Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-04-26

ogy will do
He slowly stripped off coat and vest.
Mr.. Craig interposed, begging
Graeme to let the matter pass.
''Surely it is not worth it."
"Mr. Craig" said Graeme, with an
easy smile, won don't understand. No
man can call me that name and walk
around afterward feeling well.''
Then, turning to Slavin, he said:
"Now, if you want a minutes rest
can watt
Slavin, with curse, bid him come.
"Blaney," said Graeme sharply, you
get back" Blaney promptly stepped
back to Keefe's side. Nelson, you and
Baptiste can see that they stay there"
The old man nodded and looked at
Craig, who simply said:
'Do the best you can"
1t was good fight. Slavin had plen-
ty Of pluck and for a time forced the
fighting, Graeme guarding easily and
tapping him aggravatingly about the
nose and eyes, drawing blood, but not
disabling him. Gradually there came
a 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 1 am going to show you
what you are made off,
Graeme made one or two lightning
passes, struck Slavin one, two, three
terrific blows and laid him quite fat
and senseless.
Keefe and Blaney both sprang for
ward, but there was a savage kind Of
groWl.
Hold, therer' It was old man Mel
son, looking along pistol barrel. "You
know me, Keefe," he said. ''You won't
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, l have stopped playing with you.
Put up your gun, Nelson. No one will
interfere now"
Slavin hesitated, 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.
"Bonw yelled Baptiste. "Bully boy!
OATS de bon stuff! OATS larn him one
good lessonw But Immediately he
shrieked, "Gar-r-r-r-e a vous!'
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.
as there no place nearer?"
Eyes; Mrs. Mayors. I shall run on
to tell her,
She met US at the door. l had in /,
mind to say some words of apology, |
but when looked upon her face I 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
1rocci0U Woo fnicbo6 coDt CroiC off
for the time had come for the magic
lantern in the church, and knew how
critical the moment was in our fight.
GO" 1 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
"Ah, that brute Keefev'
Then, seeing my anxious face he said
awful bore, isn't it? Sor-
y to trouble you, old fellow
"You be hangedn' said shortly, for
lis old sweet smile was playing about
ais lips and was almost too much for
ne Mrs. MavOr and I are in COM
nand, and you must keep perfectly
STILL
"Nrs. Mavor?" he said in surprise.
She came forward, with a slight
lush on her face.
81 think you know me, Mr.. Graeme."
81 have often seen you and wished to
NOW you. l am sorry to bring you this
rouble."
"You must not say So" she replied,
but let me do all for you that l can.
md now the doctor says you are to lie
till"
"The doctor? Oh, you mean Conner!
lie is hardly there yet. You don't know
ach other. Permit me to present Mr..
Jonnor, Mrs. Mavor."
AS she bowed slightly her eyes look
d into mine with serious gaze, not
nquiring, yet searching my soul. AS I
ooked into her eyes forgot every
hing about me, and when 1 recalled
myself it seemed as if had been away
n soma FIR place. 1t was not their col
# or their brightness. 1 do not yet
now their color, and I have often
ooked into them, and they were not
~ioh hY1f thnU o1n |