Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-29
The World Against Him By WILL N. HARBEN.
 Copyright. 1900. by AN. Kellogg Newspaper Company,
CHAPTER K

all sides of Carnleigh. For awhile Ron ald had put aside his studies to super intend the picking, hauling and ginning of his cotton. The weather had been favorable and he had made good crop. He had not chanced to meet Mrs. Lam caster again after the day she had called, and about the middle of August he learned that she had gone back to Charleston. His informant also hinted that Evelyn was to follow her in Octo-- Der. He was trying to forget certain thoughts about her which had beat themselves into his heart during the summer, and though he felt a sharp pain over the announcement that,she was going away, he tried to look upon it as providential.
 There were other things. too, which forced themselves upon his attention. Reports were continually Altering through the gossips to him to the ef- feet that Sydney Hart had sworn to be revenged on him for having made him the butt of ridicule on the night of the attempted lynching. The newspapers had given considerable space to the matter, and the local correspondents, being unknown to Syd, dared to write what they would never have said to his face. They made him out even a more desperate outlaw, if possible, than he was, and added a sting to these state- ments by making a great hero of Fan shaw, who was described as having every grace and virtue that could fall to the lot of one man. Moreover, lit- tie parson, who was visiting in the lei ighborhood. and was told before hand that Syd was in an adjoining county, had taken the affair as topic for his discourse, and among other things which reached Syd with almost telegraphic rapidity, he said that Syd was a coward who was so much afraid of his shadow that he did his evil deeds at night. So when all these things had ranked for two months in Syd's mind he decided that he could at once prove his courage and get even by having it out with Ronald Fanshaw. -'. One day Ronald was leaving the cot ton gin, which was about mile from the land he was renting. when Dave rode up on top of big load of loose cotton. r....
 Hold on, thar, Ron," he called out, | T. want to speak to you" ,.-- .. Ronald paused and Dave got down l from the wagon and joined him.
 "Look heer, have you got anything to | shoot with ?'' was Dawes anxious aues- l ton. -s
 Not thing" returned our hero; why do you ask?'
 l Before answering Dave drew his re-
 khver from his hip pocket.
 "Well," he said, as he proffered it you'd better take this, an be on the safe side. Syd Hart and Thad Williams is in town, an they are due long heel about now. Syd may pass you without word; it's all owin' to his load O rot gut. He kinder likes me, an I told in
 one day if he ever harmed you I'd make sitter out'n. hisgdaiun carcass, aE' he ! knows I meant it; but the sight O 70, might make i'm rabid.''
 Ronald hesitated, but, on being urged, he took the revolver and put il into his pocket.
 q don't want any row." he said, set
 ting his lips firmly, "but will not b, shot down in a public road
 "Now you are talking like free
 born American citizen,' said Dave, anG
 he went off to unlo@d his cotton.
 Ronald had succeeded in banishins from his mind the unpleasant thought
 reused by Dave's fears, and had crossed
 the creek bridge and was within sigh
 of the dormer windows of Carnleigl
 when. down the deserted road he hcart
 a mans voice singing rollicking song
 It was Sydney Hart's voice, and it's muf
 fled quality indicated inebriation. H
 was still hidden from view by q shar]
 bend in the road, but moment later h.
 came into sight. slowly riding along ol
 horseback. He did not recognize Ron
 aid till he was within some fifty yard
 of him. Our hero saw him rein in hi
 horse suddenly and then whip out hi
 revolver. Ronald paused and put hi
 hand on his own weapon, cooking ii
 while it was still in his pocket. H was, for the moment, conscious of n
 other feeling than the instinct of self preservation Even then he hoped tha his antagonist had drawn his revo1ve only in spirit of drunken bravadc , But this hope was quickly put to high , by Syd's erect carriage and the stead ; ness of his aim, which was now dirccte on him. Syd laughed harshlv.
 } ''This Is .he moment that has bee , sent in answer to my prayers" he sai6 } deliberately. "Thar's been sight { [ talk about yorc cpunk, but never be
 lieved in it myself. I've always knowe } yore liver war whitc.l Now, this hee ? road is entirely too narrow fur me al you both to travel on. You jest git int !, them thar woods, UT won't leave f piece O yore carcass big enough to ba t a gnat on."
 , T don't want to have any troubl 1 with you, Hart," answered Ronald, wh l had still not drawn his revolver, but s will not allow any living man, drunk c 2 sober, to drive me from public higl s way.'
 "You won't, hey? We'll, we'll see ho'
 you like lead pills" Our hero saw, th
 barrel of the revolver steady itself, an
 q blue puff of smoke rise from it, fo : lowed by Q sharp report. Ronald hear i the ball whistle by him. He drew h 0 revolver, and, crouchirg down in tt n road, that as little of his body might