The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-28

1gm<E= g. 90 1Sss1t5
throat-and it turned me sIcIi. The dog-a
mastiT-was fighting now 70 pull loose, and
the pair swayed this way and that in the
dusk, painting and murderous.
[ was almost shouting eloUi-feeling as
though it were my own throat thus gripped-
when the end came The man had his legs
planted we'll apart. | saw his shoulders
heave up and bend as he frightened the press
ure OF his fingers; then came moments dead
silence, then hideous Gurgle, and the mcstiff
dropped back, his hind legs trailing limp.
The bully held him so for q full minute.
peering close TO make sure he was dead, and
then, without loosening MS hold, dragged
him across the grass under my window. By
the sycamore he halted, but only 10 shift his
hands little, and so, swaying on his hips,
send the carcass with Il neave over the val.
heard it drop with thud on tho far side
During this fierce wrestle-waich must
have lasted about two minu5es-the CHATTER
and shouting Of the company above had gone
On without a break: and all this while the
man with the white hair had rested quietly
on ono side. watching. But now he steps Up
10 where the bully stood r2oppiag his face
dor all the cGOlneSs Of the evening", and, with
q finger between the leaves Of his book, bows
very politely.
You handled that dog, sir, choicely well,
SAYS he in thin voice that seemed 10 have q
chuckle hidden in it somewhere.
The other ceased hopping to get q good
Iool, at him.
But sure" he went on, twas hard on
the DOOR cur, that had never heard OF Capt.
Luc!us Higgs''-
thought the bully would have had him by
the windpipe and pitched him after the mas
tiff 50 tiercely he turned at the sound Of this
name But the old gentleman skipped back
quite ninbly and held up finger.
I'm man OF peace. If another title
suits you bctter'-
Where the devil got you that nance
groNled the bully, and had half q mind TO
come on again, but the other put in bIiskiy:
I'm ona plain errand Of business. No need,
as you hint, to mention names; and there
fore let me present myself as MIR. Il. The
residue of the alphabet is at your service to
pick and choose from"
MY name is Luke Settle said the big
man hoarsely (but whether this was his nat
ural voice or no, could not telD.
Let us say Mr.. X prefer il.
The old gentleman as he said this popped
his head on one side, laid the fOrefinger OF his
right hand across tine book, and seemed TO be
considering.
why did you throttle that dog minute
ago:' he asked, sharply.
why, to save my skim, answers the fell
low, bit puzzled.
''Would you have done it for fifty poundSE
GAY, or half that
land how if it had been puppy, Mr.. X!'
Now all this from my hiding l had heard
very clearly, for they stood right under me in
the dusk But as the old gentleman paused
to let his question sink in, and the bully to
catch the drift of it before answering, one Of
the dicers above struck up to sing a catch:
with hey. trolly lolly! leg TO the devil,
And answer him civil, and Off with Your cap;
Sing-Hey. trolly loIly! Good morrow, Sir Evil,
We've finished the tap,
And, saving your worship, We care not rap
While this din continued, the stranger held
up one forefinger again, as II beseeching 81
lence. the other remaining still between the
pages of his book.
Pretty boys" he said, as the noise died
away; pretty boysl It's easily seen they
have bird to pluck"
Hes none of my pluckmg."
''And if he were, why notE Sure you've
picked feather or two before now i'll the
low countries-hey.'
IN tell you what" Interrupts the big
man. ''next time you crack one OF your
deaths head jokes, over the wall you go after
the dog. What's to prevent it,
''Vhy, this" answers the old fellow, cheer
fully. There's money to be made by doing
no such thing. And 1 don't carry it all about
with me. SO, as tits late, we'd best talk bust
ness at once
They moved away towards the seat under
tie sycamore. and now their words reached
me no longer-only the low murmur of their
voices or to be correcD of the elder mans;
for the other only spoke now and then, to
put a question, as it seemed. Presently |
heard an oath raped out, and saw the bully
start up. Hush, man. cried the other, and
''hark We now; so he sat down again. Their
very forms were lost within the shadow. I
myself was cold enough by this time, and
had a cramp in one leg, but lay STILL never
theless. And after while they stood up to-
gether. and came pacing across the bowling
green side by side, the older man trailing his
foot painfully to keep step. You may be
sure l strained my ears.
Besides the pay" the stranger was say
ing. there ) ali you can win Oh this young
fool. Anthony, and ali you find on the pair,
which I'll wager
They passed out of hearing, but turned
soon and came back again. The big man
was speaking this time.
I'm be shot if l know what game you're
playing in this"
The elder chuckled softly. IN be shot if
I mean yea to, said lie.
And this was the last ! heard. For now
there came a Gathering at the door behind
me. and Mr.. Robert Drury reeled in, HE
coughing a niaudiin ballad about lib and
Young Colin one line DAY, beneath the hay
cock shade-a," etc. etc, and cursing TO find
his fire gone our and all in darkness. Liquor
was ever his master. and today the king
health had been a fair excuse. He did not
rnv me. but the roar of his ballad had startled
the TWO men outside. and so, while he was
stumbling over chairs and groping for a tin
der box. slipped ont IN the darkness and
down stairs into t8e streets.
CHAPTER II
THE YOUNG NAN ~ TUE CLOAK OF AMER