The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-01

winch Richard dad NOT understand, and
then the group quietly dispersed and the
men went slowly to work. Green waited
q few minutes, and then turning his
horse he started to ride slowly away.
The ethers were at work quietly, and
Green, as be went his round, saw no
reason to apprehend further trouble, and
although the men looked at him sullenly
he reported when he arrived at home
that all was going smoothly. For sew
eral days his experience was similar, and
on every day when he first arrived at the
field he found group around this man
whom he came to believe WAS the one
who made all the trouble. When he ap-
preached this man now, he spoke sharply
to him and babe him peremptorily to
keep at work. The man always obeyed,
but suilenly. At last one day when he
mad spoken even mora sharply than
usual he turned to ride away, but before
he had gone more than a few feet stone
or heavy clod of earth struck his horse
and made him for the moment unman-
ageable. Richard hastily shook the stir
rups free, and while he endeavored to
regain his control of the frightened ami
NAL with one hand, with the other he
sought his pistol; but then he was him
self struck by another stone and he fell
heavily to the ground.
As he fell his wrist slipped through
the reins but his right hand, with its
fingers already touching the handle of
his pistol, was under him. Before he
could extricate it the men were upon
him. They aimed vicious blows at him
with their knives. but Green was quick
and active and he fenced cleverly with
his feet. His feet and legs were badly
wounded, but he prevented them from
striking him in any vital part. He
realized his danger and knew that the
unequal contest must soon end, and he
felt that it could end in only one way;
but hews determined to fight as long
and as zealously as he could. If only he
could get his right arm freel If only he
could get his pistol
His shoes were badly cut; his trousers
were in ribbons. One of the scoundrels,
bolder than the rest, had cut great
cash in his upper leg. Weak already
from loss of blood and fatigue, he was
almost in despair, but then his horse,
which had stood restless, started. But
before he broke quite away Richard,
holding fast to the reins, was half lifted,
half pulled, upon his knees. Then the
man whom Green held most responsible
for all the trouble rushed at him with a
muttered imprecation. bnt his pistol
hand was now free. Raising his weapon
quickly he fired The man fell quiver-
ing. and as Green again cooked the pistol
the others hastily retreated. Green stag
gered to his feet and then fell uncon-
scious.
Hackett had resented Green's express
ed wish that he should not accompany
him. and day by day he followed him at
a distance, ready to offer assistance when
it should be needed. AS Richards fears
were iessened, as time went on. and no
threatening demonstration was made
Hackett's fear grew greater, for he be-
iieved that they were waiting only a
more convenient time. Now. luckily
he reached the field in time to hear
Richards pistol shot. and to see his
horse run wildly away. Hackett tried
to hurry on, but the field was much
broken and his progress was slow. For
tunately, the horse knew Hackett. and
as he approached, now walking, he per-
mitted himself to be easily caught
Haciett mounted him quickly and rode
on toward Green. He reached him just
in time, for although the men who had
attacked him. now thoroughly cowed,
were all at work, the other laborers had
heard the shot. too, and they had run
from all quarters Of the field to where
the trouble was. Finding there the
dead body of their conrade, they
might have done Green harm; but as
Hackett dismounted, and, kneeling by
the fallen man took from his hand the
revolver, they fell back also, and Hack
ett, unmolested, lifted Green's limp and
bleeding body upon the horse and started
homeward.