Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-24


door
I'll speak. You keep your eyes on
him" said the Duke.
Hello. Bruce. What's the row.
shouted the Duke.
Instantly the singing stopped. A
look of cunning delight came over his
face as. without word. he got his rifle
ready pointed at the door.
Come in" he yelled, after waiting
for some moments. Come in! You're
the biggest of ell the devils. Come on;
I'll send you down where you belong.
Come, what's keeping you?"
Over the rifle barrel his eyes cleaned
with frenzied delight. We consulted as
to a plan.
81 don't relish bullet MUCH" l said.
There are pleasanter things" re-
sponded the Duke, land he is fairly
good shot
Meantime the singing had started
again, and, booking through the chink,
1 saw that Bruce had got his eye on the
stovepipe again. While | was looking
the Pilot slipped away from us to-
ward the door.
Come back said the Duke. Don't
be fool! Come back; he'll shoot you
deadw
Moore paid no heed to him. but stood
waiting at the door. In few moments
Bruce blaZed away again at the stove
pipe. Immediately the Pilot burst in,
calling out eagerly:
Did you get him.
NO. said Bruce disappointedly
"He lodged like the devil, as of course
he ought, you Know
"I'll get him." said Moore; Smoke
him out proceeding TO open the stove
door
stop screamed Bruce. Don't
open that door. It's full, i tell YOU
Moore paused. Besides went on
Bruce smoke won't touch EN-"
"Oh, that's all right" said Moore
coolly and with admirable quickness.
wood smoke, you know; they can't
stand that"
This was apparently new idea III
demonology for Bruce. for he sank
back, while Moore lighted the fire and
put on the teakettle. He looked
round for the tea caddy.
up there" said Bruce forgetting for
the moment his devils and pointing to
a quaint. old fashioned tea caddy upon
the shelf.
Moore took 1t down, turned it in his
hands and looked ut Bruce.
''Old country, eh!"
"NIy mother's,," said Bruce soberly.
III could have sworn it was my
aunt's in Ballymena." said Moore.
"N1y aunt lived in little stone cottage
with roses all over the front OF it,
And on he went into an enthusiastic
description of his early home. His
voice was full of music, soft and sooth-
ing, and poor Bruce sank back and lis
tened. the glitter fading from his eyes.
The Duke and looked at each other.
Not too bad, eh?" said the Duke
after few moments silence.
Lets put up the horses" l suggest
ed. They won't want us for half an
hour"
When we came in, the room had been
set in order, the teakettle was singing,
the bedclothes were Strengthened out,
and Moore had just finished washing
the blood stains from Bruce's arms and
neck.
"Just In time" he said. II didn't
like to tackle these" pointing to the
bundages.
All night long Moore soothed and
tended the sick man, now singing
softly to him and again beguiling him
with tales that meant nothing, but
that had strange power to quiet the
nervous restlessness due partly to the
pain of the wounded arm and partly to
the nerve wrecking from his months OF
dissipation. The Duke seemed uncom-
Portable enough He spoke to Bruce
once or twice but the only answer was
groan or curse, with an increase OF
restlessness.
Hell have close squeak" said the
Duke. The carelessness of the tone
was little overdone, but the Pilot
was stirred up by it.
"He has not been fortunate in his
friends" he said, looking straight into
his eyes.
"a man ought to know himself when
the pace is too swift said the Duke,
a little more quickly than was his
wont.
"You might have done anything
with him. Why didn't you help him?
Moore's tones We're stern and very
steady. and he never moved his eyes
from the other mans face. but the only
reply he got was shrug OF the shout
ders
When the gray of the morning was
coming in at the window the Duke
rose up, gave himself little shake and
said:
II am not of any service here. 1
shall come back in the evening"
He went and stood for few mo-
ments looking down upon the hot,
fevered face; then, turning to me, he
asked:
What do you Think
"Can't say! The bromide is holding
him down just now. Els blood is bad
for that wound"
"Can l get anything?" l knew him
well enough to recognize the anxiety
under his Indifferent manner.
saThe Fort doctor ought to be got"
He modified and went out.
"Have breakfasts" called out Moore
from the door.
~ shall get some at the Fort thanks