The Parenticide Club | Page 5

Uncle William even threatened to retaliate by starting an opposition
dance house at Ghost Rock. As 'The Saints' Rest' had become rather
unpopular, I saw that this would assuredly ruin it and prove a paying
enterprise, so I told my uncle that I was willing to overlook the past if

he would take me into the scheme and keep the partnership a secret
from my father. This fair offer he rejected, and I then perceived that it
would be better and more satisfactory if he were dead.
"My plans to that end were soon perfected, and communicating them to
my dear parents I had the gratification of receiving their approval. My
father said he was proud of me, and my mother promised that although
her religion forbade her to assist in taking human life I should have the
advantage of her prayers for my success. As a preliminary measure
looking to my security in case of detection I made an application for
membership in that powerful order, the Knights of Murder, and in due
course was received as a member of the Ghost Rock commandery. On
the day that my probation ended I was for the first time permitted to
inspect the records of the order and learn who belonged to it--all the
rites of initiation having been conducted in masks. Fancy my delight
when, in looking over the roll of membership, I found the third name to
be that of my uncle, who indeed was junior vice-chancellor of the order!
Here was an opportunity exceeding my wildest dreams--to murder I
could add insubordination and treachery. It was what my good mother
would have called 'a special Providence.'
"At about this time something occurred which caused my cup of joy,
already full, to overflow on all sides, a circular cataract of bliss. Three
men, strangers in that locality, were arrested for the stage robbery in
which I had lost my money and watch. They were brought to trial and,
despite my efforts to clear them and fasten the guilt upon three of the
most respectable and worthy citizens of Ghost Rock, convicted on the
clearest proof. The murder would now be as wanton and reasonless as I
could wish.
"One morning I shouldered my Winchester rifle, and going over to my
uncle's house, near Nigger Head, asked my Aunt Mary, his wife, if he
were at home, adding that I had come to kill him. My aunt replied with
her peculiar smile that so many gentlemen called on that errand and
were afterward carried away without having performed it that I must
excuse her for doubting my good faith in the matter. She said I did not
look as if I would kill anybody, so, as a proof of good faith I leveled
my rifle and wounded a Chinaman who happened to be passing the
house. She said she knew whole families that could do a thing of that
kind, but Bill Ridley was a horse of another color. She said, however,

that I would find him over on the other side of the creek in the sheep lot;
and she added that she hoped the best man would win.
"My Aunt Mary was one of the most fair-minded women that I have
ever met.
"I found my uncle down on his knees engaged in skinning a sheep.
Seeing that he had neither gun nor pistol handy I had not the heart to
shoot him, so I approached him, greeted him pleasantly and struck him
a powerful blow on the head with the butt of my rifle. I have a very
good delivery and Uncle William lay down on his side, then rolled over
on his back, spread out his fingers and shivered. Before he could
recover the use of his limbs I seized the knife that he had been using
and cut his hamstrings. You know, doubtless, that when you sever the
tendo Achillis the patient has no further use of his leg; it is just the
same as if he had no leg. Well, I parted them both, and when he revived
he was at my service. As soon as he comprehended the situation, he
said:
"'Samuel, you have got the drop on me and can afford to be generous. I
have only one thing to ask of you, and that is that you carry me to the
house and finish me in the bosom of my family.'
"I told him I thought that a pretty reasonable request and I would do so
if he would let me put him into a wheat sack; he would be easier to
carry that way and if we were seen by the neighbors en route it would
cause less remark. He agreed to that, and going to the barn I got a sack.