The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-25

did not try. re strobe Up to fis enemy
and stood before him without a word
but with saddle speaking fot itself
on either arm.
"Well--well:' cried Mr.. Nat. "What
are you doing ont Of your room? And
what . what what have you got
there?.
The new saddles"
$50 see. My saddles. What have
you been doing with them? Where did
you find them, eh?'' H. r5q
The tone was loud and clustering,
but uncertain and surprised. In the
moonlight Tom looked his enemy cool
~ and steadily in the face, and the girl
drew away from her companion and
gazed at Tom. who never so much as
glanced at her as he replied:
"They were stolen. Thieves broke
into the saddle room and stole your sad
dies. heard them and followed them.
but ! never saw their faces close to
and ! wouldn't swear to a voice. fol-
lowed them to Jarman's hut. and, you
see. I've brought you your saddles
back"
Mr.. Nat never said a word. His blue
eyes glared fixedly at Tom out of a
white face, from which the girl 0'Brien
edged farther and farther away.
mo; | can't tell you who the men
We're" continued Tom, but can tell
You who put them up to it. 1t was not
a convict, Mr.. Sullivan. but a meaner
hound than any convict on your farm.
One who has a special spite against
me-the Lord knows why, So he brib-
ed these men to take the saddles SIM
ply In order to get me into trouble.
What do you think Of that? over
heard all about it out at Jarman's hut.
| heard his name too. Would you like
to know what 1t isT'
.Sure it's himself-the dhirty divilr'
! And Peggy 0'Brien was at Toms
side. with one hand clutching his arm
and the other pointing scornfuIly at
the baleful blue eye and the vile. quiy.
aring lips Of the younger Sullivan.
What followed was the affair Of
moment. II was as IL a mad bull had
made q rush, though whether at the
girl or Tom or both 1t was impossible
70 say. Tom thought the first, dropped
the saddles. and his right arm few out
from the shoulder A sharp smack,
heavy thud. and Nat Sullivan lay In a
heap or tie ground. with a iivid mark
between the ear and the eye that lay
uptr-ned 10 the moon.
"ye've kilt'm' Ye've kilt'm." cried
the girl. clng!ng In terror TO Toms
arm.
Il hope | have" he answered. at
will be good thing done for all con-
cerned"
"Whisht' They'll be afther hearin'
We. Look behind"
Even as he turned the gate swung
open. and theEs was Or Sullivan him
self. with his frogged coat flying and
his night shirt tapping outside his nan
keen breeches The Waterman Roberts
was ~ his masters naked heels, close
~ followed by Ginger. the overseer. in
similPr dishabille. These two seized
rom, who showed no semblance of re-
sistance. while the doctor kneIt owe,
the fallen man and felt his heart.
+ only stunned" said he. looking up.
"But you shall smart for this, you mis-.
creant. II you don't hang yet! The
very man he warned me against-the
very man whose part / took against
him! What have you TO say for your
self. you ruiiian. before l have you put
in irons and locked upy'
You saw the blow, DIR. Sullivang"
"You dare to ask me? With my own
eyes. you villain"'
Then you also saw the cause"
Cause; What cause? AS IL there
could be anyr'
He would have struck a woman if 1
hadn't struck him first"
Its lie." said a hollow voice from
the ground. And a bloodthirsty eye
tovered Tom.
"Ha. my boy! Thank God. you are
no worse. But sit still and leave this
dog TO me. A woman. do you say
An fmuttftauf cluf xubnfc ne cha haitian,