We gripped. He got a holt o' my derringer--you
see that's MY pistol there, I swear it--and turned it agin me in
self-defense, and sarved me right. I swear to God, gentlemen, it's
so!" Catching sight of my face, he looked at me, I fancied half
imploringly and half triumphantly, and added, "I might hev knowed
it! I allers allowed Lacy Bassett was game!--game, gentlemen--and
he was. If it's my last word, I say it--he was game!"
And with this devoted falsehood upon his lips and something of the
old canine instinct in his failing heart, as his head sank back he
seemed to turn it towards Bassett, as if to stretch himself out at
his feet. Then the light failed from his yearning upward glance,
and the curse of foolishness was lifted from him forever.
So conclusive were the facts, that the coroner's jury did not deem
it necessary to detain Mr. Bassett for a single moment after the
inquest. But he returned to Gilead, married Polly Baxter, and
probably on the strength of having "killed his man," was unopposed
on the platform next year, and triumphantly elected to the
legislature!
End of this Project Gutenberg etext of The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh.
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