STABBED "NOT MURDERED."
"Well," Darke continued, "I have told you my design, and now I will
inform you how I carried it out.
"I saw Mr. George Conway receive the money--in notes, bank notes, and
gold. That was enough; I knew the road he would take; and going to the
stable of the tavern I saddled my horse, and rode out of the place in a
western direction. When I was out of sight, however, I turned eastward
toward Five Forks, pushed into the woods, and about sunset took my
stand in a piece of timber, on the side of the road which--he--was
coming by."
There was always a marked hesitation when he came to the name of his
victim. He went on more rapidly now.
"Well, he came along about dusk. Some one followed him, but I could not
make out who. Another man came on from the direction of Petersburg;
passed me and _him_; and the other who had followed _him_ out of the
court-house turned into a by-road and disappeared. Then I saw that the
game was in my own hands; I waited, looking at him as he approached me.
I swear I did not intend to harm him. I was half-drunk, but I remember
what I intended. He came on. I rode toward him, demanded the money, he
refused. I threw myself on him, as he struck at me with the butt of his
heavy riding-whip, then we both rolled to the ground, I under! His
clutch was on my throat, I was choking.
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