The Parker post., 1915-05-01

wilderness. 1t had left the railroad
track and the telegraph poles, even as
he had done, and followed him.
| 1t would always follow him. Oakley
| realized it all at once. There was no
escape. No desolate region far from
the haunts of men was secure from
this insidious, Unsuitable Nemesis. No
spot, crowded to the utmost by other
men, was inaccessible to this clammy
monster of the brain. Yet Oakley
| shuddered at the thought of separation
| from his kind
Picking up his revolver, he turned
! to descend the butte.
There before him stood French, grin
ming amia bly,.
The revolver fell to the ground fill
ing it's muzzle with dirt With wild
shrek Oakley dashed away. French
| put out nimbleifoot and brought him
to the ground, where he lay, stunned.
When Oakley regained conscious
ness French was sitting near by, cross
| legged, maSticating tobacco.
| Oakley sat up, and the apparition
handed him piece of the weed. Oak
ley took it and examined it carefully.
| 1t appeared to be genuine. Then he
arose, and, walking up to the appari-
| ton, felt cautiously about the head
and shoulders. The genuine feel"
! was there also.
Oakley. looked for a moment out
over the sand toward the railroad
track, shook his head doubtfully, and
sat down.
Lord, what place!"
We'll, what's the matter with it,"
asked French
| Everything is SO sort of confusing,
[ can't quite see clearly" replied Oak
ley.
French took from his pocket a roll
OF bills, and separating several from
the roll, handed them to Oakley See
any better now?" he queried.
Oakley thumbed them over doubtful
ly, his mind still in haze. After
pause he said slowly: We'll, yes,
think the dawn is gradually illuminat-
| lI1S lily udI hGu6u NlS1OIl, dlu YET L
can't What is this money for?"
That's your pay for killing me-" re
sponded French glibly, "and recon-
pense for the anguish of mind which
must have been yours when consider
ing your awful deed. You see, Oakley,
old man, when you became so angry at
me, back in our little home town, and
attempted to put me where l could no
| longer arouse your indignation, you
failed utterly-didn't even touch me
with your bullet. When | fell, dazed
! by the bombardment, you evidently
thought was dead. Any way, you fed.
Living, as l did, bachelor on the
outer edge of town, no one heard the
shot and no one came to investigate. |
happened to be out of money"
Oakley interrupted: "As usual"
Il saw chance for a scheme" con-
tinued French. My friend, the ply
sician, came at an opportune time to
see me, and with his assistance as the
certitier Of my death passed from the
knowledge OF men, was duly and
mournfully buried, and by unimagin-
able toll, together with the kindly aid
Of my beneficiary, succeeded in realiz-
ing upon some fraternal insurance that
happened to be fully paid up
Then you-you aren't dead?" said
Oakley meekly.
No, but pretty near it. What with
following you through the infernalest
country that was ever left out doors
for the wolves to howl in, in order to
reimburse you for being the founder
Of my success in life, or death, as you
might say, and also considering the
hard labor | endured tryin' to estab.
lish my identity as a dead man, l am
about dead
Oakley" he concluded wearily,
don't you ever try to accumulate
wealth by the life insurance plan. Saw
wood or tend sheep, but don't try to
get it by dyin' falsely"
Oakley passed his hand over his
forehead. When he drew it away it
was covered with cold sweat, and
thinking still of the apparition out on
the hot sand, he declared solemnly
that he never would.
After a few minutes of silence, he
said, holding out his hand awkwardly,
Il don't feel so angry at you as | did,
partly because I've had lesson that
amt down in the copy-books, and part
ly because it is an unusual experience
for a man to have his victim pay him
for tryin' to kill him. Let's shake"
Perfectly agreeable" said French
amicably.
1T was a good thing for me, finan-
cially that you once took to murderin'.
T otto on hack to TOWN ond onona ,oxoo