The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-01-18

CAtp VI IHc
Twas enough to scare the coolest. But
the fellow turned as if shot, and before
he could snap again had gripped him
fairly by the throat. The struggle that
followed | could barely see, but / heard
the horrible sounds Of 1.-THE hard, short
breathing Of the man, the hoarse rage
working in the dogs throat-and it turn
ed me sick. The dog was fighting now to
pull loose, and the pair swayed this
way and that in the dusk, painting and
murderous.
/ was almost shouting aloud-feeling
as though 'twere my own throat thus
gripped-when the end came. The man
had his legs planted well apart. l saw
his shoulders heave up and bend as he
frightened the pressure OF his fingers; then
came a moments dead silence, then a
hideous gurgle, and the mastiff dropped
back, his hind legs trailing limp.
The bully held him so for a full min
ute, peering close 70 make sure he was
dead, and then without loosening his
hold, dragged him across the grass un-
der my window. and sent the carcass
with a heave over the wall. | heard
it drop with a thud on the far side.
During this fierce wrestle the clatter
and shouting of the company above had
gone on without a break; and all this
while the man with the white hair rested
quietly on one side, watching. But now
he steps up TO where the bully stood
hopping his face and, with a finger be-
tween the leaves of his book, bows very
politely.
You handled that dog, sir. choicely
wall ~ Covc hn -, IN chin ro;nn thot Snann-
ed to have Il chuckle hidden in it some
where. But sure he went on, "'twas
hard on the poor cur, that had never
heard Of Captain Lucius filggs-'
! thought the bully would have had
him by the windpipe and pitched him
after the mastiff, so fiercely he turn'd at
the sound of this name. But the old gen
tleman skipped back quite nimbly and
held up a finger.
I'm a man of peace. If another title
suits you better"
Where got you that name?' growled
the bully, and had half a mind to come
OH again, but the other put in briskly:
I'm on a plain errand of business. No
need, as you hint, to mention names; and
therefore let me present myself as Mr..
Z"
"My name is Luke Settle" said the
big man, hoarscly.
Let us say Mr.. X | prefer it."
The old gentleman, as he said this.
popped his head on one side, laid the
~foreinger of his right hand across the
book, and seemed to be considering.
why did you throttle that dog a min
ute agoT' he asked, sharply.
'Why, to save my skim answers the
fellow, a bit puzzled.
Would you have done it for fifty
pounds?
AYE. or half that"
Sand how if it had been a puppy,
Mr.. X"
Now, all this from my hiding l heard
very clearly. for they stood right under
me in the dusk. But as the old gentle
man paused to let his question sink in.
and the bully to catch the drift of il be-
fore answering, one of the dicers above
struck vi TO sing.
While this din continued, the stranger
held up one forefnger again, as if be
~seeching silence, the other remaining
still between the pages of his book.
Pretty hoysi" he said, as the noise
died away; pretty boys! IT'S easily
they have a bird TO pluck"
Hes none of my plucking."
And IL he were, why not? Sure
you've picked n feather or two before
now in the Low Countries-hey? ?"
I'll tell you what" interrupts the
big man, next time you crack me one
OF your death's-head jokes, over the wall
You go after the dog. What's to prevent
it?'
"Why. this" answers the old fellow,
cheerfully. There's money to be made
by doing no such thing. And | don't
carry it all about with me. So, as it's
late, we'd best talk business at once
They moved away toward the seat un-
the sycamore. and now their words
reached me no longer-only the low muir
mur of their voices. Their very forms
were lost within the shadow. 1, myself,
was cold enough by this time, but lay
still nevertheless. And after awhile they
stood up together, and came pacing
across the bowling green, the older man
trailing his foot painfully to keep step.
--besides the pay" the stranger
was saying, there's all you can win of
this young fool, Anthony, all you find
on the pair. which I'll wager"
They passed out of hearing, but turned
soon and came back again. The big man
was speaking this time.
I'm be shot if l know what game
playing in this"
The elder chuckled softly. "Ill be
shot IL l mean you to-" said he.
And this was the last / heard. For
now there came a Gathering at the door !
behind me, and Mr.. Robert Drury reeled
in. Liquor was ever his master, and to-
day the Kings health had been a fair
excuse. He did not spy me, but the roar
OF his ballad had startled the two men
outside, and SO. while he was stumbling
over chairs and cropping for a finder box, |
/ slipped out in the darkness, and down
stairs into the street.