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

always saw the tarnish. a. one sees blur
before the eye Twenty years before. II
any one had told him that he would az q,
any period of his life become capable OF
standing and arguing with himself as 20
the right or wrong Of what was now In ms
mind, he would have been increduious he
cumstances had evolved him. during the
course OF twenty years, into something dif-
ferent. as persistent winds evolve pfane
tree into another than Its typical shape
Gordon had lost his type
As he stood at the window the room grew
cold. The hearth fire had died down. He
knew that the furnace needed aftenton'
but he dared not quit his post and ms arsu,
not return that night. He knew that Aaron
was sitting with his human obstinacy Pc
hind the obstinate brute. somewhere on inc
road. He knew that James and CiemenSy
might at any moment drive in, and ne
might rush out too late to prevent murder
and the kidnapping Of the girl he Knew
what the man was there for. Ana ne knew
the one way to thwart him, buf II was 80
horrible way that 1t needed all this argu-
ment. all this delay and nearing OF DANGER
before he adopted 1t.
The increasing cold of the room seemed
to act as a sort of physical goad toward
action. by God. 1t Is right!' he muttered
Then he looked at the dog crouching sun
with that wiry intentness before the aoor'
The dog came Of a good breed OF fighters.
He was in himself both weapon and wieidef
Of weapon. He was a concentrated force.
His white body was knotted with nerves
and muscles. The chances were good II
Gordon pictured it to himself-and again
the horror and doubt were over him. he
himself had acquired certain stiI1ness
and lassitude from years, and long dflves
in one position. He would stand no chance
unarmed against a bullet But the dog
that was another matter. The dog would
make a spring like the spring OF death IT,
self. and that white leap OF attack lnlghI
easily cause the aim to go wrong. 1t would
be like aiming at lightning He knew how
the dog would gather himself together. all
ready for that terrible leap, the second ne
opened the door, He knew that he might
be able to open the door for the leap with
out attracting the mans attention. faced as
he was the other way, IL he could keep the
dog quiet. He knew how 1t would be- he
could see that tall dark figure rolled on the
drive, struggling as one struggles with
death. for breath, under the vise-1ke grip
on his throat Gordon knew that the dog
unerring spring would be for the throat;
that was the instinct of his race, noble
race in its way. to seize vice and danger
by the throat. and attack the very threshold
of life.
Gordon returned to the window. 1t
seemed to him again that he heard horses
trot. He felt sure that 1t was not the trot
of the gray, who had a slight lameness-
He knew the trot Of the gray. He became
sure that James and Clemency would the
next moment enter the drive He set his
mouth hard. crept toward the dog and pat
ted him. As he patted him he felt the
rage-crest rise higher on his back Gordon
babe him be quiet. and slipped his leash
from the staple. Then he took 1t from the
collar He listened again. 1t seemed to
him that his ears could not deceive him. 1t
seemed to him that James and Clemency
were coming. He was almost delirious He
fanced he heard their voices and the girls
laugh ring out. Holding the dog firmly by
the collar, he rose and very carefully and
noiselessly slipped the bolt of the door back
Then he waited a second. Then as slowly
and carefully, still holding the dog by the
collar, and whispering commands to hush
his growls, he turned the door knob.
Then the thing was done. He flung the
door open. He saw the man in the drive,
standing with his face toward the road. He
had heard nothing. Then he loosened his
grasp of the straining dogs collar. and
there was a white fash of avenging brute
force upon the man. Gordon saw only one
leap of the dog before the man was down.
A futile pistol shot rang out. Then came
the snarl and growl of a fighting dog fas-
tened upon his prey.