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. u
any one had told him that he would al
any period OF his life become capable Of
standing and arguing with himself as 20
the right or wrong Of what was now In his
mind, he would have been incredulouS. He
cumstances had evolved him. during the
course OF twenty years, into something DIFF
ferent as persistent winds evolve phahe
tree into another than its typical shape
Gordon had lost his type.
As he stood ut the window the room grew
cold. The hearth fire had died down. he
knew that the furnace needed attention.
but he dared not quit his post and his argu,
ment. He became sure that the maid would
not return that night. He knew That Aaron
was sitting with his human obstinacy Pc
hind the obstinate brute somewhere on the
might at any moment drive in. and he
might rush out too late to prevent muroer
and the kidnapping of the girl. He knew
what the man was there for. And he knew
the one way to thwart him. buf ~ was 80
horrible q way that It needed all this argu-
ment. all this delay and nearing OF danger
before he adopted 1t.
The increasing cold of the room seemeo
to act as sort of physical goad TOWARD
action. by God. 1t Is right he muttered
Then he looked at the dog crouchang SUI
with that wiry intentness before the aoor'
He was in himself both weapon and wieider
Of weapon. He was concentrated force.
His white body was knotted with nerves
and muscles. The chances were good II
Gordon pictured 1t to himself-and again
the horror and doubt were over him. He
himself had acquired a certain stiffness
and lassitude from years. and long orives
In one position He would stand no chance
unarmed against a bullet. But the dog
that was another matter. The dog would
make q spring like the spring of death It
self and that white leap Of attack might
easily cause the aim to go wrong. IL wou,u
k><, tie, iy,in of liprhf mi
the dog would gather himself together, ali
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 it would be. He
could see that tall dark figure rolled on the
drive. struggling as one struggles with
death, for breath, under the vise-like grip
on his throat. Gordon knew that the dog 8
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 horse
trot. He felt sure that 1t was not the trot
of the gray. who had 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 ms
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 it 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
fancied he heard their voices and the giris
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 white flash of avenging brute
force upon the man. Gordon saw only one
leap Of the dog before the man was down.
futile pistol shot rang out. Then came
the snarl and growl of a fighting dog fas-
tened upon his prey.