The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-05-25
CHAPTER WILL

death to any one appearing at the
door.
"Tn speak. You keep your eyes on
him." said the Duke.
"Hello, Bruce! What's the rowr'
shouted the Duke.
Instantly the singing stopped. A
look Of cunning delight came over his
face as, without a word, he got his rifle
ready pointed at the door.
"Come in!" he yelled, after waiting
for some moments. Come fnl. You're
the biggest of all the DEVILS Come on;
I'll send you down where you belong.
Come, what's keeping your"
Over the rifle barrel his eyes cleaned
with frenzied delight. We consulted as
to a plan.
III don't relish q bullet much" L said.
There are pleaeanter things" re-
sponded the Duke, land he is O fairly
Sood shot"
Meantime the singing had started
again, and, looking through the chink,
I saw that Bruce had got his eye on the
Btovepipe again. While 1 was looking
the Pilot slipped away from us to-
ward the door.
"Come back!" said the Duke. Don't
be a fool! Come back; he'll shoot you
deadI"
Moore paid no heed to him, but stood
waiting at the door. In u few moments
Bruce blazed away again at the stove
pipe. Immediately the Pilot burst in,
calling out eagerly:
"Did you get himT'
mol" 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.
"Stopg" screamed Bruce. Don't
open that door! It's full, 1 tell YOU"
Moore paused. Besides" won't on
Bruce, smoke won't touch 'em."
"oh. that's all right" said Moore
coolly and with admirable quickncss.
Wood smoke, you know; they can't
stand that"
This was apparently II new idea in
~demonology for Bruce, for lie sank
back, while Moore lighted the fire and
put OH the tcakettle. He looked
round for the tea caddy.
up there" said Bruce, forgetting for
thS vi ilS uIu DDlllllllS ~
a quaint, old fashioned tea caddy upon
the shelf.
Moore took it down, turned it in his
hands II looked at Bruce.
"Old country, eh2"
"My mother's," said Bruce soberly.
81 could have sworn it was my
aunt's in Ballymena," said Moore.
my aunt lived in n little stone cottage
with roses all over the front of it,"
And on he went into an enthusiastic
description of his early home. Ills
voice was full of music, soft and sooth-
ms, and poor Bruce sank back and lis
tened, tho glitter fading from his eyes.
The Duke and I looked ut each other.
Not too bad, eh?" said the Duke
after Il few moments silence.
Lets put up the horses" l suggest
ed. "Thcy won't want us for half an
hour
When VIC came in, the room had been
set in order, the tcakcttlc was singing,
the bcdclothcs We're Strengthened out,
and Moore had just finished washing
the blood stains from Bruce's arms and
neck.
Just in time he said. 81 didn't
like to tackle these" pointing to the
bandages.
All night long Moore soothed and
tended the sick man, now singing
softly to him and again Deguiling him
with tales that meant nothing, but
that had a strange power to quiet the
nervous restlessness due partly to the
pain or 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
a grcan or curse, with an increase Of
restlessness.
Hell have n close squeak" said the
Duke. The carclcssncss of the tone
was n little ovcrdonc, but the Pilot
was stirred UP by it.
He has not been fortunate i'm his
friends," lie said, looking straight into
his eyes.
"A man ought to know himself wher
the pace Is too swift" said the Duke,
n little more quickly than was his
wont.
"You might have lone anytime
with him. Why didn't you help him?"
Moore's tones were stern and very
steady, and he never moved his eyes
from the other mans face, but the only
reply he got was n shrug of the Shout.
ders.
When the gray of the morning was
coming in at the window the Duke
rose up, gave himself a little shake and
said:
II am not of any service here.
shall come back I'm the evening"
He went and stood for n few mo-
ments looking down upon the hot.
fevered face; then, turning to me, he
asked:
"What do you think?"
Cant say! The bromide IS holding
hlm down just now. His blood is bad
for that wound"
Ca I get ~anything?" 1 knew him
well enough to recognize the anxiety
under his Indifferent manner
'"rhe Fort doctor ought to be got.n
BE nodded and went out.
"Have BREAKFAST" called out Moore
from the door.
II shall get some at the Fort, thanks.
They won't take any hurt from me
there" he said, smiling his cynical
smile.
Moore opened his eyes in surprise.
whats that fort" he asked me.
"Well, he is rather cut up, and you