The Starkville news., 1920-10-08

on with his story evenly and good-na-
turedly.
81 don't pretend to have all TIE de-
tails or to understand it," he said
but from what learn. Richard Dob
son, the elder brother was strong and
| brutal Henry Dubson, the younger
! brother, was frail and sensitive
guess they hated each other from the
cradle.
Dick, when he was four and Henry
was two, found ways of tormenting his
! younger brother. The best thing Hen
ry ever had from Richard was con-
| tempt"
81 have known families of that ma
ture," said Mr.. Sidney. "Our conven-
ions teach us to regard family tie
as sacrament. In many cases 1t Is
only an odious obligation leading to
tragedy"
"Dick knew all of Henry's weakness
es," Jed continued. sometimes he
would torture him physically, by twist
ing his wrist or rolling him over on
the ground when young girls were
around. Sometimes he would torture
him without laying hands on him.
"Dick was thick-headed brute, but
he had a genius for cruelty. When
their parents died and the boys ap-
preached their majority Henry was al
most an imbecile for fear of Dick.
"Dck wanted then to get his inheri-
tance and go out into the world but
the estate was left in trust until both
boys were of age Dick came of age
and was obliged to wait two years for
Henry"
was astonished by the succinct and
philosophical brevity of this ignorant
mans narrative Mr.. Sidney was at
ease in his chair with his eyes closed
and placid expression of pleasure on
his face. Jed was active in gesticula-
tion as he talked. That was the ef
feet of the wine. The wind continued
to pull at the chimney and scold in the
corners.
"Jed has read a great deal to me-,
said Mr.. Sidney without opening his
eyes. 81 think he has become theatric."
We'll" said Jed, ito shorten story.
when Dick, being twenty-one, found
that he had 10 wait two more years for
Henry, he became more brutal than
ever. In some way or other, the night
Of the murder the two brothers hap
pened to meet in a tavern in a village
5 did not want to go home with his
r brother, but they both got drunk and
they started to walk home together.
, mo one has been able to do much
> more than guess at what took place,
but it was known that Richard was a
} brute and that Henry was scared of
him but was not coward. They must
have had violent quarrel,
There was a cottage near the pool.
e The only person in 1t at The time was
a little girl, whose parents were not at
home. She was awakened by cries
: and swearing. She said that she heard
y one man say: They'll find you dead in
: the morning. Then she heard sounds
e of a struggle and was scared and hid
E her head under the bedclothes.
=. "When her parents came home she
told them what she had heard, and
they went out with lantern to the
!. place from which the noise came They
I found parts of Henry's clothing The
> next day Richard was found, ten miles
away, still drunk He confessed that
he had killed his brother in a drunken
/ rage.
"Afterward he said that he hadn't
! but he admitted that there had been q
quarrel. 1t was a most celebrated
trial. Richard was convicted though
the state could not produce any in.
:, dubitable physical evidence of Henry's
death. The contention over this evi.
dence made the case noted.
"Richard Dobson is iIi. the peniten
: tiary at Alwick now. Ilenry's ghost
l. is what is supposed to come back to
2 the pool"
The wind howled outside, and the
I. fire burned cheerfuly AS romanti,
+ cist felt rebellous The ghost story
lacked antiquity. A good ghost story
r would not have any human element in
|. 1t prisoner in nearby penitentiary
1t was too common SAVIOR of the pres
y ent
I But Stevenson would have likeu the
story" said Mr.. Sidney at has So
y much hate in it. Probably 1t is be.
] cause | live here where this tale of
. hate has its scene that | enjoy The
j Master of Ballantrae' so much"
Y CHAPTER VI.