The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-29

OF his wile'G bedroom. In the pOsslDlllt.
of a fatal Termination to his wound, an,
in obedience TO Il grim frontier tradition
he had also refused to have his boots ~
moved in order that he might die will
them on, us become his ancestral Gus
tom. Johnny was therefore speedil!
made comfortable in the Mckinstry bee
while Doctor Duchesne gave his Who'll,
attention to his more serious patient
The master glanced hurriedly around fol
Mrs. McKinstry. She was not only alb
sent from the room, but there seemed tc
be no suggestion Of her presence in the
house. To his greater surprise the
hurried inquiry that rose to his lips was
checked bv a significant warning from
the attendant. He sat down besi'ie the
now sleeping boy, and waited the doctors
return with his mind wandering between
the condition OF the little sufferer aud
the singular revelation that Ind mo-
mentarily escaped his childish lips. II
Johnny had actually seen Seth fire at
McKinstry, the latter's mysterious
wound was accounted ior-but not Seth's
motive. The act was so utterly incom'
prehensible and inconsistent with Seth's
avowed hatred OF the master thar the boy
must have been delirous.
He was reused by the entrance OF the
surgeon. "It's not so bad as thought"
he said, with reassuring nod. 1T was
Il mighty close shave between Il shattered
bone and a severed artery. but we've
got the hall, and he'll pull through in Il
week. By Jove! though-the old fire.
eater was more concerned about finding
tue ball than living or dying! Go in
thcre--he wants to see you. Don't let
him talk too much, He's called in Il lot
of his friends for some reason or other
and there's regular mass meeting in
there. Go in, and get rid OF 'em. I'll
look after baby Eilgee-though the little
chap will be all right again after another
dressing"
The master cast Il hurried look OF relief
at the surgeon, and re.enteFed the front
room, II was filled with men whom the
master instinCtively recognised rs his
former advcrsaries. But they gave way
before him with ~ certain rude respect
and half abashed sympathy as Mckinstry
called him TO his side. The wounded
man graspcd his hand. "Lift me up a
bit" ne whispered. The master assisted
him with difficulty to his elbow.
"Gentlemenw said McKinstry with a
characteristic wave OF his crippled hand
towards the crowd us he laid the other
on the masters shoulder. "Ye heerd me
talkin' mint ago; ye heer me now.
This yer young man as we've slipped up
on and meskalkilated has told the truth
every time! Ye ken tie to him when
ever aud wherever yewant to. We amt
expected to feel cz feel, in course, but
the man eZ goes back on him-quo lis
with me. Tha $ all-and thanks iRQuir-
ing friends. Yen git now, boys, aud
leave him mint with me"
The men filed slowly out, a few linger-
ing long enough to shake the masters
hand with grave Carncstncss, or half
smiling, halt-Nbashed embarrassment,
The master received the proIicred re-
Cancellation OF these men, who buta few
hours before would have lynChed him
with equal sincerity, with cold bewIlder-
ment. AS the door closed OH the last OF
the party he turned to Mcltinstry. The
wounded man bad sank down again, but
was regarding with drowsy satisfaction
n leaden bullet he was holding between
his finger and thumb
"This yer shot, Mr.. Ford" he said in
slow voice, whose weakness was only
indicated by its extreme delibcration
'ncver KEN from the gun gave yc-
and was never fired by you" lie paused
and then added with his old duh all
slraction, "lt's long time since I've
run agin anythin' that makes me feel
more-kam."
In Mr.. M1cKinstry's weak condition
the master did not dare to make John
nys revelation known to him, and con-
tented himself by simply pressing his
hand, but the next moment the wound
ed man resumed
THAT ball jests fits Seth's navy rcvol-
ver-and the hound hes made tracks
outer the country"
"But what motive could he have in
attacking you at such time" asked the
master.
"EIe reckoned that either I'd kill you
and so he'd get shut oil us both in that
way, without it being noticed; or ii |
missed you, the Others would hang you
-ez they kalkiated tO-for killing me!
The idea KEN to him when he over
heard you hintin' you wouldn't return
my fire"
a shuddering conviction that Me-
Kinstry had OWNED the real truth
passed over the master. In the i'm
pulse OF the moment he again would
have corroborated it by revealing John
ny's story, but Il glance at the growing
icverishness OF the wounded man
checked his n:teranre. Don't talk OF
il now" he said hurriedly. Enough
Tor me to know that you acQuit me. |
am here now only to beg you to CONF
pose yourself until tho doctor comes
back-as you seemed to be alone, and
Mrs. MCKinstry-" he stopped in
awkward embarrassment,
\ singular confusion oYerspread the
invald's face. "She he'd steppt out aiore
this happened, OWN to contrary opin-
ions betwixt me and her Ye mont hey
noticed, Mr.. Ford, that ginrally she
didn't pear to cotton to ye! Thar ANITA
woman Il goin' ez is the Gkal OF BIain
Rawlin's dartcr in nussin' man and
keeping him in tightin order, hut in
matters like things that Consarn herself
and Crpss, begin to think, Mr.. Ford,
that somehow, she amt exakly-kam!
'Bein' kan yourself, yell put any un-
pleasantness, down to that. Woteveryou
hear from her, and for the matter OF that
from her own darter too--ior I'm takin
back the foolishness l said to ye overyon
about yourrunnin' ofwith Cress-yOull
remember, Mr.. Ford, it warn't for no i'll
feeling to you, in her or Cress-but only
a want OF kan! l mout hev my idees
about Crcss, you mout hev had yours,
and that fool Dadney mout hey had hiss
but it warn't the old woman's-nor
Cressys-it warn't Rlaiu Rawlin's dar'
ter's idea -noryet her darter's !! And why?
For want o. kan! Times1 reckon it was
left out o womnn's mater. And bein'
kan yourself, you understand it, and
take it all in"
The old look OF drowsy pain had set
tied SO strongly in his red eyes again
that the master was iain to put his hand
gently over them, and with faint smile
beg him to compose himself to sleep.
This he finally did after u whispered
suggestion that he himself was feeling
"more KAN" The master sat for some
-, 80, ~, ,,;kb ktu hnuJ ,,Dny, thu slnan.