Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-12

CHAPTER NIX.


Mas>un >;ammcr,d ont the word. re-
pcaiin- II from Cuch Tails speech. as
the huge Usur' 1iurcr stepped back
Gud -lag"G 81 h.lu with glowing eyes.
Aroused ;,'U> -; .lcnly. Mason. who
lad fallen i:.go Il sound and drcamlcSS
sleep. almost IauUSht for the moment
that II waS some cmiSSary from the
silphurcus regions of evil who thun-
iorci these threatening words in his
ear. Tie nest moment. coming To him
self. and remembering the facts of his
position. he stretched Ills limbs. almost
with uncuUcCrn. under the very nose Of
lis antagonist.
Look here" said he ut last. in
voice wh.cn was still sleepy, still
weary. looking as Lee spoke straight in
To the angry eyes of the other man,
I'm dead beat. I'm absolutely without
means of defense il you choose to at
tack me. Aud I've had such a pretty
time of it since I've been in this hole
Of place that, upon my word. don't
much care whether you knock out my
brains o. not.
And with those words he sat down
on a wooden packing cas-" which Scrv-
ell both as seat and table and drop.
ped his head listicsSly into his hands.
/ lie lNard Coch TalS lahored breath.
ing, heard him throw down the ax
with a force which made the flooring
| rattle, heard him pace up and down
! the bare floor with slow and heavy
! steps, And he heard also ;hc Snurting
! OF the cattle in the shed below, aud
/ tie stamping Of the hoofS of one rest
less lcaSt startled 10y the noise above.
Sir" said CuCh Tai In deep, Vi
! blatiug voice rs he stopped short in
front # tie doctor and put one hand
upon lin with Il strong grip, your
brains arc safe enough. Id have liked
to fight you fair and square, man to
nan III lave liked it dearly" ard
as he spoke his eyes bazed again and
he cliu"hcA Lis tccth as a wave OF la.
tired seemed to pass over him. He sud.
denly released MaSSOn'S shoulder and
stepped ack, as if afraid that his self
control would give way. but If you
take it like that and if you don't care
what becomes OF you, why, | can't do
nothing"
And in his turn he sat down, choos.
ing the end of his brdstead for seat
and nursing lis crossed leg g!oomily.
Mason looked at him attentiyely.
"WAy should you want to light me|'
asked he "tumc, tell me tho truth.
I'm at your mercy up here, You know.
TCll Inc the truth and have done with
it and tlrn throw NE over into one of
the ravmos or crcyasscs you have up
here. which YOU find So convenient for
the accidental disappearance of rash
travellers who for some reason or other
are better out of the way.
Mason knew these words were an
insult Of the grossest kind, but he did
not care. The dangers which sur.
= rounded him on every side made him
reckless. If they chose to serve him
as they had undoubtedly served his
brother he could not help it. and at
least he would have the satisfaction OF
Drawing them to their face.
So lie did not even look up as he
spoke to note the effect of his words
He did raise his head, however, when
: Coch Tai answered. not In the tones OF
fierce defiance he had expected to hear
: but in an awestruck, rcprOachful voice
I "Sir, you never hear anything but
the truth fr0ln sle, believe me. Not al
the truth sometimes. dursn't Away
. tell YOU all. But never tell you III
9 lies, and that's a true word"
t We'll" said Mason In n less antag
: onstic tone. will you tell me. then
why you want to fight mc:
] Yes, sir. may tell you that
!, But he paused again.
: rs it on account of my poor brother
l And what have said to you abou
. him"
Q NO. sir; it amt nothing to do will
+ him." answered Coch Tai In sorrow
D full tone. IT'S because Of Gwyn."
G And what have done that yo'
g should want to fight me on her &c
9 COUNT
+ The veins in the peasants face be
gan to swell. and he clinched his fist
o convulSively.
: "What have YOU done? What haven
: you done, sir, in the way Of bringing
J. misery and ruin and trouble to her
o What have YOU done? IIa. la. ha.'
$ He uttered short. hard laugh att
i then was suddenly silent. Massol
stared at him with establishment AM
t apprehension.
t "Why, man." said he ut last. "wha
e mad notion have you got in your head
G Because you love this girl yoursel
n why must you imagine that no othe
man can come near her without lovin
her? Your love and jealousy max
you mad and blind and deaf to reason
: She and l have been merely docto
q and patient and nothing more"
u "You fool. Clever as you may bt
. and gentleman and doctor. too, you ar
u no better than a fool where woma
comes in!' cried Coch Tai savagel!
, staring at him, with his head protruC
= ing and his eyes on fire. Merely doc
y tor and patient! Iia. ha, Ia. Poo
- lass, poor lass!'
Mason looked at him in ever II
creasing Amusement. How far ha
( Coch Tails insane doubts and fear
70 carried him?
" Don't you know" said he at las
10 ignoring the peasants abuse and TT.
IS ing to bring him to facts, what Gwy
If told her father? You heard, | al
" sure"'
IS Heard! Yes, heard" rctorte
n Mcrrick sullcnly and contcmptuousl,
y Il heard her say YOU and her were Cl
L. gagged TO marry. But | knew that
IS was only blind. She only said 1t
u get you away with whole skin. Ol
'e | knew that
u t.CLnL ". hot trQl. llInn vol