Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18

drew near with the basin Of fresh water.
WAS 1t the dogT" asked James in a low
voice.
yes. the fool came round to the Office
| door, and" Gordon stopped with q miser-
able sigh which was almost groan. and
| dipped the cloth Ia the basin.
How did you get him off?" asked James.
VI had the whip. and Aaron came in Just
| then with that Did mare. She had balk-
ed. don't think It IL the jugular. 1t
into the office. Elliot. and get the absor-
bent cotton and the brandy. I've got to
stop this somehow. Oh. my God.'
James suddenly recognized the man on
the ground and gave an exclamation which
Gordon did not seem to notice. For God 8
sake. don't let that dog out!'' he cried.
Don't risk the office door. Go around the
house, the>front way! Be quick"
| James obeyed. He rushed around the
house and opened the front door. 1mme-
diately Clemency was clinging to him in the
+ dim vestibule. Mother is asleep. / think
Uncle Tom must have given her some medi-
cine to make her sleep. Oh. what Is the
| matter? Who is that man out there and
| what ails him, and what ails the dog? l
started to go in the office. but he leaped
against the door. so / didn't. was afraid
! he might get out and run upstairs and
| wake mother. Oh. what is it ali about7''
Nothing for you to worry about, dear. l"
replied James Now you must be a good
little girl and let me go. Your uncle is in a
| hurry for some things in the office" He put
away her clinging arms gently, and hurried
on toward the office. but the girl followed
him. IF l don't stand ready to shut the
door behind You that dog will be out" she
said All at once conviction as to some
thing seized her. and she cried out in terror
and horror oh. know 1t Is that man out
know"
1T is nothing for you to worry about,
dear"
Il know. Is he going to die? Is he hurt
| much?'
No. your uncle doesn't think so. Don't
hinder me, dear"
mo, 1 won't. I will stand ready and
bang the door together after you before
JACK can get out. Oh, 1t Is that man.
Clemency was half-hysterical, but she stood
her ground. When James opened the office
door cautiously and slipped through the
opening she pushed it together with sur
prising strength. Don't get bitten your
SELF, she called out anxiousy.
For moment James thought that he
might be bitten, for the dog was so fren-
zied that he was Almost past the point of
recognizing his friends He made power
full leap upon James, the crest upon his
back as rigid as steel, but James snatched
at his collar, threw him and spoke, and the
well-trained animal succumbed before his
voice: charge" Numbered the young man.
and the dog obeyed. although still bristling
and growing. James hurriedly caught up
his leash and fastened him to the staple.
then he opened the inner office door and
SpohS quickly ana reaSSUrlnSly 10 Clem6n-
cy, who was huddled behind it shaking with
fear. He is all right. 1 have fastened
him." he said. Don't worry. Now I must
go and help your uncle
He didn't bite you?"
oh, no. he knew me the minute 1 spoke.
Sit down here by the fire and don't be
frightened; that's good little girl
With that. James was out by the other
door and In the drive beside Goi don. who
was still assiduously applying water to the
red throat of the PROSTATE man. 1T Is be-
ginning to slack up little" he said hoarse-
ly. Here. give me the cotton, and see IL you
can't get drop Of brandy between his
teeth They are clinched, but just now he
moved a little. He may be able to swallow.
Aaron, put the team into the wagon. and
get mattress and some blankets from the
storeroom. Hurry, he may come to himself
any minute. and he must not stay here any
longer than necessary Gordon was work
ing f1erceiy as he spoke and James took
the cork from the brandy flask and at
tempted to force little between the mans
clinched teeth Aaron hurried into the sta
BILE and lit another lantern, and went about
executing his orders. James, kneelng over
the PROSTATE man, attempting to minister
to him, saw the face fully in the glare of
the lantern. The unconscious face did not
look evil as he remembered it. He even
had a doubt II 1t were the face of the man
who had that evening stood at his horses
head and so terrified Clemency.. Then he
became convinced that 1t was the same.
There could be no installing the features,
which were unusually regular and hand
some, but with a strange popularity Of
lines. 1t seemed to James that, even while
the man was unconscious, all his features
presented slightly upturned lines of bit
ter derision. tntersected with downward
lines of melancholy. All these lines were
very delicate. but they served to give ex-
preston. He looked like a man who had
suffered and made others suffer for his suf-
ferings, with a cruel enjoyment at the spec
tacle. 1t was strange face. but not an evil
one. However, after James had succeeded
in forcing a few drops Of brandy, which
were met with convulsive swallowing, be-
tween the mans teeth, he moved again, and
his eyes opened, and Immediately the evil
shone out of the face ike a malignant flame
in a lamp. knowledge Of and delight in
evil cleaned out of the sudden brightness
of the mans great eyes. Then the evil
seemed to leap to rage. as a spark leaps to
flame. He tried to raise himself, and cursed
in a choking voice. He seemed awake most
fully to consciousness, and to know exactly
what had happened. The dog in the office
sent forth a perfect volley of barks. The
man had been obliged to sink back, but his
right hand fumbled feebly for his pocket.
'It is not there" Gordon said coolly.
Shoot him, you-or- croaked the man
In his voice of unnatural rage.
Time enough for that" said Gordon.