Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-22
Nv OllIll

Inll glanced III Lle, CduSht a.. WV
scowled, leaned forward and behind his
hand whispered something i'll Ned
ear, and with the words, whatever they
were. Ncd's face whitened, and he sat
upright and stared wide.
"Ye-ye think that" said Ned in a
drawing whisper. My God - my
Cod" \ minute he sat silent, his back
limp, hands sprawling on his knees,
then stopped once more, put hand on
Pills arm and whispered something
that / could not hear.
Ned Cara turned his face and fixed
me steadily with his beads of eyes.
Yer Il good hand ut watchin',' he
said.
| had nothing to answer.
"Yc'd know me again. I'm of opin-
ion, if We saw me skin on bush. Sup
pose for Il change We hide yer ugly face
behind yer book an keep yer eyes from
yer bctterS.'
Still | did not answer, so he edged
along the seat toward me, his eyes still
keen upon NY face.
"Yc were mighty free of the tongue
awhile ago" he said, jerking thumb
toward his shoulder, back Al Old
town. Ye wouldn't be talkin' like that
now. I'm thinkin!"
| had no desire to talk like that now.
Raising my book. leaned back in my
corner, but my eyes kept OH his.
answer me-" he shouted. Say now
what ye said then! Say it. If there's Il
drop of man in ye!'
lowered my book. crossed and un-
crossed my legs, looked my bravest.
81 have nothing to answer" | said.
What said then you deserved
"Say il again." He was beside me
now. ugly and threatening. his beads
of eyes glowing fiXedly.
"Therc's no need"
"Bah. We coward! Ye'd insult decent
people wi the world to back We. but
we'd stink away when they took ye to
task. That's yer kind. me Ulster buc-
keen! | know We, ye Orange spy! BE
the Lord. but I've mind to mark yer
countenance. Who are ye, sir, to sit
there watchin' an listenin' without be-
in asked?" He swung his hand close to
my face. then dropped it and with Il
quick movement crossed the carriage.
dropped into the seat facing mine. lean
ed toward me and looked me straight
in the eyes. "Who are We ut all?' he
asked, not questioning me so much as
himself. WHO the divil are ye!''
| did not answer. not knowing what
to say. To speak truth, fear held my
tongue in thrall The man cowcd me-
His voice chilled my blood. He seemed
capable of any violence. That sinister
face of his. long and thin, crafty and
cruel, with its hard lips and wicked
eyes, so tense, so inscrutable, so void
Of any good, drew all my faculties to-
ward it and shadOwed them with some
thing like terror.
"Who are ye?" he said, questioning
himself the while his eyes pierced to
my marrow. IF l thought We we're
His scrutiny went OH silently for a
minute, then found words again. But
yer not. No, ye haven't the look, an
We haven't the pluck. Yer too soft in
the face an white of the hand. What
are ye?" Leaning forward, he took the
book from my hand, opened it and
glanced at page. Nav; yer not a
schoolmaster. Mebbe yer out of a
bank. Mebbe yer-naw, yer no counter
jumper" He flung the book Oh the
seat beside me. sat upright and. crook
ing his elbows. caught thumb in each
waistcoat pocket. I'll tell ye what yc
are" said ln. with cock of the head
yer a ba; IN
was anxious to humor the man. and
| SUPPOSE | nodded.
81 kaew it, said Cara, a gray smile
lowering on his face, Il knew 1t the