Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16

was quite sure 1 should not make this re-
quest of you in vain
He took his cigar out of his mouth and
looked at me.
Clarke?" he said. 1--WE seen strange
things. and / am likely to see others
equally or more strange happen. too
To a third person his remark might
have seemed irrelevant or enigmatic, but
my fears were aroused again. and that
little shiver passed over me once more.
Ie: | pretended not to notice their SEEM
ing incOnsequence.
80 it is l replied. Il quote to you
that very ancient saying. Truth is
stranger than fiction. :"
He laughed not unpleasantly, and re-
peating my assurance Of gratitude ! left
him, still smoking his cigar, and looking
with eXpressionless eyes at the wall on
the other side of the room.
! will admit that I was troubled after I
left Harrison, far more by his apparent
shot in the dark than by anything that
Bucks might do. Yet he could not really
know anything about that blank chapter
in my life. and IL he guessed something he
held that secret and neither fire nor steel
could make either tell. My courage came
back. and even If Harrison guessed any
thing 1 should challenge his power to
make others believe it.
The Bucks affair brought me great no.
toriety. which I did not like. Bucks him
self was compelled to remain In bed sew
eral days-his vocal cords were strained
the doctors said, and I could well believe
II. Meanwhile the newspapers came in
from all parts of the state with lurid ac-
counts of the affair. and did not wholly
blame them, as an encounter between two
members of the legislature in the street,
with pistol ball flying, is certainly legi-
innate food for sensation. Yet the ac-
counts were highly colored. and, in many
instances. exaggerated beyond recogni-
ton.
l secretly feared the wrath of Aunt
Jane and Uncle Paul. l had built up q
new character with them. and now it was
to be shattered by miserable street fight
The letter from them quickly came. and it
was written by Aunt Jane. I take from
it the trend of what she wrote:
MY Dear Nephew:
Your Uncle Paul and [ have carefully
considered what you did i'm the matter of
the man Bucks. We have read many ac-
counts in the newspapers. and We have
also had reports from friends. Now We
have come to the conclusion that being a
man you could not have acted otherwise
than man. We believe in soft speech
and u long suffering temper but when one
is put upon too hardly he must rise up
and smite. 1t was thus that the children
of Israel did under the guidance of God.
Therefore we are glad you did demolish
the man Bucks for the time being, and
We remain without alarm. feeling assured
that if the necessity should arise you can
do the same TO him again..
| smiled when | read ii. and yet mOiS-
ture came into my eyes. Truly my char
acter was re-established with them, and
in the most solid manner. when they sus-
tanned me in an affair that might well
bear false Interpretation with such Purj-
tans. But felt great relief
The matter was quickly settled so far
as the law went Bucks. as soon as he
was able. appeared in the police court and
paid a fine. it having heeH proved that
he had provoked The quarrel and had fired
the shot. There was talk of having him
expelled from tho house. but it never
came to head. and in about ten days
he took mis- seat again.
| was at my desk when Bucks arrived,
reading the morning paper from Louis
vile. but the stir that his coming created
caused me 70 look up. and I met his eyes.
| saw there no sign of any future treaty
of friendship between us. The mountain
man had been ignomiEiOusiy beaten and
disgraced in a contest of physical prowess
and his pride had been hurt whera il
could be hurt most. His county would
be filed with the tale of his defeat and
half his prestige. if not all. would be
gone.
gaZe, and presently he turned his eyes
away. He had only brute strength and
courage and believed him to be cowed
Moreover l felt sure that he would not
trouble me again. because | had faith both
in Harrisons words and Harr.son's power.
The early signs confirmed my belief
Bucks very quiet throughout the
sion, and left promptly at adjournment.
Nor did he renew his attacks upon me.
Yet I felt that the atmosphere all around
me was surcharged.
In this situation, already tense and
strained in many ways, Il new factor sud
denly appeared. Introducing an ominous
complication. One winter afternoon dur