Graham guardian., 1900-06-29
oonlInued ir.n ee,. 80.

Drown mass 'sWelli" she said -,
signediy, wen have to git i'm n ~
mouse, Bud win want his cart. Coms
YOU ooys 10 Ronald and Davial
help lift inn out" 'u'
Dave sprarlg into the cart ana pon.
AID was about TO do the same 49,
Fanshaw's distended ewes fen On ~.
ine old man raised his hands a. n tn
ward on blow and cried in uords
now easily understood: "Take 81.
away; he wants to kill met"
Ronald paiised, but Fanshaw,s Ter
ror did not sbate. He got TO his feet
quickly and springing from the cart
be ran. his ltnees Knocking toga,hor
across the road towards the woods
Stop i'm, he's tryin' to kill mel he
wants me TO tell i'm who be is. an.
whar t'other is buried!"
A remarkable change came over Mrs.
Fanshaw; she turned quickly 10 Ron.
aid, and with an uneasy smirk. said:
Don't you so nigh I'm. Ron; he's
clean out'n Ills senses, an thar Amt
no tsllin' what quar- notion might strike
im."
Ronald stood wondering, as Tarbell
and Dave ran after the old man. They
caught him by HIS arms and began to
half carry, half drag him towards the
house. But Fanshaw's distended eyes
werestillfixed on Ronald in alright and
he struggled and fought his captors Ike
| wild man.
"I'm not agoin' TO have i'm put me In
Jail" he sDoYted Hes done reported il
10 Reddln', an together they are agoin'
10 have me ,winR foI what never
| dOnel"
Again AGrE, Fanshsw faced Ronald;
his time sht stood between him and
his father 4 frightened look Of cum
ming lay In her heayy-browed eyes.
III was you, Rom" she said, hurried
", I'D go upstairs: he's tuck quar-
notion somehow that you are ag'in I'm,
an ! wouldn't aggrayate i'm"
Glad OF an excuse 10 get away from
the narrowing scene our hero went up
to his room. Presently he heard the
clatter OF hob. nailed boots on the porch.
The old man, now pacified, was being led
like a dumb animal TO bis room. Then
all was quiet below. The silence lasted
tiT he heard Dawes voice outside
speaking through broken window
pane 10 his mother.
"I'm a-goin TO ride fur q doctor" be
was saying.
The floor complained of its burden
/ as Mrs. Fanshaw went out on the porch.
WELL" she replied. you might as
well, ! reckon; but wouldn't git Sloan;
ben charge two prices. an dun us TO
death. II hain't nothin' but n stroke
nohow, an his drugs nor nobody else's
can reach Il, It's jest question o
time. DIR. Wade win do az well as any
body"
Later in the afternoon Ronald had
come down and was sitting before The
fire in the living room. The man had
fallen asleep. watched by Bud Tsrbell.
who had sent his cart kone and offered
his services according SO the custom
among neightors In that vicinity. Mrs.
Fanshaw came in and began 70 lock for
a bottle Of linlment on the mantsl-
piece.
"Dr. Wadsh jest gone off," she told
Ronald, "he says it's the second stroke
he's had, an that the next one will
carry i'm of as sure as preachin'. IL
was you / wouldn't go nigh i'm, Ron.
lt'R best 20 hsImor pussons Ike he is"
Our hero made no reply. Dave came
from the sick room and stood on the
stone hearth warming his toes at the
flames. Mrs. Fsnshaw had found the
bottle for which she wss searching, and
turned to go.
"He won't last long" she said 70
Dave; Seems TO me heerd yore pa say
he left off pasin' on his life insurance.
Two yeer ago he did" said David,
Respondents, II had pul good money
of my own into that, thinkin' If he died
the insurance would help Us buy farm
OF our own out west, whar Uncle Joe
says they are 30 cheap, but in that
hard-time season when all the crops
was burnt pa, let il lapse, an it's. gone
20 the devil"
"Its jest our usual luck" grumbled
the old woman; some n would a hap
pened 10 a-kept all that money from
reachin' us anyhow. We never was
born under good star"
Ronald looked up. "You needn't let
thar bother you. mother" he said. soft
fy. "lbt Insurance policy is an right;
i ! attended ID H."
The suddci change in MrA i'ars haw
was not alon, due to gratified surprise.
Ronald thought be had never seen her
look at him quite so strangely. She
started TO say something, which seemed
to have rushed impulsively TO her
tongue, and then she shook her shoul.
|, ders, closed her lips tightly and leftthe
room.
Dave laughed. "she certainly acts
peculiar to-day" he said. Dang it, pa
does, too, as for that matter. lwish you
could heerd i'm rant about you jest
now. lie thinks you've got old Reddin'
an twenty other lawyers on his track
about some'r,"
To this observation o~r hero made
ne response.