The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-08-20

lie was topping on It's edge DeIore
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 frenziedly
to crawl to the path.
But the white bulldog was upon him,
The clamping teeth met in the striving
fingers, and with a 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
"Well-Southall?
The doctors hand closed over the
white one on the settee. He did not
answer, but his chin was quivering
and he was winking fast.
"How long?" asked the major after
a lengthy minute.
"Maybe-maybe an hour, Bristow
Maybe not"
The major WINGED and shut his eyes
but when the doctor, reaching swiftly
for phial on the table, turned again
1t was to find that look once more OF
him, now in yearning appeal. South
ALL" he said, send for Judith. Il
must see her There's time"
The judge started up. "In bring
her." he said, and his voice had all the
tenderness of a woman's. my car
riage is at the door and with those
horses she ought to be here in twenty
minutes" He leaned over the couch
'Bristow," he said, would you--woult
you like me to send for the, rector"
The major smiled, little wistfully
and shook his head. He lay silent fol
while after the Judge had gone out
he seemed housing his strength-while
the ormolu clock on the desk ticked
ominously on, and the doctor buSiet
himself with the glasses beside him
Presently he said huskily:
You've had bad fall. Bristow. You
were dizzy. l reckon"
"Dizzy!" echoed the major with
feeble asperity. "It was Greet King"
"Greef King! Good God!"
He was hiding behind the screen
He struck me with something. Hs
swore at his trial he'd get me. l was
"a fool not to have remembered his
time was out"
A look, wolf.like and grim. hac
sprung into the doctors face. His eyes
searched the room, and he crossed the
floor and picked up something from
the rug. He looked at 1t a moment
then thrust it hastily into his breast
pocket.
"I-remember now. 1t was a pistol
He snapped it twice, but it missed
fire."
He can't hide where Wen not fln6
him!" The doctor spoke with low but
terrible energy.
Not that care-myself," said the
major difficulty. But l reckon he'd
better be settled with, or he'll-be kill
ing some one worth while one of These
days"
A big tear suddenly loosed itseli
from the doctors eyelid and rolled
down his cheek, and he turned hastily
away.
There's no call to feel bad" said
the major grufi1y. I've sort of been g
thorn-in-the-flesh to you, Southall. We
always rowed, somehow, and yet"
The doctor choked and cleared his
throat.
"I reckon" the major murmuret
with a faint smile, you won't gel
quite so much fun out Of Chalmers
and the rest. They never did rise te
you as l did"
A little later he asked for the restor
ative. "Ten minutes gone," he sale
then. Chalmers ought to be at Rose
wood by now what fool way
to go-like this. But 1t wasn't-apo
plexy, Southall. anyway"
At the sound of wheels on the drive
Valiant went out quietly. Huddled II
a corner Of the hall were Uncle JET
ferson and Aunt Daphne, with Jere
boam, the majors body-servant. Aun
Daphne, her apron thrown over hel
face was rocking to and fro silently
and old Jereboam's head was boweC
on hts breast. Valiant went quickly
to the rear of the hall. A painful EN-
barrassment had come to him-a curl
Gus confusion mingling with q fastidi
GUS sense of shrinking. How shoult
he meet this woman who recoiled from
the very sight Of his face? In thu
swiftnesS OF the tragic event he haC
forgotten this. From the background