Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-09

TILL TANNING u..,u e.,,a,s rnnrn.
OF ssE3ED Id - ,a.s.-....s,.,,,..sss,s,
By Henry Gardner Hunting

giant.
Red Ed stood in the middle Of the
floor, looking about him. His brows
were drawn down till they shadowed
his eyes heavily, and he looked out
from under them gloopily.
What do you want?" asked Mar
garet, with an effort to overcome the
huskiness IN her throat.
Red Ed moved a slow step toward
her. He seemed in mischievous
mood. A flicker Of grin passed
over his lips. Then he shambled
heavily forward with the uncertainty
of drunkenness.
AS the man came forward, the girl
slowly retired, earnestly hoping and
praying that the little boys would
make good their escape; but sudden
ly. as her retreat became apparent,
apprehension seized one of the little
fellows, and he screamed in an agony
Of terror.
The cry was too much for the girl.
At the moment she was standing be-
fore the stove, in which she had kept
a fire burning all through the cold
day. On the top lid Of the heater a
little kettle was still simmering, with
faint wisps Of steam ascending from
its spout. What seemed to Margaret
the crisis of her danger had come,
and the scream OF the child behind
her gave her the one spur to action
which she needed to make her reck-
less in desperation. She saw the
steam rising from the kettle, and in
stantly recognizing the weapon ready
to hand, she seized it and faced the
river-man with wild eyes.
Don't you dare come another
STEP" she cried. go away from
here! If you don't I'll scald you!"
The logger's eyes widened at the
threat and his lips lost their grin.
He stepped toward her. as if to snatch
the kettle from her hand. but Mar
garet was too quick for MIN. Her
threat had been no Jest, and in mo-
ment she made good her word.
She seized the kettle by its steam
ing spout, swept the cover Gathering
to the floor, and then with furious
energy dashed the boiling water
straight in the face Of her assailant.
Red Ed roared a. >ud, but stopped
in mis- ira acks, blinded, choking. cruel
ly burned. Then the biting pain and
the fear Of another fiery baptism
quenched even his wild spirit Of mis-
CHEZ, and he turned with mad
plunge for the door.
Little Jimmy Crawford brought
his father, with double-barreled
shotgun, to the schoolhouse within
five minutes after Red Ed had gone.
They found Margaret trying to COM
for: the frightened little boys. al
Tough she herself seemed more in
need of such care than they, for
now that the danger was gone, they
quiesed quickly. while to Margaret
the nervous shock had been severe.
Moreover, one of the girls hands had
been very badly burned by the
splash of the scalding water with
which she had beaten off her enemy.
She was taken home to Mrs. Craw-
ford, howeve", and after an hours
rest, q cup OF tea and sundry band
agings OF her hand in wet soda and
soft linen, she felt little batter.
She lay on Mrs. Crawford parlor
sofa as the dark Of night s.cwly set
tied down over the country. She was
striving to control her nervousness.
to regain her usual polse of good
spirits, and to bear the aching pain
in her hand without childish COM
paint. Mrs. Crawford, motherly
little woman. sat quietly at her side,
knitting and talking.
Does your hand pain you much
now, deary?" she asked gently, at
lastt..
Yes, a little" said the girl, wear
lily.
Mrs. Crawfor6's tone changed
with startling suddenness. "Well. l
hope that villains face has dozen
scalds to every one on your hand!"
she snapped.
Margaret opened he: eyes to smile
a. her companions vehemence, and
at the seeming barnarity OF such a
visa coming from such gentle lit
tie creature. Tlen suddenly she
grew sober and started up.
Why" sac cried. WHY, OF course
he was sca!ded! He must have been
awiuliy, awfu!iy burned. He must
have beer-why. l never thought OF
1t! This little bit got hurts me SO
how frightfully he must be suffer
ing away out In ths cold woods in the
nigat! Oh, What shall ! do? What
must we do?"
The outbreak was so unexpected
and surprising that little Mrs. Craw.
ford quite lost her breath. When she
rsgained 1t the girl was on her feet.
What in the world, child!" cried
the older woman, rising in haste.
"Fsve vou gone crazy?"
"On, no." Margaret's eyes we're
filling with tears as she came quickly
to ner friend. Mrs. Crawford, just
thought all at once how thai man
must be suffering now from the terri
bic scalding l gave him. He hasn't
any one to help him-to put soda on
his burns, or to take care Of him
They say ne went hack into the
woods, and so now he's out there by
the river. where they a,wars camp
and on, co YOU think-do YOU think