Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-20

from the grapple with Jed. There was
no time for delibcration, and, realizing
that the mountaincer could not use his
rife at close quarters, he flung himself
upon the newcomer, taking him un-
awares and throwing him heavily just
as bright blaze sprang up beside the
house and q howl of agony rang out on
the still air Of the night. A single
glance revealed the cause of both. There
was terrible picture of a man wrapped
in a winding sheet of flame and
running toward him. yelling human
torch blazing from head to foot and
swinging it's fiery arms frantically as it
ran.
At such n crisis, thought and action
are one. Shaking himself loose from
the grasp of the struggling young
brother. Ringbrand quieted him with
single deliberate blow with the butt of
the pistol; the next instant he had
tripped the shrieking firebrand and was
rolling it over and over in the damp
grass when the colonel and Henry ran
up. 1t was all over quickly, and they
were binding Jed and Dudwhen Ludlow
joined them. The colonel sent Henry
TO arouse the negro servants, with or
dcrs to get the horses and the farm
wagon ready Mt once, and then an awcd
little group gathered around the burned
man while Ludlow examined his in
juries by the light of the lanterns.
Iguess he's past help" he said, quiet
Lee, Il hov,y,np
Ringbrand answered: ut was kcro-
sene. He had n bottle in his pocket,
and broke it just as they passed me.
lie was carrying an armfnl OF wood"
Ludlow glanced at the other two:
II missed my man, but l see you have
him. How did you manage it?"
~ didn't manage it: 1t was managed
for me-" replied Ringbrand, lowering
his voice at the sound Of slight noise
at one of the upper windows OF the man.
sion. "When got upon my feet behind
the laurels there, some one knocked me
again. and threw the fellow just as the
other came up. closed with that one
to keep him from using his rifle; and rs
we fell, saw the third man in blaze"
Hcnry's post had been nearest to the
bay window, and ne told how jeff had
tried twice to light the kindlings, and
how the blaze had cnvclopcd him us he
was making the third attempt. While
he was telling about it, the front door
OF the house was opened from WITHIN,
4 ~ al lnf bnr 1S,n
for some minutes talking with some one
in the hail. Presently he called out:
"You-all didn't get hurt, did you, Mr..
RinRbrand?"
"Not worth mentioning" was the re-
ply, and Eingbrand was sufficiently
human to give place to the hope that
Hester had seen something of the strug-
gle. and to rejoice in the thought that
her anxiety had prompted the inquiry.
The door closed again when tn"
wagon was driven up, and the colonel
helped the others to lift the injured
man to the bed Of straw in the deep box.
When he had been made as comfortable
rs possible, the two others were swung
ND behind and tied securely; and the
colonel, Ludlow and Ringbrand drove
down TO Tregarthen with their prison
crs.
The colonel said little until the
wagon stopped on its return to "The
Laurels' to set the two younger men
down at Ludlow's gate; then he rose
and held out his hand TO Ringbrand.
~ reckon you 'preciate how feel, Mr..
Ringbrand, an I'm mighty proud to
acknowledge my obligations, an the
obligations Of the whole family, to you,
sch Wc-all amt gwine to fo'get this
hcah night the longcs' day thah's a
Latimcr livin',"- the coloners idiom
grew stronger under the influence OF
emotion"an' want to say right hcah
aforc Tom Ludlow, sch, that MS long rs
thah is a Latimcr livin'. he'll be proud to
tell his child'en nm his grandchildren
that we-all are beholden to You, sch, for
Duh lives an for onh property"
Ringbrand saw through the thin
mask of grandiloqucncc, and fastened
to assure the colonel that he was only
too glad to have been in time. only
don't call it an obligation, colonel" he
added; 1.-The motive was purely selfish
in way that you'd hardly understand
if tried to explain it,"
The colonel said much more to the
same purpose, and would not leave them
until he had extracted promise from
Ringbrand to extend his visit. When
they had finally bidden him goodnight,
and Ludlow was opening the house
door with his latchkey, Ringbrand
said: "If you love me, Tom, let me
sleep all day tomorrow if can: I'm
about dead on my feet"
..,,. /