The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-07
MRS. ANNIE GREEN.
CHAPTER XIV.


 became so excited in my wild desire for revenge that I cnuld scarcely walk. More than once attempted to level the gun at Brown, but each time the weapon shook and swayed like dry weed held out against the wind. hurried forward. Brown was standing under a spreading tree, near fence. heard the sounds of laughter, and then saw that Brown was not alone. Five or six men were seated under the tree. could see that they were all hunters. Browns face was turned from me as approached. He was relating a story.
 "Who is that2" heard one of the men ask.
 Brown looked around and exclaimed {:
 "Great Lord He is a madmanl"
 Every man sprang to his feet. l en- deavored to pay no attention to the re- mark, and as quietly as possible, said :: "Col. Brown, you know that am not madman but that have suffered enough at your instance to drive anyone crazy have come, sir, to make demand of you. You must fight. do not want to shoot you down without giving you chance, but l shall force you to defend yourself"
 lust wait a minute" Brown replied without the least exhibition of fear. "Gen- tlemen," he continued, "l am compelled to make rather humiliatiug confession. This poor fellow is my brother Louis"
 It's lie 1" exclaimed.
 Wait until make my statement and then you can make yours. Yes, this is my poor brother Louis. His mind be- came so much affected some time ago that we were compelled to send him to madhouse. He escaped, and hoping that he was dead, we told our friends that he had died. Heimagines that he is Barker, the author, and fancies that have done him some great wrong. He"
 could stand no more. threw up the gun, and while blindly endeavoring to shoot the scoundrel-who kept dodging around the tree, was seized by two of the men and thrown upon the ground.
 Let us tie him." said Brown. "Wil- son, you've got small rope in your game bag. Bring it here. An, that's just the thing. Put your knee on his breast, Thompson. In case like this the exercise of strength, though it may seem like violence, is an actual kindness. Oh, Louis, why do wish to kill the brother who has always loved you~
 raved-I could do nothing else. The men, with pity in their eyes, looked upon me. One of them dipped his handker chief into little stream which flowed near us, folded it and gently placed it on my brow.
 Brown, what are you going to do with him 2" asked the man who had been ad. dressed as Wilson.
 "I hardly know," Brown replied with an assumed air of perplexity. "I hope that you gentlemen will never mention this affair. It is deeply humiliating to me, assure you. do not want to take him back to the mad-house from which he escaped. wish l could find some private place where he could be secured without additional humiliation. Here comes that old fellow who owns the ho- tel"
 "Come here, MT. Gladwell," cried
 "What in the world is the matter 1" the old man asked as he came up and stood near me. l tried to explain, but Brown glibly told his story. Great God saw that the cid man believed him.
 "Well, well,' said he, sadly shaking his head, "l wish 1 may never stir az in if didn't think there was something queer about him. asked my nephew, the doctor, about him and he said that he want so vety we'll acquainted with him. Said that he had treated him in a hospital-"
 "Yes," Brown broke in, "that was when he began to lose his mind. He is awful now."
 Pore feller," said the old man.
 sMr. Caldwell" cried, for heavens sake listen to me"
 attempted to tell my story but failed ineloriOusly. The old man stood, sadly shAking his head and wishing that he