The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-05

A policeman appeared, but I was a member of the Legislature, and un- der the law I had privileges. You'll find us at the hotel" said Warfield to the officer 'This affair was forced upon MT. Clarke, and he will not seek to escape responsibil- ity.'
 I have been thankful often that fate has given to me true friends. The love Of man for woman is a fine thing, but the friendship of man for man is a fine thing too, and that even ing Warfield and Peden were like a wall around me-
 Reports of the affair, colored and l exaggerated as usual had spread be- | fore. When we reached the hotel we found the Hobbies densely packed, and there was buzz of excited comment as we appeared. But [. noticed with secret joy that it was not hostile that is, the majority of it. On the contrary, it inclined distinctly to my side. Ii must be remembered that in l our State we are only three genera tions from a condition of incessant warfare when a mans life depended on his quickness. strength and cour- age, and these qualities are still high l ly respected by Kentuckians. i But we made our way as quickly as possible through the crowd and pass l ed up the stairway to my room. ''Jimmy,' I said. when we were in the upper hall. wont you send back, for Gods sake, and find, out that he is not really dead?' 1 Peden himself turned back, and re- | turned presently with the news that ; Buck had revived. though terribly shaken.
 %It will be some time before he can wear tight collar,' said Peden grim ly.
 I felt as if my feet rested on solid ground again. I did not want the death of any man on my hands, even | 1f the deed were done in self defence. I neither wished the death of Bucks nor that I should be the cause of it. | 'I think it just as well that this | affair has come to a head so soon," said Jimmy Warfield. There was more in it than shows on the sur l face"
 "The attacks of Bucks upon me were wholly unprovoked.'' I said. ''So I know said Warfield, frown- ing. I'm afraid we've had a sort of thing here that I've never heard, of in Frankfort before.'' He walked to the window and looked out thoughtfully. Peden sat in chair beside my writing-table, and he. too. was preoccupied. drawing his long whiskers between his thumb and fore III, and l stood by the mantel facing it. I was not looking into the hall-my thoughts were on that dark scene in the street-but suddenly I saw Alicia's face appear there, and at the same time she saw mine. I think she must ] have been on her way to the parlor below, or perhaps to the lobby when she caught sight of me standing by the mantel. She stopped short, as if one risen from the dead had appeared before her, and uttered a little, stran- gled cry I stepped forward toward the door, and at the same time she, too, took step toward it.
 'Harry!" she cried. "You! You! Alive!'
 ''Yes, alive, of course" I responded wonderingly.
 She took another step toward me and the blood poured back into her face. l read something there that gave me the keenest joy, and pain too, because this joy should not be mine.
 Harry she said, "they told me that you were dead! Killed by that terrible man, Bucksi"
 I heard a light noise behind me. Peden ceased combing his beard be- tween his thumb and forefinger, and going to the window stood beside Warf1eld. Both were looking out and
 
 us.
 '"There was fight said. "He l attacked me without cause-I could not help it-he got the worst of it."
 Thank God!' she said, and then she added, "Is he dead?'' Her voice as she asked the question expressed no regret, no fear, but I an- swered:
 NO, nor do believe that he is much hurt.'
 "He will attack you again?" she said.
 q do not think it. He has missed his purpose wholly, and he would scarcely risk it second time.'' Tt was @ wicked attempt upon you, Harry she said And when I heard that it had succeeded I felt as if my own life had come to an end. I do not hesitate to tell you that"
 She turned and went back up the hall. A lucky chance kept any ex- cept those two who would not see from seeing us together, and I heard the next day that her mother was mounting special guard over her. knew that Mrs Warren would neglect no opportunity to malign me, and to prove, if she could, that I, and not Bucks, had caused the quarrel. While I had told Alicia that Bucks would not renew the trouble, I was not so sure, and after a short talk with Warfield and Peden I went to HarrisOn's room. I found Harrison there alone smoking a meditative ci- gar, and he politely asked me to take a seat.
 '"To tell you the truth. you are a rather fOrmidabl guest, MT. Clarke he said. "I did not see your encoun- ter with MT. Bucks, but I hear re- markable stories of the manner in which you handled him. They say you have grip like that of Samson. How did you get so much strength into your hands and arms?''
 His eyes roved about the room, and then rested upon me, full of curiosity and inquiry. I shivered a little; it seemed to me that his question con- tained a hidden meaning, a sugges- tion, an insinuation and I remembered my foolish exploit with the great hammer in his presence. Yet it might be my fears that gave to his words @ meaning he did not intend, and re- piled with an assumption of careless. ness:
 Mature and exercise. But I want you, MT. Harrison, to do something for me-"
 Anything in reason" he replied, still looking at me curiOuSly.
 Gall off this man, Bucks,'' I said.
 He laughed with apparent lightness
 ''It seems to me, from what I hear" he replied. "that you are the one who needs calling. I hear that you shook