The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-12-17

said the old man; sit matters not to me,
so you'll heed my warning"
.'Suppose wedon't choose to heed it, !"
said Brinley, ''what do you propose to
do about it?''
'.Nothiug," said the old man. and
his voice was more in sorrow than in
anger.
Brinley was prepared for threats. and
would have answered them with deli
ance, but to this unexpected reply he
did not know what to say.
lis Lamar a friend of yours?" said
Tubbs.
II have never yet spoken to him."
said Billings.
':Then why do you take somuch pains
to save him from harmr'
81 do it for your sakes as much as
his"
"He's trying to frighten us!'' cried
Brinley. He thinks Lamar will de-
fend himself-has warned him, per-
haps?
81 have not warned him." said the
old man, simply. whether he defends
himself will depend on whether you
catch him sleeping or waking. As to
frightening you. why, four against one
is pretty good Odds"
Brinley felt himself color at these
words, and Fred Loring cried. "That's
true. anyhow''
$50 it isr' $50 it is!' said Tubbs
and Ross.
"Now. boys, take the advice of a
friend; 90 home and 60 to bed, and to-
M pInphk tr>u nd
sadly. "What say your
81 am ready to agree to both propo-
sitions," said Fred. "What doyOusay.
Brinley?"
"Any way the game is up for to-
night" replied he, ''and we may as
well dispense. We can't do anything
now"
The next day, as Billings was walk
ing homeward through the woods. a
hand was laid upon his shoulder, and
the dark but expressive face of the new
student appeared beside him.
.'Do YOU know what you saved me
from last night?" asked he, abruptly.
''From nothing worse than being the
subject of some boyish trick, most like
ly."
cit is more likely you saved me from
being a murderer" said Lamar. Feel
my arm, SIR"
"It's like iron," said the old man,
surprised.
There's good muscle for a lad of
seventeen" said Lamar. "rve been
cultivating it since l was eight years
old. heard of the visit intended for
me last night. No matter how heard
1.-THE same way that you did, perhaps
but l knew the fellows were coming,
and l prepared to give them warm re-
ception. l did not rely on my muscle
alone, either. had my revolver, and l
know how to use it. From eleven till
two lay awake and watched, and the
first one that laid hand on me would
have had a bullet in him; not in vital
part if could have helped it; but one
can't always be particular on such occa-
sions. They did not come, and to-day
l have heard the reason why. I thank
you"
"And I thank God!" said Old Bill
ings, reverently. Il hope it will atone
in part-but no, we can't atone"
Lamar looked at HIM curiously. for
the words sounded to him like the va.
carries of a fanatic, if not lunatic; but
the gaze which met his own was calm
and steady, though sad.
"They are coming to see me tonight
those boys-will you Gomez"
"Not to-night-not with them," said
Lamar, "but l will come some time,
and soon. Good-by."
"a smouldering volcano" said the
old man, as he watched the vigorous
form crashing through the underbrush.
$50 here's where the old fellow lives.
like woodchuck in his ho:e," said
Fred Loring, as, after a long tramp
through the woods, he and his COM
paniOns just at dusk came upon a hut
with little clearing about it.
land there he sits at the door,
smoking his evening pipe" said Brin-
ley:
welcome, thrice welcome, my
young friends" said the hermit, when
he saw the boys coming up the WELL
worn foot-path. "Shall we go within,
or shall we sit here under the light of
the stars?"
"Out here, by all means,'' said one,
to which all agreed.
"Be seated, them" said their host,
with hospita5le wave of his hand to-
ward the rocks and stumps which sur
rounded his dwelling. And seated thus.
they listened to the story.
"Boys. wasn't always old Billings.
l was once as young and gay as you
are, and if you'll believe it, l was called
good-looking, too. Twas an only son,
and had all the advantages that wealth
and position could furnish.
Il didn't know how to prize them,
though. l just took them as matter
of course. Boys are apt to, you know
or, if you don't know it now you will
by-and-by.