The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-31

body to which the hair belonged. It was
the Italian with the same look of pas
sion on his face. He was not empty
handed now. An ugly-looking knife
CLEANED, as he swiftly glided to San
dy's resting place. Still the Scotehman
did not stir. He lay there unconscious
of the danger so near.
But when the arm wos upstretched
the knife poised to Stay, a warning was
flashed from somewhere into the sleep
er's mind. He opened his eyes, took in
the situation at a glance and, with new
er a word, seized the Italians arm in a,
grip of iron. The next moment he had
him on his back in the middle of the
shanty and was heavily kneeling on
him .'Ye dirty coor," he Kissed shak-
ing him Savagely. "Ye wait till | am
creepin' lik' a snake tae TAX ma life.
But We Gamma catch newt a yer tricks.
It's yer last play, We reptile, yer last
dirty trick
He rose and dragged the italian to
small table, wherein lay a revolver.
Holding his adversary with his left
hand he picked up the weapon, and
shook it in his face.
Sin I wad,'' he said, slowly, st cud
shoot We moo, lik' the dog We are. But L
Wilma dae that The boys wadna blame
me fer it, 81 I did, but I prefare tae gil
We a chance fer yer life Tho We gil me
name. III gil We a rim, ma lad a short
rim doom the canal, an if We can dodge
the bullets. weel an guild. Coon. Stan
oop."
All this time the italian said nothing,
but glareG at his captor with venom
Gus light, in his beady eyes, as though
daring him to do his worst Eternal
hatred shone there. The big Scotch
man was in no way diScOmpOsed by the
others attitude, but smiled on him con-
temptuously. Suddenly his eye caught
a glimpse of the violin that had been
the innocent cause of the trouble, and a
sunbeam of delight appeared on his
face.
Ma lad" said he slowly, "ye said,
back i CampbelTs, that We cud shoe
me wha' real playin' on the feeble was.
I'll gil We an opportunity tae dae sac
moo. Ye cam he added, graveIy, ma
teh ineeSmteemable pleasure o. playin'
yer ain funeral mairch. TAX the feeble
an play me toon, We snake
He showed the instrument into the
Italians hands as he spoke, and re-
leased him, taking good care to keep
the revolver pointed at his heart The
other stared at him, as though uncer-
tain what to do, but Sandy repeated his
words in tone that showed he would
brook no delay. Upon this the miser-
able wretch began to draw the bow over
the strings. while the Scotchman watch
ed him from the bunk where he had
taken a seat.
What playing it vast At first the Ital-
ian, who strangely numbed, brought
| from the violin only, series of discord-
ant noises, his eyes on the Scotchman
not on the instrument. Suddenly he
Strengthened up and now burst forth
a song of defiance, swelling in volume
with every motion of the bow. As
1 quickly the theme changed Now came
weird grooming leaves as they whirl
on the ground after an autumn gale
Laughter of fiends echoed from the old
/ violin. Sandy stirred uneasily at this
/ and made a threatening gesture with
4 his weapon. In an instant the music
/ changed once more, this time into tne
/ long, sweet lullaby. What playing it
was.
The Scotchman, as the last chords of
the new theme reached his ears, OPEN
/ ed his eyes widely and stared at the
Italian. Little by little the fierce ex-
preston left his face. to be succeeded
by look that was almost pathetic. He
forgot the murky cabin, forgot the
drudgery of the pick and the shovel.
forgot the camp. with its drilling and
blasting, forgot all the present in one
| dream of the past. He was back in
| Scotland once more, back in the land
of the heather. back with his wife Jean
| and their little boy, Jock. He saw the
glen and the sun shining through the
| waving curtain of the forest, on their
cottage by the dancing burn. Ay, and
! he saw the hillside, under whose green
sod both Jean and little Jock now Law
| sleeping the long. dreamless sleep. Old
! Aberdeenshire! He was back there
again. miles and miles from the camp.
and the italian. "Sleep. Sleep crooned
the lullaby. Sandy's honest eyes filled
| with tears.
Mon. mon,'' he cried, srrsnging to his
feet, "drap me feeble an be aft WI ye,
wulina ha' yer bluid an ma hans moo.
God forgi: US baith.''
The Italian did not need to be told
twice. Gently, but quickly, he laid the
violin on the table. opened the door
Sandy, bie-hearted Sandy, listened to
his footsteps, gave a long sigh shook