Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-13
XVI

who had volunteered for the service, l
set out for the house on the knoll 1t
was my plan to seek johnson after my
regular call upon Lamar, but, fate be-
ing auspicious, was saved the trouble,
for the fisherman was at work about his
employers premises. He was very
willing to let the boat, which, he said,
was well adapted for woman's use, be.
ing light and handy, easily rowed, and
equipped with small triangular sail,
available in light winds and Oh smooth
water. lie would bring it that after
noon to the head of one of the inlets.
you're on shore most of the time,
aren't you?" asked, when thisarrange.
ment had been made.
GAY, ay, SIR" he answered.
"Tired of salt water?"
mo, sir; but bed that don't pitch
and roll is comfortable enough for me,
when I've a chance to lie in It,"
"What are you doing these days?'
I'm none too idle" he answered,
with quick glance at me.
Find him sociable?' nodded to-
ward the house.
He seemed to be about to speak, but
after n look about him he changed his
intention, and without q word turned
again to the task which my coming had
interrupted. Smiling at his caution,
climbed the slope to the door, and en-
tered. Lamar, who was reading, laid
down his book-it was his well-worn
Cicero's Lctters-and babe me good
morning. He seemed to be rather more
gracious in mood than usual.
'Well," said l, that fellow Jones'
curiosity Is not likely to cause you any
annoyance for some time to come. We
amputated his right leg last night"
II supposed it would be necessary"
he answered. composedly.
What? Supposed it would be nee
essary" What did you know ofit?'
II Judged his hurt most serious"
How did you hear OF it?'
IL saw it,
you saw him run over?"
Eyes"
you knew that he was lying there
helpless for hours?"
ut is true"
"And you did not attempt TO relieve
him, TO 60 10 his assistance?'
1.-The inference is correct"
His tone was as unconcerned Us ever,
his speech as deliberate as if he were
discussing the most trivial Of matters.
In spite of my acquaintance with him,
was thunderstruck by this fresh evil
dcnce Of his callousness. He enjoyed
my surprise, think, as singer may
enjoy the applause Of long hostile
critic. 1t was u tribute of the sort he
understood and appreciated. AS coolly
Us if he had been giving directions for
a days crrand-going in Trent, he told
the story of the accident. Jones, he
said, on his way home from the beach
tried q short cut which ran near the
knoll. Leaving his team in the little
hollow where Dorothy Gray afterward
found him, he cautiously approached
the hummock and climbed to its sum-
nit. Turning corner of the house, he
cane face to face with Lamar. What
talk passed between the two | never
learned, but the intruder departed in
such haste that his foot slipped on the
slope, and he fell. From the way he
lmpcd on arising, Lamar believed that
his ankle was sprained, but he con-
trived at last to reach his horses. He
had picked up the lines, and was pre-
pairing to climb to the wagon-seat,
when his injured ankle gave way, and
he fell. At the same moment the
horses started The fore wheel of the
loaded vehicle passed over his leg, and
before he could get it out of the way
IL, indeed, power to move it remained
the hind wheel had completed the work
the other had begun. Lamar from an
upper window of the house watched
what was happening, and, so far as
could determine from his account of it
spent most of his time until the girl
appeared gloating over the sight Of the
helpless man stretched ont on the
ground at the bot tom of the depression.
When Dorothy hurried to his house for
assistance, he sat within, listening un-
moved to her knocks upon his door and
her cries for help. Moreover, he pre-
vented old Martha from responding to
the summons, when sounds of it pene-
trated even her dulled hearing. These
things he related as calmly as if they
had occurred at the other end of the
earth, Us shamelessly as if there were
no sense of pity in him. What my
opinion of his conduct might be nppar-
emily concerned him not in the least.
He sat there telling the tale of his heart
lessness, with the cold, dispassionate
directness of man who is his own
judge, and who holds himself blameless
and beyond the need of apology.
lie will survive, you say?" he asked.
in the same level tone of Indifference he
had maintained throughout
I'VE hope that he WILL" l answered,
striving to keep all trace of feeling out
of my voice.
"The odds?"
Last night they were against him;
to-day they are in his favor"
"Ah! He rallies?'
"IIe has the best of constitutions. In
that lies his hope. may as we'll tell
you that in his incoherent talk last
night 1 made out the word mis- aken.'
1t was repeated several times. Did it
have any bearing on his visit here?"
Lamar's face bore the grim smile
which, rare as it was, was the unit OF
his demons trations of emotion.
ut had bearing" he said. 'The
man regarded me as a suspect He
thought me q criminal of this country,
in hiding. When we met, he perceived
his mistake. That is all"
"And you have no fears that Lie may
cause you trouble?'
"None," he answered. And he picked