The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-06-10

the enveloping air: he could not locate
them, n yet the speaker stood at the
n of the bridge. in plain view.
I'm sorry to say I taught you that
blow," said the voice. 1t seemed to
the stunned, bewildered boy that this
sentence was repeated over and over
again. There la been words before
these. but they had failed to pierce his
intelligence.
Suddenly, as If spurred by an electric
shock, he sprang to his feet to find
himself staring into the grim, uns1nil-
ing face of Adam Carr. The realization
that someone had witnessed the sick
ening accident-he could not think Of
1t as anything else-calne over him like
a flash
There was a witness! There was
they had been right about him all
along! Uppermost in his mind, in that
instant. was the dread Of their uplift-
ed, accusing hands. They. at least,
would believe that 1t was an ac-
cident. They would see that he swung
for 1t!
Yes, 1 saw most Of it, said Adam
Carr. replying to the question Of those
great, stricken eyes.
oh, Mr.. Carr. why didn't Q come
sooner? Why didn't you stop lit" fell
In hoarse. unnatural tones from the
rigid lips.
Il say it from afar. The-the rail
was very rotten. A child's weight would
AdSS DIOhSA IL OOWI. zee. WIN IndIs
he stretched out his hand and pushed
the remaining rail from its fastenings.
It's a crime to let such timbers stay
but. this is M time to find fault. We
must get down there to him. He may
be alive"
He is down there-deadl" walled
Eric. IT can see him. Look! That black
thing there by the pile Of shells!"
Brace up! Brace up! Don't lose your
nerve, my lad. I've seen many a dead
| man. and So will vo11 hoforo un,, 6jo
YOU
but you've never killed a man, as
l have. I am a muir
Don't be SO sure that I've never
killed a man, my lad. Come along!
Don't be afraid. He can't hurt you
now"
ITS no use. He's dead" groaned the
boy. Il know can see. He hasn't
moved. IL didn't know-it would
look like that. Why. there's no shape
Adam arr grasped him by the arm
and fairly dragged him off the bridge
and into the path that led by devious
windings to the bottom of the ravine.
:. The boy was sobbing, but his eyes were
? wide and dry; his lips were contorted
by the unspeakable grin that denotes
oyerpowering horror.
II didn't mean to do It," he cried,
over and over again. He forced me
to fight. He was licking me when I hit
him h a time. I couldn't have beat
him, Mr.. Carr. The rail-
t stop talking grated the man.
Don't whine about it. It's done, and
that's all there is to it"
I'm q murderer" groaned the mis-
l cradle boy.
/ They said I'd do it some day. They'll
hang me. Then what will become OF
Mary? Oh, why did stan up to him
Because you're not that Sort snap
ped the detective. Nov shut yOul
mouth. You've got to begin it sooner OF
later, and you'd better starr in right
/ now. Not another word olt Of You
: Stop it, I say!"
Half blind with horror, the unhapp.
youth stumbled along in the trail o.
Adam Carr 1t did not enter his mine
to flee from the hated spot. He fol,
: lowed as If hypnotized.
9 the spot where Chetwynd lay. E
e crushed, spineless mass Eric threw
himself down beside the body, pleading
$ in accent wild for a word, a single wore
from the lips Of his late adversary.
Get back" commanded Adam sharp,
ly. Let me attend to this" He tool
e the boys place. In a moment he arose
Q and shook his head. It's all up witt
I him, Dead as a mackerel."
t Try his heart" cried the wretched Eric
1--WE must go for a doctor. I'll go. 70,
look after him
No use, my lad. He's done for. He'l
never bother you again; he'll steal n
g more drawings from you; he'll-bu
wen talk about that later on. Here
Grab hold Of his legs"
Eric shrank back. aghast. What
what are you going to dol"
e Hide i'll mean him under tina
clump Of vines over there" Eric still
d held back. The man looked at him 70
"a moment and then laid his hand o.
d his shoulder. See here. Eric" he said
L. - l. "a.
n one knows Of this but you and me. N
one ever need know. He's just disap
Feared, that's all-disappeared forever
q People do that sort Of thing sometimes
And" here his eyes narrowed, "Iet m
tell you this: your cousin had the bes
reason in the world for skipping out.
h IT don't understand" urmur TIL
o bewildered Eric.
You will. when I explain. Take hol
Of him. Don't be afraid. Wen hide hir
q until after dark"
n Eric shook his head duly. mo,
q can't do that. Mr.. Carr. It's wrong"
Didn't you hear what I said abou
being the only witness?" demande
depend on that"
o "Ive got to tell Uncle Horace" erie
Is Eric. twisting his fingers. 1--WE just &C
to-"
le the MAJ grimly. "stay where you ar
81 I'll do it myself"
E, Eric, s~huddering. turned his bac
while the other man took UP the linn
figure and, grooming under its weigh
r. struggled across the rocks to the dens
q clump of vines that sprang from til
10 base of the wall.
d Now o can look he remark
s. coolly. a few minute later. He ha
covered the body in the mass Of gree
3, vines.
IS Eric looked on dumbly as the olde
- man, with furtive glances aloft and U
~ and down the dark ~crevasse. began !.
10 thorough and systematic searth OF til
ground. his methods not unlike thos
40 Of a dog smelling out a buried bone. II
~ picked up a match-safe n pieces {
= the broken crystal of the dead man
!. open-faced watch. A few scattere
a. coins. part of a gold collar button thu
is - 49, 49, ~ taa Saa