The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-10
Our Daily Short Stories
TEETH FOR TEETH.
BY d. H. TALMADGE.
copyright. 1901. by Authors syndicate.>

went to his work in the fields, shot
gun-an old-fashioned, muzzle-loading
piece which he had owned as a boy:
ana one afternoon he discovered that
MS supply of shot was exhausted.
therefore he went down the road to-
wards neighbours, intending to Dor
row handful. Nothing warned him
OF his fate; nothing caused him to
cnange his course; on he strobe,
straight to the end of his agony--for
love, especially unspoken love, is that
and nothing else.
He had just stepped foot upon the
bridge which crosses Singing river
when from up the stream he heard the
sound of women in distress. His in
stinct told him that they were in dis
tress; otherwise he would not have
known, for the language of women had
been as a sealed book to him, He
stopped, listening. And while he stood
there a. fleeing form in white came
into his vision, and a choke came into
MS throat. and tremble came upon
his limbs. The form was that of the
grain buyers daughter. and behind
her, perhaps a hundred feet, was a.
dog-an ugly, yellow beast with the
glare or madness in his eyes and the
froth of madness dripping from his
Swapping jaws.
The girl saw James, and involuntari-
ly she extended her arms towards him.
The gesture banished the last vestige
of self-consciousness from the man.
He forgot everything except that She
the idol of his dreams, was in danger.
But he did not move. Other men
would have dashed to meet her in an
abortive ATTEMPT at rescue. They
would have cried out; but he was
silent.
Quickly he dropped the stock of his
gun to the bridge, and rammed in a
double charge of powder. Time was
precious-merciful heaven, how pre-
cious it was! He had no shot There
were no pebbles in the dusty road
And leap by leap the dog was gain
ing upon the girl whose strength was
nearly spent. What could he do?
A certain writer, accepted as an au-
thority by a major portion of the civ
llized world, has stated that only when
a crisis confronts him does a man
bring forth the best qualities which
are within him; crisis is the only real
test of character. And in this crisis
the character of James Murchison was
proven good.
Let it be understood that not even
his nearest friend was aware that
James Murchison's upper teeth were
false. He had guarded the truth as
carefully as he had guarded his love
He was much less handsome when his
teeth were not in place. But he did
not hesitate now to wrench the set
from his mouth and put his foot upon
it. breaking the worries from their set
ting. He poured them into the gun
He aimed. The teeth of the dog were
in the hem of the girls gown when he
fired. The dog fell, rolling over. An
incisor had entered the eye, penetrat-
ing the crazed brain.
When, a moment later, the other
girls of the picnic party approached
they found big. handsome farmer
without upper teeth. holding a girls
head upon his knee and gently bath
ing it with a bandanna handkerchief
wet with the water of Singing river
Her eyes were open. and the express
sion of them was such that even he
could understand, although he was
far as yet from a full appreciation of
the happiness that had come to him.
He arose presently and assisted her
to her feet. May I get my horse and
take you home?'' he asked. yes"
she replied 81 will wait here for you
For an instant he stood, seemingly
bewildered; then he passed rapidly to-
wards the road. At the carcass of the
dog he paused. looking back. The girl
smiled. He leaned over. patting the
poor, NANCY thing upon the head, and
went on again.