Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-13

and his nature was such that he could not resist the temptation of slightly Cxulting over his vanquished rival. Paul would have passed on, but Pear son prevented him.
 II did not know you had returned, NIr Markham" Pearson began, land I suppose you have been back but Q short tinc."
 ''I returned last night" Paul replied
 ''Only last night? You have been out to your father's suppose, to-day?"
 II don't know that it is anything par ticularly to you where I have been," Paul answered a little angrily, for he was in no mood to have his affairs meddled with, and especially by one who was little more than a stranger.
 ''Oh, of course not" said Pearson with a light laugh. Though think could guess where you have been were I to try. How are the Greens coming on?''
 The tone in which this question was | asked together with tho leering manner of the speaker implied direct insult, and Paul took it as such. He had, moreover, had an intimation of Pear sons visits to Greens, and he now as sociatcd him in some way with Louise's conduct and felt inclined to hold him responsible for it. H9 was sensitive, and it required but little to raise his temper, and it was not strange under tho circumstances that Pearson's words stung him, and that he should reply sharply.
 If tho Greens arc anything to you," said he, "and you arc anxious to know how they arc coming on, suppose you have the privilege of going there to find out for yourself"
 Thanks" replied Pearson, q shall do as you suggest, and hope, in fact thiqh my reception there will be differ cnt from yours."
 The next instant Paul had lost all sclf-control, and with all his strength put into his arm he gave Pearson such a stroke with his fist that it sent him roll ing to the ground limp and apparently lifeless.
 Paul did not wait to see what had been the extent of the damage of his stroke, but galloped on, leaving Pear son to the care of q couple of men who at that moment drove up in a wagon.
 ''Is he dead?" asked one of the men as the other bent over the listless body.
 1T think not" said the other, ''but he got terrible lick, sure, and it will take him few days to get over it. We had better get him back to town if we can, as there is no place near here to leave him."
 Guess we had," replied the first, "but 1 wonder who that man is that hit him. I saw him stril1c." I ''So did I. But whoever he is, you may bet don't want him to strike me. My! but that was an awful lick, and I'd about as soon be struck by lightning as that mans arm"
 "Wonder what it was about, any how?''
 ''I don't know, and I guess it don't r concern us what it was about. Let's o get this chap in the wagon and haul him to town. He needs some sort of at tcntion."
 2 They raised Pearson up to put him in the wagon, and he opened his eyes and - looked about him.
 "Whcre am I, and what has hap pcncd?" he asked in weak voice. 'You'rc right here," said one of the '' men, land it looks as though that char who hit you come nigh taking you - head off. He gave you terribly black eye, sure."
 Slowly Pearson began to recall wha' | had happened to him, and he grew an 10 gry and tried to spring up. But he # found that he had sustained a greater
 injury than he had thought. One of hi
 limbs had caught under him when ht
 fell and had been thrown out of posi- tion. With a cry of pain he sank bacl - to the ground.
 0 Curse Paul Markham" he muttered 'TIc has put me in a nice pickle, ant
 hid mo up for week, perhaps, wheI
 there is not day to 1ose."
 The men got him in the wagon, anC
 within an hour left hhn in bed ln hi
 room at Magic City.