Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29
CHAPTER *.
GEORGE AND THE DRAGON tMoDERN
VERSION.

uStu buc IId6OA 40 - w.
club, Joe Killey used it as place TO get
| drunk in. He was at the bar the whole
time that George was in the bar parlor,
| but being short OF cash-the Scadden
cows come Of healthy stock, and neeu
but little physic-he was much more
sober than usual. As he stood near the
door. everything that was said In tue
next room reached his ears. Indeed
George spoke so loudly In his excitement
that his voice could have been heard
across the market place. When he lett
kiley sloUched out after him and walked
steaithlly behind, followed the lad all
the way home.
In spite OF his caution, however, he
was so absorbed in watching George
that be had only just time TO to get out
of the way Of Ben Fayle; he lodged
into a gateway, and there waited. The
converse tion between the two ne could
not hear, he was too far away. II was,
therefore, surprise TO him to see them
going in the direction OF the glen. Gu
rlous about their movements, he foi-
lowed them up the steep path, and De-
| lieved his presence to be unknown TO
them, when, OF a sudden, he heard a
crash among the bracken in front, and
saw Ben Fayle standing with upllfted
fist before him.
"You thought didn't see you, did
you?" shouted Ben. This is your
! work, is It? Take that then, you scoun-
drel! And he dashed his fist into Killey's
/ face.
Killey staggered back, taken co m
pletely by surprise. But he soon re-
covered himself, aud, with his great
arms swinging like the sails OF a wind
mill, rushed at the young fisherman as
though he would crush him to powder.
Ben had no notion Of pugilism; he jdst
stood his ground and bit out with all
| his might. Like bulls they fought,
hurting their massive bodies against one
| another, Leither for time having much
advantage. At the shock of the collis-
/ ion quaint figures crept cautiously out
| OF a cottage here and there among the
heather, and when they saw how mat
ters stood, shouted Justify to Ben.
With them came George Vane, suddenly
sobered, yet fearful about consequences.
at was not his doing, Ben" he said.
But Ben had gripped the big, loose
lin ped cOw-doctor round the waist, and
would not let him go. For few NOM
ents they stood swaying to and fro, legs
locked in legs, killev's body so bent
that 10 seemed as If his back must break,
Then, with q mighty effort, Ben flung
him right away, and Killey fell with a
heavy thud among the bracken behind.
swell done, lad, we'll done" cried the
men around.
But Ben only wiped the blood from
his face.
Killey, at first stunned by the fall,
showed no disposition to resume the
contest afterwards. He rose sullenly
and said:
"I'll have the law on you, Ben Fayle. "
"Aye, go to your friends, the police"
said Ben, maybe you'll find them OF
more use to you than your fists"
"You may laugh at them now" said
Killey, "you won't soon though, I'll
warrant"
The bystanders looked significantly
az one another.
"What will we do with him, lads?"
asked one.
"Heave him in the tide" answered
another.
Two or three made a move towards
| KiIley. But George iuterposed.
"Ben has thraShed him." he said.
"ISn't that enough?"
After his threat the men were reluc-
tant to let him off so easily. But while
they talked he kept edging farther
and farther away, and when at
length he turned commenced to re-
treat in earnest, nobody attempted to
| stop him. They cOntented themselves
with shouting opprobrious epithets
after him.
It turned out that Ben Fayle had
| been under some Misrepresentation. He
/ had, after all, noticed Killey hiding
near the Vanes' new home, and
having previously seen him IN the mar
| ket.place, had supposed him TO have
! been the cause of Georges condition.
at would have been just like him."
| declared Ben. There's been some
talk about you, Mr.. George, and that
poor young gentleman who was killed
/ Its not nice thing to speak about"
! added be, seeing George winch, land
wouldn't do it only l know it's all fool
ishness and worse But there is . big
lump of money offered by Captain Will
mott for inform alton, and one or two
wastrels, Joe Killey, among them, are
hungering after it. II anyone had
given you drink to make you open
YOUR mouth too wide, he's the man TO
have done it. when l found him fol-
lowing us up here, felt sure | was
right. That's why l went for him."
And now" said George, hell 90
about telling people l got you to try
and murder him"
Ben pulled a very long face.
"Bv thunder. Mr.. George, you're
right" he exclaimed. ITS the very
thing he will do. What . fool Eve
made of myself One does things on
the moment and never thinks OF the
mischief to follow. What'll do now?
Go after him and ask him to make 10
up"
.Tndeed, YOU shall do nothing OF the
sort. Zen. 1t was fair fight, and you
whacked him. Everybody who saw it
can say that Let him do his worst.
don't think I'll go in" said he, for
they had stopped 1t the door of the
weayer's cottage. at must be very
late. / had better be getting home"
Just as you will" said Ben. Any
way, I'll see you safe out Of the glen. "
So Ben accompanied his young friend
as far as the road, and there said good
night TO him.
When George reached home be found
| his father and mother in the greatest
alarm about him. They had even been
out with lanterns searching for him, but
recognizing the hopelessness Of the task
had returned 70 the house, where they
had waited trembling st every footstep
in the road. Instantly relieved though
| they were al seeing him, they could not
| fail TO notice bis embarrassment He