The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-25

face resumed once more the haggard look
of despair and hate ne had cast on Der
rick when he had faced him that night
in the woods. The music, still low, De-
came wilder, eerier, and full OF despair.
Quicker he PLAYED, and quicker, though n
stinctiveiy he kept the tone too 10" 20
awaken the sleepers. He began 20 reInel2,
Der IL al again. His faithful vlolin "olI1
not let him forget. Derrick had r0Obeu
him. Derrick had stolen his pet, ms
pride, his wife of long ago. Derrick nad
set him wandering through the towns ana
over the prairies ali these years and Der
rick had cast ner adrItt. perhaps 70 90 Lhe
same. He remem bered il all again. ne
violin told him. The violin could not lie
10 him.
Quicker vet, and wilder and eerier yet,
the low music sounded through the room
and passed out into the night and among
the trees, and over the grasses, mlngllng
with the wind, and lending another
moUrnful sound TO the many or the Sigh
ing plains.
Tie mans face twitched and his eyes
flashed The lean. bony fingers clutched
the neck OF the violin and he Rugged II de-
llrious TO him. He could not Eght-he
was TOO weak, too nervous now. once ne
could. when they had been partners. once
when Katie might have looked on and
been proud Of his strength and skill, OUT
not now Derrick had handled him ike
baby. But there was nothing now TO live
for-he would die soon. He felt that. Die
and leave his false partne--the man who
had ruined ana cast adrift his wife. leave
him happy and contented, loving and
loved!
The music ended with loud, discordant
jangle. The man leaped 10 his feet and
cast the violin behind HIM Oh the bed.
Inside the house Derrick tossed uneasily
on mis- cot and cursed IN his sleep. The
man slipped through the darkness as If
he could see, and out into the rude hall
way. On either side the walls were hung
with the mems equipments-Carbines,
shOtguns, pistols, saddle-oags. hunting
knives.
Without a sound the man glided along
the passage, and reached his hand up on
the wall and took from It's sheath a Keen
pointed, keen-edged knife, then turned
again and halted beside the door Of the
common sleeping-rOom.
Near the open window, in his rude cot.
half covered by the rough blue blankets he
had tossed from him in his sleep, lay the
young lad Hermann. His hand was be-
meath his cheek, on the straw-aiied pillow
case. His unkempt hair curied on his
brow and mingled with MS long eyela>hes.
HIS lips were parted in a smile, although
there were stains of tears on his face. He
Dreathed hardly perCepribly, dreaming Of
q wonderful future of knowledge and fame
and fortune. all TO be shared with Derrick
and his cowboy friends In berths. one
above the other against the opposite wall,
h and Big jim ana others slept the sound.
undreaming sleep of the hard-wOrked
plainsman. By himself, in cot apart
from the Others, lay Derrick. His face
was flushed; his breathing was heavy; he
muttered and clinched his hands IN his
sleep.
The man stepped softly TO his bed and
heDr 0var him nd n
ings. Derrick moaned.
But 1t was not OF him the ranchman
nuttered and talked incoherently. The
man leaned over and listened with nag
gard face; the knife was raised in his
hand.
Don't forget Us, kid" Derrick muir
INJURED. We'll be proud OF you-aII of
Us"
The man turned his eyes where the boy
lay smiling in the moonlight and looked
At him lnquisitively. When he turned TO
Derrick's bed again there was triumph
ant smile, satisfied grin, on his distorted
face. lie moved away and stood over the
boy, looking from him 70 Derrick
and back again with horrible satisfaction.
The wind rose among the trees and walled
drearily, but he did not hear that; he
heard only the wild promptings OF the
song the violin had sung to him-and the
words he had that night said TO Derrick
SO0AAASNA III MS NGIcs anu set themselves
monotonously 10 the music
III make you feel what it is 10 lose the
only thing that you love-the only thing
that you love"
He stood over the boy now. Again the
knife was raised. The lads chest was
barred 10 the moonbeams, gIancing through
the open window. The breeze moved his
curls gently. His dreams were pleasant,
for be smiled still. and his lips moved and
halt opened as if 10 laugh.