The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-06-10

watched these proceedings n II
Adam came over and touched him OF
the shoulder. Lets get out OF this" he
said sharply. Without a word, Eric
arose and followed him UP the defils.
Not a word was spoken until they came
out upon the ledge far above. The
young mar walked as II in a dream.
He was completely under the spell ex-
orcised by this calm. e~motionless mas
ter OF destiny.
They seemed to be utterly alone In
the world. these two. The placid land
scape held no other living creature
" themselves.
After a swift, penetrating glance
about him, Adam Carr stode out upon
the bridge, motioning his companion -
remain where he was. He renewed hta
careful search. At its conclusion, he
calmly kicked away all that remained
OF the broken rail. 1t clattered upon the
rocks far below, bringing a sharp
culver Of alarm to the silent watcher.
II guess there's nothing left to give
us away" remarked Adam, as coolly as
If he were speaking Of the most trivial
thing In the world. Now, I'll give you
a few pointers, Eric. You can AXE my
advice or leave 1t, just as o please.
but i want you to understand that
4 am you friend n you can
depend on me to the day of your
or Buds Rock and talk II over" .
The. long shadow Of the rock
stretched out below them on the slate
had slipped down behind the upper
ridge. Through Eric's dazed, torpid
mind ran the iucougruous thought that
Joan and Mary were In from their
peaceful. happy drive through the
shady lanes. He sat beside Adam Carr
on the grassy slope, staring before him
with blurred eye as the mans low. in
sistent voice kept forever pounding at
his intelligence.
you are not morally guilty, my lad.
so get 1t out OF your mind. What hap
pened was an accident. 1t might just
as we'll have been you who went of the
bridge. YOU
why are you saying all this to me?'
asked Eric, out of his stupor.
II want to help you You must be
saved. 1t wasn't your fault, you say.
! believe you. Eric, but I've a so
much to do with courts and juries and
public opinion that i am in a position
to know the world would doubt you
story. Your uncle and u n knew that
you hated Chetwynd. Do you suppose
they'd believe you now? No, my lad.
They'd say you waylaid him, knocked
him on the head, and tumbled him into
the cut. You have no witnesses, and
- COuLu HOI HGlD yOu. L sd" HOlDlnk
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. 1 ave only your word for 1t.
/ should have to testify that / 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 m~istreatment Of Mary, and I know
that you charge him with taking o
drawing. / know everything there Is to
know about his actions during the past
three weeks. we been watching him
all the time. Let me tell you this: he's
better off dead"
But IL didn't mean to do II, I
swear I didn't" mumured Eric.
That's why 1 say you are not actu-
ally guilty: In any event, it was self
defense. II II were not for your well
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 n aunt and
Judge Bright on more than one Occa-
sion."
IL never threatened to kill him."
cried Eric, in a colo per~spiration. He
lied, IL he said SO"
That's what l told Judge Bright.
The judge doesn't believe 1t of you, but
at the same time IL he 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'n dead. They'll search Eor
him. They'll ind his body. II new
err could stand up and deny 1t IL they
accused me Of It."
Nov, listen to me-" said Adam Carr,
earnestly, fixing the boy with his keen
eyes. They n find him. I'll see
to that. In going TO stand by you in
this business. but you've got to stand
by me. You've got to keer. your lips
closed forever. I ant afford to be
mixed up in It, don't you see? I'm sup
posed to hunt DOWN men, not to assist
them In escaping.
II can't do it," groaned the boy.
See here! Answer me this question:
did you deliberately. wantonly kill your
cousin?"
mo! God knows l didn't"