The inquest was over. Donald Morrison was found guilty of having slain Warren. He walked abroad openly. No one attempted to interfere with him. After the natural horror at the deed had subsided, sympathy went out to Donald. He had slain a man. True. But it was in self-defence. Had not Warren been seen pointing the pistol at him? Even admitting that Warren had no intention to shoot, but only intended to intimidate Donald, how could the latter know that? Donald had killed a man in the assertion of the first law of nature—self-preservation.
The people deplored the act. But they did not feel justified in handing Donald over to justice.
The news of the terrible tragedy spread. The papers got hold of the story, and made the most of it.
CHAPTER XXI. THE BLOW FALLS.
"Father, father, what is the matter? What ails you?"
Mr. Minton had taken up the paper after breakfast. He had glanced carelessly down the columns.
The editorials were dull, and the news meagre. Suddenly, he came across
a large heading—"DREADFUL TRAGEDY!"
He read a few lines, and then uttered a cry of horror. He threw down the
paper, and looked at Minnie. It was a look of anguish.
Minnie reached forward for the paper. Her eye caught the fatal head line. By its suggestion of horror it provoked that hunger for details which, in its acute stage, becomes pruriency.
This is what the eye, with a constantly augmenting expression of fearfulness, conveyed to the brain:—