Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-23
rcUNT1NuED.l

to think turrible lot Of the old praye
machine cause he's your chum. Howe
you like to see him took up for fire
bug, hey?'
Il amt afraid Of that"
"You amt? You amt! Why not"
"'Cause he's gone where you can,
git at him. He died Jest afore left
the house."
Mr.. Saunders brandished fist fel
heavily on the arm Of his chair. Hi
face turned white in patches and theI
famed red again.
Died" he gasped.
Died.
"You-you're liar!'
mo, /. amt. John Baxter's dead
He was chum of mine-yOu're right
there-and II I'd known sneak like
you was after him I'd have been here
long afOre this. Why, you
The captains voice shook, but he re
strained himself and went on.
Now, you see where you stand,
don't you? Longs John lived you had
the proof to convict him. I'll own up
to that much. l hid the coat; smash.
ed the bottle. The hat didn't know
bout. l might have told you ut fust
that all that didn't amount to any.
thing, but l thought I'd wait and let
you tell me what more l wanted to
know. John Ba1ter's gone, poor feller.
and all your proof amt worth cent
not one red cent. UnderstandT'
1t was quite evident that Mr.. Saun-
ders did understand, for his coun-
tenance showed it. But the bluster
was not out of him yet.
"All right" he said. Anyhow, the
girls left, and If she don't pay I'll
show her granddad up for what he
was. And I'll show you up too. Yes,
l willv he shouted as this possibility
began to dawn on him. "I'll let folks
know how you hid that coat and-and
all the rest Of it."
mo, you won't"
"Why won't II"
"Cause you won't dare to-. You've
been hittin' at sick man through q
girl. Neither Of 'em could hit back.
But now you're dOin' bus ness with me,
and l amt sick. If you open your
mouth to anybody-if you let a soul
know who set that .fire-Pll walk
straight to ledge Baker and I'll tell
him the whole story. I'll tell him what
l did and why / did it. And then I'll
tell him what you did-how you bullied
money out of that girl that hadn't no
more to do with the fire than baby.
II it comes to facin' jury I'll take
my chances, but how bout you? You,
runnin' a town nuisance that the s'lect.
men are talkin' Of stoppin' already;
sellin' rum by the drink when your H.
eense says 1t sha. &c sold 'ccpt by
the bottle. Whrrell your character
land you on charge Of blackmail?
And another thing: The folks in
this town knew IOhn Baxter afore he
was like what he's been lately. A
good many Of 'em swore by him-yes,
sir, by mighty, some Of 'em loved him!
This is a law abidin' town, but s'poSe-
Jest s'pose should so to some of the
fellers that used to sail with him and
tell 'em what you've been up to. ThiAk
you'd stay here long? l think you'd
move Out-on u rail-.
Captain Fri paused and sat Oh the
arm of his chair. grimly watching bis
opponent, whose turn for thinking had
come. The face Of the billiard mag
nate was an interesting study in eX-
preston during the captains speech.
From excited triumph it had fallen to
fear and detection, and now, out Of
the wreck, was appearing once more
the oily smile, the sugared sweetness
of the everyday Mr.. Saunders.
Now, Cap'n Hedge" purred the re-
constructed one. you and ne has al
ways been good friends. We hadn't
ought to fight like this. l don't think
either Of us wants to so 10 court. Let's
see if we can't fix the thing up some
way
Wen fix it up when YOU pay me the
$40.
Now, Cap'n Hedge, 'tain't likely
Eve g,t SO in my pocket. Seems to
me you're pretty hard OH Il poor fellow
that's just been burnt out. think
we'd o.;snt 20
Low mu:h have you got?'
After Il good zeal OF talk and prot
estation Mr.. Saunders acknowledged
being the pOssessOr OF $:G, divided be-
tween the cash drawer and his pocket.
This he reluctantly handed to the cap
tain.
Then the captain demanded pen, ink
and paper, and wheI. they were
brought he laboriOusly wrote out
screed to the effect rhat Webster
Saunders had received Of Elsie Preston
$44, which sum he promised to pay on
demand.
There" he said, pushing the writ
ing materials across the table. "Sign
that"
At first Mr.. Saunders positively re-
fused to sign. Then he intimated that
he had rather wait and think 1t over
little while. Finally he affixed his sig
nature and spitefully threw the pen
across the room.
Captain Eri folded up the paper and
put it In his pocket. Then he rose and
put on his pea jacket.
'Now, there's Jest one thing more"
he said. "Trot out that coat and hat"
'what do you mean"
'Trot out that coat and hat Of Johns.
I want 'em."
II shan't do It."
"An right, then. It's all OF. I'D
step over and see the jedge. You'll
hear from him and me later"
Hold on a minute, capn. You're
in such q everlastin' hurry. I don't
care anything bout the old duds, but
don't knows know where they are.
Seems to me they're up to the house
somewheres. I'll give 'em to you to-
morrer."
You'll give 'em to me right now.
I'll tend shop while you 60 after EN-"
For a moment 1t looked az though
the man of business would rebel out
right. But the captain was 30 calm
and evidently 20 determined to do ex-
actly what he promised that Web gave
up In despair. Mutterlng that maybe
they were ''round the place after all"
be went into the back room and reap
peared with the burned coat and the