Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
"’He’smypard,andyoushallnotbullyhim,’hecried.
"’He’smybrother,andyoushallnotruinhim,’saidI.’Ibelieveaspellofprisonistheverybestwayofkeepingyouapart,andyoushallhaveit,oritwillbenofaultofmine.’
"’Oh,youwouldsqueal,wouldyou?’hecried,andinaninstanthewhippedouthisrevolver.Isprangforhishand,butsawthatIwastoolate,andjumpedaside.Atthesameinstanthefired,andthebulletwhichwouldhavestruckmepassedthroughtheheartofmyunfortunatebrother.
"Hedroppedwithoutagroanuponthefloorofthecompartment,andMacCoyandI,equallyhorrified,kneltateachsideofhim,tryingtobringbacksomesignsoflife.MacCoystillheldtheloadedrevolverinhishand,buthisangeragainstmeandmyresentmenttowardshimhadbothforthemomentbeenswallowedupinthissuddentragedy.Itwashewhofirstrealizedthesituation.Thetrainwasforsomereasongoingveryslowlyatthemoment,andhesawhisopportunityforescape.Inaninstanthehadthedooropen,butIwasasquickashe,andjumpinguponhimthetwoofusfelloffthefootboardandrolledineachother’sarmsdownasteepembankment.AtthebottomIstruckmyheadagainstastone,andIrememberednothingmore.WhenIcametomyselfIwaslyingamongsomelowbushes,notfarfromtherailroadtrack,andsomebodywasbathingmyheadwithawethandkerchief.ItwasSparrowMacCoy.
"’IguessIcouldn’tleaveyou,’saidhe.’Ididn’twanttohavethebloodoftwoofyouonmyhandsinoneday.
