The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-25
CHAPTER VII.

Latour'S bad whisky and making MINI
self nuisance. In vain the Pilot
tried to win him with loans of books
and magazines and other kindly cour-
tesies He would be decent for a day
and then would break forth in violent
augmentation against religion ANA all
who held to it. He sorely missed the
Duke. who was away south ON one of
his periodic journeys, of which no one
knew anything or cared to ask. The
Dukes presence always steadied Bruce
and took the rasp out of his manners
1t was rather relief to all that he
was absent from the next fortnightly
service, though Moore declared he was
ashamed to confess this relief.
Il can't touch him., he said to me
after the service 'He is far too clever
But" and his voice was full of pain.
I'D give something to help him."
IF he doesn't quit his nonsense,
replied. he'll soon be past helping
He doesn't go out of his range, his few
cattle wander everywhere, his shack
is in a beastly state and he himself is
going to pieces, miserable fool that he
fellow should so throw himself away
for nothing.
"You are hard" said Moore, with his
eyes upon me.
Hard? Isn't it true?" | answered
hotly. "Then there's his mother at
home
Eyes, but can he help it? Is it all
Me, for1t ha ron1io1 with his Stpn1V
eyes still looking into me.
His fault? Whose fault, them
"What of the Noble Seven? Have
they anything to do with this?s His
voice was quiet, but there was an ar
resting intensity in it,
Well" l said, rather weakly, "a
man ought to look after himself"
"Yes-and his brother a little Then
he added: What have any of you
done to help him? The Duke could
have pulled him up year ago if he
had been willing to deny himself lit
tie, and so with all of you. You all do
just what pleases you regardless of any
other, and so you help one another
down."
| could not find anything just then to
say, though afterward many things
came to me. For, though his voice was
quiet and low, his eyes were glowing
and his face was alight with the fire
that burned within, and felt like one
convicted of a crime. This was GER
tainly new doctrine for the west, an
uncomfortable doctrine to practice, in
terfering seriously with personal lib
erty, but, in the Pilots way of viewing
things, difficult to escape. There would
be no end to ones responsibility.
refused to think it out.
Within fortnight we were think
ing it out with some intentness. The
Noble Seven were to have great
blowout at the Hill brothers ranch.
The Duke had got home from his
southern trip little more weary look
ing and a little more cynical in his
smile. The blowout was to be held
ON permit Sunday, the alternate to the
preaching Sunday, which was a con-
cession to the Pilot, secured chiefly
through the influence of Hi and his
baseball nine. 1t was something to
have created the situation involved in
the distinction between preaching and
permit Sundays. Hi put it rather
graphically The devil takes his
innin's one Sunday and the Pilot the
next" adding emphaticaly. He haint
done much scorin' Wit but my money S
on the Pilot, you bet.' Bill was more
cautious and preferred to wait develop
ments. And developments were rapid.
The Hill brothers meet was unusu-
ally successful from social point of
view. Several permits had been requi-
sitioned and whisky and beer abound
ed. Races all day and poker all night
and drinks of various brews both day
and night, with varying impromptu
diversions, such as shooting the horns
off wandering steers, were the social
amenities INDUCED in by the Noble
Company. On Monday evening | rode
out to the ranch, urged by Moore, who
was anxious that some one should
look after Bruce
Il don't belong to them" he said;
you dc. They won't resent your com
, ing"
tea and welcomed me with a shout
Hello, old domine" yelled Bruce.
( where's your preacher friend?n
"Where you ought to be if yeu could
get there-at home" l replied, nettled
at his insolent tone.
Strike oner' called out Hi enthusi-
astically, not approving Bruce's atti-
tude toward his friend, the Pilot
Don't be so cute" said Bruce after
the laugh had passed, but have a
: drink"
He was flushed and very shaky and
very noisy The Duke, at the head OF
2 the table, looked a little harder than
3 usual, but, though pale, was quite
) steady The others were all more OF
less nerve broken, and about the room
! were the signs of wild night. A
bench was upset, while broken bottles
and crockery lay strewn about over a
floor reeking with filth. The disgust
on my face called forth an apology
J from the younger Hill, who was serv.
ing up ham and eggs as best he could
to the men lounging about the table
ITS my housemaids afternoon out, =
he explained gravely.
Gone for a walk in the park, addse
another.
Hope MIR. Conner will pardon the
absence" sneered Bruce in his most
offensive manner.
Don't mind him, said Hi under his
> !