The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-05-28
CHAPTER xvlIl--contInued.
- ESIS1TII -IgIF- = DODDI9ulno q oNNM3AlvN

- Ntt$3hLtSt tuEultf AuN NHHl udu
been e simple difference between us
fiamed into quarrel which reached
It's elimination when he mentioned
ohver's name with taunt. which the
boy, Tor all his obstinate clinging to
MS journalistic idea, did not deserve,
knowing my own temper. drew
back into the Hollow
He followed me.
] tried to speak.
lie took the word out OF my mouth
This may have been with the intent
o. quelling my anger. but the tone
was rasping, and, noting this and not
mis- words. my hand frightened insen-
sibiy about the stick which the devil
Tor John Scovillel had put In my hand.
ma ne see this. or was he prompted
by some old memory of boyish quar-.
reis that he should give utterance to
that quick sharp laugh of scorn!
shall never know. but ere the sound
had ceased the stick was whirling over
my head--there came a crash and he
fell My friendl My friend!
Next moment the earth seemed too
narrow the heavens too contracted
TOT my misery That he was dead
that my blow had killed him, | never
doubted for an Instant. | knew 1t. az
we know the face OF Doom when once
mas risen upon us. Never. never
again would this lump OF clay. which
a few minutes before had filled the
Hollow with shrillest whistling,
breathe or think or speak He was
dead. dead, dead!--And +? What was IN
The name which no man hears un.
moved. no amount OF repetition makes
easy 70 the tongue or welcome to the
earl the mama wh,ch i had
heard launched Ia full forensic elo-
quence so many times In accusation
against the wretrfies had hardly re.
garded as being In the same human
class as myself rang In my ears as
though intoned from the very mouth
OF hell. ! could not escape II. should
never be able to escape IL again.
Though ! was standing In a familiar
scenes scene had known and FREE
quented from childhood, felt myself
as isolated from my past and as com.
pletely set apart from my fellows az
the shipwrecked mariner tossed 10
precarious foothold on his wave.
dashed rock. forgot that other
criminals existed.
In that one awful moment / was in
my own eyes the only blot upon the
uniyerse-the sole inhabitant Of the
new world into which | had plunged
the world OF crime-the world upon
which had sat in Judgment before
knew
What broke the spell? God knows:
all J can say is that. drawn by some
other will than my own. found my |
glance travelling up the opposing bluff
Till at its top. framed between the
ragged wall and towering chimney of
Spencer's Folly. saw the presence
had dreaded, the witness who was
20 undo me-
Y was a woman-a woman with a
little child In hand. did not see her
face, for she was just on the point of
turning away from the dizzy verge, but
nothing could have been palmer than
the silhouette which these two made
against the flush of that early evening
sky.
As long as | could catch a glimpse
of this woman's fiuttering skirt as she
retreated through the ruins, stood
there, self-convicted. above the man |
had slain. staring up at that blotch OF
shining sky which was as the gate OF
he'll TO me. Not till their two figures
had disappeared and 1t was quite clear
again did the instinct Of self-preserya.
tion return. and with II the thought
OF flight
But where could fly? No spot In
the whole world was secret enough 10 ,
conceal me now. | was a marked man. !
Better to stand my ground. and take :
the consequences than to act the cow. ,
ards part and stink away like those :
other men OF blood had so often sat
in Judgment upon.
Had but followed this impulsel
Had | but gone among my fellows.
shown them the mark OF Cain upon >
my forehead and prayed. not for in. ,
diligence. but punishment. what DAYS i
= gnawing misery should have been !
spared Il
The horror OF what lay at my feet 4
drove me from the Hollow. As my !
steps fell mechanically into the train !
down which ! had come in innocence i
and kindly purpose only few minutes /
before. startling thought shot {
through my benumbed mind. The !
woman had shown no haste In her {
turning. There bad been a natural.
ness III Ter movement. dignity and d I /
s-sce @hich spoke OF ease. not shock. Z
What II she had not seen, What II 1
ny deed was as yet unknownl Might (
not have time for-for what? | did i
lot stop TO think: Just pressed on.
saying to myself let Providence de-
.ide. II ! meet any one before reach {
ny own door my doom is settled. II
do not"
And | did not. AS turned into the |
ane from the rayine heard sound {
ar down the slope. but 1t was too dis.
~ nt.I .