Gilpin observer., 1914-07-16

green leaves and which spread abroad
an ambrosial odor, which the major
sniffed approvingly as the other set
the burden on the desk at his elbow.
| "Majah." said the latter solemnly,
you reck'n Mars John ea Miss Shir-
ley"
Good lord!" said the major. wheel
ing to the small ormolu clock on the
desk. Its most four o'clock. Haven't
you any idea where he's gone?"
mo, sub. less'n he's gwineter look
ovah dem walnut trees. Whut Abs
gwine ter say-yo' reck'n Mars John
en- Miss"
Walnut trees7 Is he going to sell
them?"
Tree man come rom up norf' some
whah ter Sc erbout ct yistidday. Vas,
sub. Yo' reck'n Mars John en-"
Nice pot of money tied up in that
timber! He saw 1t right off. You're
a lucky old rascal to have him for a
master"
"Hyuh, hyuh!" agreed Uncle Jeffer
son. Danny Co'ot er heap bettah
dan drivin' er OIL stage ter de deepo
| fer drummahs en- lightnin' rod agents
All sho' do pray de Good Man ter mex
Mars John happy" he added soberly,
but Abs mought1y sturbed in nah
Fundamentally 'sturbed!"
The hidden watcher waited motion
less. From where he stood he could
look. He waited till through the rear
| window he saw the negro's bent figure
disappear into the kitchens. Then he
noiselessly lifted himself upright, and
| resting the pistol on the screen-top.
took deliberate ain and pulled the
| trigger.
The hammer clicked sharply ON the
worthless thirty-year-old cartridge, and
the major sprang around with an ex-
clamation. as with an oath, the other
dashed the screen aside and again
pulled the trigger.
You Internal murderer" cried the
| major. It was all he said, for. as he
swung his chair up, the one-time bully
Of -HalfAcre rushed in and
struck him a single sledge-hammer
blow with the clubbed pistol. 1t fell
full on the majors temple and the
heavy iron crashed through.
Greet King stood an instant breath
ing hard. then. without Withdrawing
his eyes from the prostrate form. his
hand groped for the cold goblet and
lifting it to his lips, drained 1t to its
dregs. "There!" he said There's my
six-years' debt paid in full. ye lily-liv-
cred. fancy-weskited hellion! Take
that from the mayor of the Dome!"
There was mans step on the
gravel and the sudden bark OF a dog.
The pistol fell from his hand He
stole on tiptoe along the corridor and
leaped through the French window.
AS he dashed across the lawn. a
startled cry came from the house be-
hind him.
No human eye had seen him. but he
had been observed for all that. Run
your best now, Greet King! Double
| and turn how you will, there Is swift
er Nemesis pursuing. 1t is only a dog.
and not a big one at that. but 1t is of a
faithful breed that knows neither fear
nor quarter. Like white lightning,
without bark or growl. Chum
launched himself on the fleeing quar-
ry. and in the shadow of the trees his
teeth met in the ragged trousers-leg.
Kicking. beating with his hands at
the dragging weight, the man dashed
on. Not till they had reached the hem
locks was that fierce grip broken, and
then 1t was with a tearing of flesh and
8inew. Painting. snarling with rage and
pain, the man seized a fallen branch
and stood at bay. striking out with
vicious sweeping blows. Eut the bull
dog, the hair bristling up on his thick
neck, his red-rimmed eyes fiery, cir
cled beyond reach OF the fail, crouch
| ng for another spring.
Again he launched himself, and the
man, lodging, blundered full-face into
a thorn-bush. The sharp spines
slashed his forehead and the starting
blood blinded him. so that he ran with
out sense of direction-etraight upon
the declivity OF Lovers Leap.
He was toppling on its edge before
he could stop. and then threw himself
backward, clutching desperately at the
slippery fern-covered rock. feeling his
feet dangling over nothing. He dug
his fingers into the yielding soil and
with knee and elbow strove frenzedly
| to crawl to the path
But the white bulldog was upon him
The clamping teeth met in the striving
fingers, and with scream of pain
Greet Kings hold let go and dog and
man went down together.
Ten minutes later a motor was hurl-
ing itself along the Red Road to the
| village. The doctor was in his office
and no time was lost In the return En-
route they passed Judge Chalmers
driving. and seeing the flying haste
he turned his sweating pair and lashed
them after the car.
So that when the major finally
opened his eyes from the big leather
couch, he looked on the faces Of two OF
his oldest friends. Recollection and
understanding seemed to come at once.
NyVaII-Gnuthon