The indicator., 1904-09-17

would 60 home. Nothing could stop
him. Finally the Duke agreed to go
with him. and on they set. Bruce loudly
protesting that he could get home alone
and did not want any one.
1t was q dismal break up to the meet.
and we all went home feeling rather
sick. so that 1t gave me no pleasure
- 1nd Moore waiting In my shack for
my report OF Bruce. 1t was quite vain
for me to make light Of the accident
to him. His eyes were wide open with
anxious fear when l had done.
"You needn't tell me not to be anx-
ioua," he said. You are anxious your
self. ! see 1t, feel IT."
We'll. there is no use trying to keep
things from you" replied. But l am
only little anxious. Don't you 90
beyond me and work yourself up into
q fever over it,
"No." he answered quietly. but
wish his mother were nearer"
"Oh. bosh! 1t isn't coming to that.
But wish he were in better shape.
He is broken up badly without this
hole in him"
He would not leave till had prom
ised to take him up the next day,
though l was doubtful enough of his
reception. But next day the Duke
came down. his black bronco lingo
wet with hard riding.
Better come up, Connor," he said
gravely. 'and bring your bromides
along. He has had bad night and
morning and fell asleep only before l
came away. l expect he'll wake in de-
lirium. It's the whisky more than the
bullet. Snakes, you know"
In ten minutes we three were on the
trail, for Moore, though not invited,
quietly announced his intention to 20
with us.
"Oh. all right" said the Duke indif-
ferently. HE probably won't recog-
nize you anyway"
We rode hard for half an hour till
shack, which was set back into little
poplar bluff.
Hold upn said the Duke. WAS
that "A shotT' We stood listening A
rifle shot rang out, and we rode hard
Again the Duke halted us. and there
came from the shack the sound of
singing. 1t was an old Scotch tune
"The Twenty third Psalm" said
Moore in low voice.
We rode into the bluff, tied up our
horses and crept to the back of the
shack. Looking through a crack be-
tween the logs, l saw u grewsome
thing. Bruce was sitting up in bed
with Winchester rifle across his
knees and belt of cartridges hanging
over the post. His bandages were
torn of, the blood from his wound
was smeared over his bare arms and
his pale, ghastly face. his eyes were
wild with mad terror, and he was
shouting at the top Of his voice the
words:
THE Lords my Shepherd. I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by
Now and then he would stop to say
in an awesome whisper. Come out
here. you little devils" And bang
would go his rifle at the stoveplpe,
which was riddled with holes. Then
snce more in loud voice he would
hurry to begin the psalm:
THE Lords my Shepherd"
Nothing that my memory brings to
me makes me chill like that picture
the low log shack. now In cheerless
disorder; the ghastly object upon the
bed in the corner. with blood smeared
face and arms and mad terror In The
eyes; the awful cursings and more
awful psalm singing, punctuated by
the quick report of the deadly rifle.
For some moments we stood gazing
at one another. Then the Duke said
In a low, fierce tone, more to himself
than to us:
''This is the last. ThereH be no
more of this cursed folly among the
boys"
And thought 1t wise thing in the
Pilot that he answered not II word.