The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-21

it was nip and tuck between us, back there in the Ganados. three years ago. I took the grub and water, ana ne stole the mine. was all the better so. He'd never have given me his daugh- ter, anyhow. He got away with it for three years; and then the best man won.
 'tHo, Ina. Havens," said Sinsmith, raising his voice and turning to me again; "do you notice it's always man with brains and set mind that has his way in this world. More hard thought to get the best of it, but he wasn't knee high in a fight with me. And the reason why I did for him in the woods that day wasn't only because of the jack mine. either. It. was because he'd thrown away h.s daughter on a thing like you. Why, you ain't worth that girl Ravens. Whatever made you think so? That sweet little wife of yours-well, she's going to be mine And I'll tell you how it'll come about"
 He began to tramp the clearing as if he was growing nervous. He wanted to madden me so I'd have to talk, but it wouldn't work.
 "I guess I was a sight that day you cracked me with your whip, but my face wasn't to that ed-streaked
 
 live damn you! I got a little bop gun in my here. and in a few minutes I'll send a slug of lead whistling through your thick nut.
 Back in Rioville they knew there's a man living in the mountains here who went crazy hunting jack in the Ganado flats. When I've shot you, I'll put this pop-gun in your hand. They'll say. He killed him self, poor devil, because he was blind.'
 .sThen I'll show in Missouri, Ha- vens. I'll get Emma Morehard for mine. I know how to win women. I've always had my way with them. And I'm a better man than you, you poor, country lout-better bred, bet ter looking, and better brains. You won't talk eh? We'll, die dumb, then.''
 He stopped speaking. There was silence for 8 full minute, thece on the clearing. Then Sinsmith screa med. His revolver cracked and dropped to the floor of the plateau. I'd jumped at him, and smashed his gun-hand. In my mad pent-up rage must have broken his wrist He hadn't expected anything like that from me, helpless, sigh htless man. i Then. for some reason, Sinsrnith | got a sudden scare. He lodged across the clearing and tried to reach the trees. I was too quick. Besides, ] | was country bred, with hard muscles and he'd gone soft through drink and | his shiftless life. In a second I had him lying on the plateau, bent double with twisted leg. He shrieked, but l not from pain. Twas fright. "He can see!" he cried. "He can see:''
 I picked up his gun and drew my Mauser, and there I had him where I'd been wanting to get him iioated like a beast, because thai minute was filled with killing lust
 He groveled there, and wheneve, he looked up at me, the sight of me | made him scream. Don't kill me 'Havens!" he cried. "I'lI split the mine with you. I'll take you there. I couldn't speak. All I could do was to pant and laugh.
 'I'l1 give you the mine," yelled Sin. smith. Let me live"
 He was barring his whole coward heart now,
 He rose half way to plead again My death won't do you any good, he moaned.
 rifle-shot cracked out from be hind the trees, and Sinsmith's heat struck the ground, his death rattl, sounding.
 l gave roar of rage, for somebod, had robbed me of my sweet revenge
 And instead of feeling grateful ther that God had willed I shouldn't d, nurder-as I'--- felt so often stnc. I-I ran into the woods, firing as went, cursfng the man who'd sen that shot
 But the woods were empty of Iu man life. I went back to the clearin. at last, ana Sinsmith was stone dead | When Hosey returned, V: found u there together. me sitting looking a the dead man. We buS.Sd him il the woods and in an unmarked grave,
 Yes. it had come on me just Ik aN1ttle streak of dawn.
 That was the great discovery I spok or And then there was a line O light, and I realized that God wa giving back my sight. It came slow ly, day by day. Just now it wasn' by any means restored but I coul, see, as Sinsmith said.
 Even now, as I'm writing I get blur and shooting pain. but Tn freed from the curse of blindness When I went back, great doctor looked at me, and they used big sounding words But it vas. be iieve. paralysis of the Q. E nerve caused by the shock of ' asssmith' shot-1ust temporary. Ttkt tell m many hundreds of men the b1 war were blinded by shell :s@aock 1fk that, and also their sight e.-adualI came back to them.
 Now I was in big fuss. S.cause wanted to hurry quick to III: Scar one at home. and yet. should !: go ther empty handed, with my fae.s SO badl scared, and nothing to shss. for it For couldn't get that crsx.i devil words out of my head: '-sou wen north instead of south" aad an other copy of Morehards ezart witt me in my pack. and I maeS the ex pertinent of which sinszs.th ha, spoken.
 slipped the reverse end SS the pa per chart under the grouns glass o : the photograph, and there, su.s. enougl the map showed south tA Lizar !, Lake And you may be. su.o, bad a my eyes still were, I was crszy to g out again hunting for the lzsk mine deadly as it's curse had hea.> as m a