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Show 204 B.ICHABD HURDIS . pose. [ didn't stop to look; for, just as I spr11w1cil him out, they came from the road behind him, and [ sa,w no mor<'. You didn't tell me tl111.t Bill Carrington was going with him." "i\o; l wasn't certain. I didn't know. But didn't Cnrring· ton come after you, when you shot H.i~hard 1" ·' lrcckon llC was too much frightcnc(l; he jumpC'd down beside the body, and that was nil I stopped lo ~co. 1 made o£1', ancl fetched a compass through t lw woods th:1t Lronght me ont with dry fC'ct into another road . Then 1 kept on without stoppinf!:, and that's all 1 can tell you." "It was straugc Bill Carrington didn't take after you; he's not a man to be frightened easily." "He didn't, though." "But you're not sure, Ben, after all. Perh aps you've only hurt him. You have not ki lled him, I think. It's a hard thing to shoot certain n.t a great distance. You were far off, you say1" "A hundred yards, or so, and that's nothing, being down hill too." "Richard was a tough fe llow." "'['ough or not, I tell you, 'squire, he'll never trouble you ngain! I t's all over with him! 'l'hey've got him under ground before this t ime. I know by the sort of fall he gave that he kuln't any life left. ] [e didn't know what burt him." J ohn Hunlis seemed ron\'inced at last. "And yet to th ink, Ben, that a man so strong ns Ricl1ard should die so sudden! lt was only a week ngo thnt he had his hand on my throat-he lHtll me clown upon the groundhe shook me like a feather. And l1e spoke with a voice that went through me. I was like an infnnt in his hnnds; I felt that he eoulU have torn me in two. And now, you say, he can not lift an arm to help himself!" "No, not to wave ofl' a buzzard from his carr ion!" was the re ply. 'fhe arm of John Hm·dis fe ll on the neck of Pickett's horse at these words, and his eyes, with a vacant stare, were fixed upon the rider. After a brief pause, he tlms proceeded, in a muttered soliloquy , rather than an address to his hearer. :- " I f R ichard would have gone off quietly, and let me alone i if-but what's the use to talk of thnt now 1" Ho pnu,.cd, h'Jt 'l'HI:: ASSASSIN AN D H l :-3 ~;~t i'LO'L'ElL 205 ngn.in began, in similar tones and •~ like spirit: "He was ~oo rash-too tyrannical ! }'\csh and blood could t~ot _bear wtth him, -13cn! He would hm·e mastered all arouna hun 1f he could -trampled upon a\l-sufl'cred no lifo to any - spared no fcelin~ s! He was cruel-cruel to you, and to JOe, and to all i and then to drag me from my horse, and take me, his own. broth~r, Ly the throat! But, it's all over now. lie h as pmd for tt, Ben! I wish he hadn't done it, though ; for then-but, no m:tttcr, this tnlk's all very useless now." Here l1c reco\·ered himself, and in more direct and calmer langungo, tints continued, while gi"i ng h is ngent a. part of the money which he had promised him: - .. Go, now, Pickett-to your own home. Lot us not be seen togeth.::r much. 'l'ake this money - 'tisn' t all I mean to give you. I will bring yon more." 'l'he will ing fellow pockctecl the price of blood , and made his acknowledgments. Thanks, too, were given by the murderer, as if the balance of credit la.y with him who paid in money for the life of his fellow-creature. " 1 will come to you to-uight," continued H nrdis, " I would hear all of this business. I would know more-stay! "\Vhat is that 1 Some one comes- hear you nothing, Den 1" Guilt had macle my wretched brotl1er doubly~~ coward. 'l'he big sweat cnmc out and stood upon l1is forehead, and his eyes wore the irresolute expression of one about to fly. '!'be composure with which his companion looked round, half reassmed him. "No-there's nobody," said the other," a squirrel j umped in the wood perhaps." "\Vell-l'll come to night, Ben - 1'11 meet you at the VVil-lows.'" "Won't you come to the house, 'Squire 1" "No!" was the abrupt re ply, The speaker recollected his late interview with the ster n wife of his colleague, and had no des ire to encounter her again : "No, Ben, I 'll be at the "\Villows." " What time, 'Squire 1" " I can't say, now - but you'll hear my signnl. 'J1hree h oots, and a long bark." " Very good-1 'll he aure." |
