Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-08-04

walked in upon me like Specter, gray
and voiceless. My shout of welcome
was choked back by the look in his
face, and l could only gaze at him and
wait for his word. He gripped my
hand, tried to speak, but failed to make
words come.
'Sit down, old man." l said, pushing
him into my chair, ''and take your
time
He obeyed, looking up at me with
burning, sleepless eyes. My heart was
sore for his misery, and l said: Don't
mind, old chap. 1t can't be so awfully
bad. You're here safe and sound at
any rate" And so 1 went on to give
him time, but he shuddered and looked
round and groaned.
"Now, look here, Graeme, let's have
it. When did you land here? Where
is Nelson? Why didn't you bring him
up?'
''He is at the station in his coffin"
he answered slowly.
SIN his cotfin?'' l echoed, nay beauti-
full pictures all vanishing. ''HOw was
it?"
Through my cursed folly" he groan-
ed bitterly.
''What happened?'' asked.
But, ignoring my question, he said:
'I must see his children. I have not
slept for four nights. 1 hardly know
what I am doing, but can't rest till
I see his children. 1 promised him.
Get them for me-"
n
and we shall arrange everything to-
morrow" l urged.
NO." he said fiercely; tonight, now"
In half an hour they were listening,
pale and grief stricken, to the story of
their fathers death.
Poor Graeme was relentless in his
self condemnation as he told how,
through his "cursed folly" old Nelson
was killed. The three-Craig, Graeme
and Nelson-had come as far as Victo.
ria together There they left Craig
and came on to San Francisco In an
evil hour Graeme met companion OF
other and evil days, and it was not
long till the old fever came upon him.
In vain Nelson warned and pleaded.
The reaction from the monotony and
poverty of camp life to the excitement
and luxury of the San Francisco gam.
ing palaces swung Graeme quite off
his feet, and all that Nelson could dc
was to follow from place to place and
keep watch.
"And there he would sit," said
Graeme in hard, bitter voice, "wait.
ing and watching often till the gray
morning light, while my madness held
me fast to the table. One night
here he paused moment, put his face
in his hands and shuddered, but quick
ly he was master of himself again and
went on in the same hard voice-"one
night my partner and I were playing
two men who had done us up before
knew they were cheating, but could
not detect them. Game after game
they won till I was furious at my
stupidity in not being able to catch
them. Happening to glance at Nelson
in the corner, 1 caught a meaning
look, and, looking again, he threw me
signal. I knew at once what the
fraud was and next game charged the
| fellow with it. He gave me the lie
I struck his mouth, but before could
draw my gun his partner had me by
the arms. What followed I hardly
know. While l was struggling to get
free saw him reach for his weapon
but as he drew it Nelson sprang across
the table and bore him down. When
the row was over, three men lay on
the floor. One was Nelson. He took
the shot meant for me-"
Again the story paused.
"And the man that shot him?''
started at the intense fierceness il
the voice and, looking upon the girl
saw her eyes blazing with a terrible
light.
HE is dead" answered Graeme in
differently.
"You killed him?" she asked eagerly
Graeme looked at her curiously anG
answered slowly:
81 did not mean to. He came at me
I struck him harder than knew. HI
never moved"
She drew a sigh of satisfaction anc
waited.
81 got him to a private ward, hat
Craig to Victoria. For three days w
thought he would live-he was keen t.
get home-but by the time Craig cam
we had given up hope. Oh, but wa
thankful to see Craig come in, and th
joy in the old mans eyes was beautiful
to see! There was no pain at last an,
no fear. He would not allow me to re
proach myself, saying over and over
You would have done the same TO
me- as l would, fast enough, and it i
better me than you. am old and done
You will do much good yet for tn
boys And he kept looking at me til
I could only promise to do my best.
"But I am glad told him how nue.
good he had done me during the las
year, for he seemed to think that to
: good to be true, and when Craig toll
! him how he had helped the boys i