St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-09-03
Slavin, with a curse. bid him come.

| P''0 N"H sSe tAdI tuey stay there"
The old man nodded and looked at
Craig, who simply said:
do the best you can"
1t was a good fight. Slavin had plen-
ty or pluck and for a time forced the
nghtlng, Graeme guarding easily and
tapping him aggravatingly about the
nose and eyes, drawing blood, but not
disabling him. Gradually there came
look of fear into Slavin's eyes, and
the beads stood upon his face. He had
met his master.
Now, Slavin, you're beginning to be
sorry, and am going to show you
what you are made Of"
Graeme made one or two lightning
passes, struck Slavin one, two, three
terrific blows and laid him quite fiat
and senseless.
Keefe and Blaney both sprang for
ward, but there was a savage kind of
growl.
Hold, there" 1t was old man Mel
son, looking along a pistol barrel "You
| hAiNO W nv LACNICj uG 6dItls LOU VOL
do any murder this time"
Keefe turned green and yellow and
staggered back, while Slavin slowly
rose to his feet.
"Will you take some more?" said
Graeme. "You haven't got much; but,
mind, have stopped playing with you.
Put up your gun, Nelson. No one will
interfere now"
Slavin hestated, then rushed, but
Graeme stepped to meet him, and we
saw Slavin's heels in the air as he fell
back upon his neck and shoulders and
lay still, with his toes quivering.
"Bon!" yelled Baptiste. Bully boy!
OATS de bon stuff! OATS larn him one
good lesson" But Immediately he
shrieked, "Gar-r-r-r-e a vousw
He was too late, for there was a
crash of breaking glass, and Graeme
fell to the floor with a long, deep cut
on the side Of his head. Keefe had
| hurled a bottle with all too sure an
aim and had fed. l thought he was
| dead, but we carried him out, and in
few minutes he groaned, opened his
eyes and sank again into insensibility.
"Where can we take him| | cried.
"To my shack" said Mr.. Craig.
us there no place nearer"
eyes; Mrs. MAYORS. l shall run on
to tell her"
She met US at the door, l had in
mind to say some words of apology,
but when l looked upon her face for
got my words, forgot my business at
her door, and stood simply looking.
Come in Bring him in. Please do
not wait" she said, and her voice was
sweet and soft and firm.
We laid him in a large room at the
back of the shop over which Mrs. Ma
vor lived. Together we dressed the
wound, her firm white fingers skillful
as if with long training. Before the
dressing was finished l sent Craig off,
for the time had come for the magic
lantern in the church, and | knew how
critical the moment was in our fight.
go" said. "He is coming to, and
we do not need you"
In few moments more Graeme re-
vived and, gazing about, asked:
whats all this about" and then
recollecting, "Ah, that brute Keefew
Then, seeing my anxious face, he said
careessly: awful bore, isn't it? Sor-
Fy to trouble you, old fellow"
lo ho 81, e.,
his old sweet smile was playing about
his lips and was almost too much for
me. Mrs. Mavor and l are in COM
mand, and you must keep perfectly
still"
Mrs. Mavor" he said in surprise.
She came forward, with a slight
flush on her face.
81 think you know me- Mr. Graeme."
81 have often seen you and wished to
know you. am sorry TO bring you this
trouble"
"You must not say So" she replied,
"but let me do all for you that l can.
And now the doctor says you are to lie
STILL"
"The doctor? Oh, you mean Conner!
He is hardly there yet. You don't know
each other. Permit me to present Mr..
Counor, Mrs. Mayor"
AS she bowed slightly her eyes look
ed into mine with q serious gaze not
inquiring, yet searching my soul. AS l
looked into her eyes l forgot every
thinU n Ot1t mo and when 7 rec1 He'd
myself 1t seemed as if had been away
in some far place, 1t was not their col
or or their brightness. l do not yet
know their color and l have often
looked into them, and they were not
bright, but they were clear, and one
could look far down into them and in
their depths see glowing, steady
light. AS l went to get some drugs
from the Black Rock doctor | found
myself wondering about that far down
light and about her voice-how it could
get that sound from far away.
/ found the doctor quite drunk, as in
deed Mr.. Craig had warned, but his
drugs were good and | got what |
wanted and quickly returned.
While Graeme slept Mrs Mavor
made me tea. AS the evening wore on
told her the events of the day, dwell
ing admiringly upon Craig's general
ship.
She smiled at this.
"He got me, too" she said. "NiXon