The Ekalaka eagle., 1916-01-14

III hldlnS to escape arrest for bank rod
berry. You cannot deny that you are a
thief. l know you are, though l never
suspected it until today: But your
wife knew it from the day after that
robbery took place."
"She told you so, l reckon. A nice
find when woman gifts to running her
husband down to another man."
You are mistaken. She told me
nothing Of the kind. She has never ut
tered one word on that subject in my
hearing. And I'll tell you something
else. Your wife has never to my knOwl-
edge spoken one word disparaging to
your character or made single COM
plaint against you"
"IIumph! If all that is so, how
comes it that you say she knowed from
the first that l was in that bank rob-
| bery:'
II know it from actions and looks of
| hers which I noticed at the time, but
| to which | gave little thought. Now,
| however, in the light of all that has de-
veloped, those looks and actions appear
significant. She knew that you were
In that robbery. and l should have
known it when that night at the sup
per table you declared so positively
that the wounded man would never tell
who his companions in the crime were.
She flushed with shame and left the
room. At that moment she knew her
! husband was thief"
Stevens WINGED, and his face paled.
/ Ia I, i,,rr In
he took a firmer hold on his pistol.
You better be leetle more keer-
full he said, admonishingly, "'bout
how you talk. You amt in no position
| jest now whar you kin afford to talk
so all fired big an sassy. Keep ON a.
callin me thief, an the fust thing
you know Ill put hole through you."
That will be nothing more than you
intend to do anyway, so you can't do
any more than rob me Of few min
utes Of life. Under the circumstances
l have nothing to fear, and 1 may as
well speak the plain truth. You are a
thief and murderer
That's a lie. / ain't never killed no.
body in all my life
For all that you are a murderer
You have it in your heart to kill me,
until you do it. You are guilty Of the
crime now, all but the actual commits
sion of the deed"
"Waal, I'm goin' to kill you, in co'se
but l have right to. a man has a
right to defend lis home an the honor
of is name.''
That is why you are going to kill
me:'
ut is
They why did you try to kill me
that other time? l did not know, then
anything of you or your home"
What other time?'
'"The day of the Conrow fight"
Stevens opened his eyes in astonish,
ment.
II reckon l don't know what you're
talkin' bout" he said. II never seer
you the day O the Conrow fight, mucl
, less try to kill you"
"But YOU did You both saw me ant
tried to kill me-
II don't remember nothin bout it,"
"I do. l remember it very distinctly
1t is scarcely likely that l would for
, get 1t after being chased by you, as
was, with bullets whizzing around my
head"
Stevens started back, and for full
minute stared ut Ross with wide ope1
eyes and mouth.
"Great lord." he exclaimed at last
''You amt that man."
II am Ross replied.
Stevens continued to stare.
; Land O. Goshen" he cried, "if tina
don't beat me! You that man an righ
thar in my house all this time an II
| jist a-itchin' to git our hands on you
l Lord, we'd "a killed you long ago
/ we'd "a knowed it.
IL know you would but as you ar
! going to kill me now you ought to fee
satisfied"
, II reckon so, specially as I've go