Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-11-08
enough.

ooh. shut up. Jack" cried Bill, go
about yr business, ne said to jim, or
III take a hand
Jim's face famed into wild wrath;
his lips lifted like those OF wolf. ne
leaned the fence with one wild spring
and unged against Bills breast. The
larger man went down. but his great
arms closed about his assaiIanJ neck
with bear-like grip. Jim could Meth
or rise nor strike; with fury no am
NAL could equal he pressed his mar rs
upon Bills throat and thrust ms elOo"
into Bills mouth in the attempt 70
strangle him. He meant murder.
Jack faced the other men VINO Cdluo
running up. Ike seized a stake ana
was about to leap over, when Jac"
raised an axe i'm The air.
"Srand Off" he yelled, and his voice
rang through the woods; he noticed
how harsh and wild it sounded IN the
silence He heard a grunting souhu
and gave one glance at the two men
writhing amid the ferns. Both We're
silent. and like graphing bulldogs
Bill had fallen in the brake and
seemed wedged in. At last there came
INFO his heart a terrible SILVER, q blind
desperation that uncoiled all the
strength in his great bulk. Then ne
seemed to z from the ground as ne
twisted the ulher man under INN, ana
shook himself free.
He dragged one great maui OF 1st
free and drove it at the face beneath
him. jim saw it coming and turned
his head. The blow fell on his neck
and his carnivorous grin smoothed out
as if sleep had suddenly fallen upon
him. He drew q long shudderlng
breath. his muscles quivered ana MS
clinched hands fell omen.
hin rose upon his knees and looked
nj him A deep awe fell upon him. III
the Dause he heard the robins rlotlhg
from the trees in the lower valley ana
tho UOodpeCker cried TeSOundlnEly.
You've killed him. cried IKE aS ii0
climbed hastily over the fence.
Bill did not reply. The men laceu
each other in solemn silence, all WISH
for murder was gone out Oh IneI'
hearts. The sObbing cry or the mourn
ing dove which they had been hearing
All day. suddenly assumed new mean
ing. 90, e. Ill
"Bring water" gasped Ike, kneeling
beside his brother.
BfIl knelt there with him, while the
rest dashed water upon Jim's face
At last he began to breathe like q
fretful waking child and looked up into
the scared faces above him, motioning
the water away from him The angry
look came back into his face but 1t
was mixed with perpleXity.
He touched his hand to mis- face ana
brought il down covered with blood.
How much am 1 hurt?' he said fierce
~.
oh. nothing much" Ike fastened
To say. its Just a.
Jim struggled to his elbow and look
ed around him. 1t all seemed to come
back to him. Did he do 1t far. ne
demanded of his companions.
"Oh. YES: it was fair enough SAID
Jim looked at Jack THAT thing
didn't hit me with his axe. did he:
lack grinned. NO, but I was lust
aeoin' to when Bill belted YOU one
was the frank and convincing reply.
Jim got up slowly and faced BIZ.
"vVeIl that settles it: it's all right.
Yon'ra a better man than am mat
all I've got to say.
He climbed back over the fence and
led the way down to dinner without
looking back. A.. -;5o
what give We that lick on the side
o. the head. Jim? ." his wife asked when
he sat down at the dinner table.
Never you mind he replied surI !.
" bnt he added. likes axe come or
and give me a sinde-winder.
Bin carefully removed all marks OF
his struggle and walked in to dinner
sbamefacedly. all muscle gone out OF
his brill of fat. His sudden return to
nrimeva1 savagery grew monstrous in
The cheerful kitchen. with its noise
of children. sizzling meat and the clat-
ter of dishes.
tn stove was not drawing we'll and
Sarah did not notice anything out OF
the way with Bill.
7 never see such a hateful thing in