Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-05

when I was just 13 was awakened from sound sleep by her scream. In an instant flew to her room, catching up as I ran fathers old bowie knife that always hung by my door. In the dim light I saw her lying by the bedside, 8 man bending over and choking her. With all my strength I slashed at him l just as he turned. meant to kill, but the turn saved him. He sprang to his | feet with an oath and cry and rushed | to the washstand. I had laid Uncle Fred's cheek open from ear to chin.
 "It was long before mother could check the flow of the blood. It sobered him, of course, and made him piteously weak. For days after that she nursed and cared for him, but forbade my en- tering the room. Men came to see him insisted on seeing him-and she would send me to the bank for gold and pay their claims and bid them go. At last he was able to walk out with that awful slash on his thin white face. Once then he met and cursed me, but I did not mind-I had acted only to save mother How could SUD- pose that her assailant was her own brother? Then finally with sobs and tears she told me the story, how he had been their mothers darling, how wild and reckless was his youth, how her mothers last thought seemed to be for him, and how on her knees she, my own mother, promised to take care of poor Freddie and shield him from every i'll, and this promise she repeated to me, bidding me help her keep it and to con- ooo1 foI. aS I onI71H hoJs hrOfhn1.' e deeds. For few months things went a little better. Uncle Fred got com mission in a California regiment toward the close of the war and was sent down to Arizona. Then came more tears and trouble. I couldn't understand it all then, but I do now. Uncle Fred was gambling again, drawing on her for means to meet his losses. The old home went under the hammer, and we moved down to San Diego, where father had once invested and had left little property. And then came the news that Uncle Fred had been dismissed, all on account of drink and gambling and misappropriation of funds. Miss Har- vey knows all about this, lieutenant, for mother told her and had reason to. And next came forgery, and we were stranded. We heard that he had gone after that with a wagon train to Texas. got employment on a ranch, and then mother married again, married man who had long befriended us and who could give her a comfortable home. She is now Mrs. Malcolm Bland of San Francisco, and MT. Bland offered to take me into his store. but 1 loved the open air and independence. MT. Bland and MT. Harvey had business relations, and when Uncle Fred was next heard from he was starving to death, he said, actually dying He wrote to mother from Yuma. Mother wired me to go to him at once, and did. He was considerably out at elbows, but in no desperate need yet. Just then MT. liar vey offered him q good salary to take charge of his freight train. We all knew how that must have been brought about, and felt that it would only be a matter of time when he would rob his new employer. He did and was discharged. but MT. Bland made the amount good, and the matter was hush cd up. Then he drove stage awhile and then disappeared. Mother has written me time and again to find him or find out what has become of him, and I promised 1 would leave no stone un- turned. Tell her have kept my word. Tell her I found him. But tell her, for Gods sake, to think no more of him. Tell her not to strive to find him CT to ask what he is or even where he is, be- yond that he has gone to Sonora.''
 Lieutenant, said Patterson, sud denly appearing at the opening, ''could you step here moment?"
 Drummond springs up.
 "One moment, MT. Drummond," whispers Wing weakly. q must say one word to you-alone.
 I'll return in minute, sergeant. Let me see what Patterson wants."
 Miss Harvey and Ruth have risen. The former is very pale and evidently trembling under some strong emotion. Once more she bends over him.
 Drink this, NIT. Wing, and now talk no more than you absolutely have to-
 Then renewing the cooling bandage on his forehead her hands seem to lin ger-surely her eyes do--as she rises once more to her feet.
 Meantime the lieutenant has stepped out into the canyon.
 What is it, Patterson? Quick"
 That was some of our fellows, sir, n # 1NY,E f,,,- o1l oP