and YOU cat
depend on me to the day of your
on Buds Rock and talk it over"
The long shadow of the rock
stretched out below them ON the slate
colored plain. The late afternoon sun
had slipped down behind the upper
ridge. Through Eric's dazed. torpid
mind ran the homogeneous thought that
Joan and Mary We're in from their
peaceful. happy drive through the
shady lanes. He sat beside Adam Carr
on the grassy slope. staring before him
4 with, l1i,rr11 n%,nc MS t1,a nor. lou. ip
sistent voice kept forever pounding at
his intelligence.
You are not morally guilty. my lad,
so get it Out of your mind. What hap
pened was an accident. 1t might just
as we'll have been you who went off the
bridge. YOU
why are you saying all this to me?"
asked Eric, out of his stupor.
~ want to help you. You must be
saved. 1t wasn't your fault, YOU say.
! believe you. Eric. but I've had SO
much to DO with courts and juries and
public opinion that ] am in a position
to know the world would doubt your
story. Your uncle and aunt knew that
you hated Chetwynd. Do YOU suppose
they'd believe you now? No, my lad.
They'd say you waylaid him. knocked
MIN on the head, and tulmbled him into
the cut. You have no witnesses. and
= O0i iioS AiChU yOu. L SdM HOlIIIE
but The end of the row. For all know,
you may have attacked him and he
was defending himself as best he could.
You MAY have struck him first from
behind. | have only your word for it.
should rave to testify that 1 saw you
strike him and knock him through the
rail. My testimony wouldn't help you
any. Besides, they would have proof
that you had your own reasons for kill
ing him in cold blood. l know all about
his mistreatment OF Mary. and | know
that YOU charge him with taking your
drawing. ] know everything there is to
know about his actions during the past
three weeks. I've been watching him
all the time. Let me tell you this: he's
better off dead"
but II didn't mean 60 do it. I
swear L didn't mumured Eric.
ally guilty. In any event, 1t was self
defense. If it were not for your we'll
known hatred for him. your own word
might be taken for that. But YOU
had threatened to kill him. At least,
SO he told your uncle and aunt and
sion.'
~ never threatened to kill him."
cried Eric, in a cold perspiration. HE
lied. II he said So"
That's what I told Judge Bright.
The Judge doesn't believe it of YOU. but
az inc same time II ne were called up
on to testify he would have to say that
Chetwynd told him that he was afraid
OF you. 1t would be bad for YOU Now.
II you'll be guided by me. you can save
yourself. lit might mean hanging.
my lad. and God knows you don't de-
serve punishment Of any kind
But. he's dead. They'll search for
him. They'll find his body. IL new
er could stand up and deny it If they
accused me Of It,"
Now. listen to me- said Adam Carr.
earnestly: fixing theb boy with his keen