Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-06-25

~ ~ oN0Rr 6ha NhSA
backward. clutching desperately at the
slippery f~ern-covered rock, feeling his
feet dangling over nothing. He dug
his fingers into the yielding soil and
with knee and elbow strove f~renziedly
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 dashed
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.
enthusiastically"
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 a phial on the table, turned again,
it was to find that look once more on
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-would
you like me to send for the %rector?"
The major smiled, a little wistfully,
and shook his head. He lay silent for
a while after the judge had gone out
he seemed housing his strength-while
the ormolu clock on the desk licked
ominously on, and the doctor busted
himself with the glasses beside him
Presently he said huskily;
you've had a bad fall, Bristow, You
we're dizzy, 1 reckon"
Dizzy" echoed the major with
feeble ~asperity. 1T was Greet King"
Greet King! Good God!"
"He was hiding behind the screen
He struck me with something. He
swore at his trial he'd get me. | was
"a fool not to have remembered his
time was out"
A look, wolf.like and grim, hat
sprung into the doctors face. His eyer
searched the room, and he crossed the
floor and picked up something from
the rug. He looked at it a moment
then thrust 1t hastily into his breast
pocket.
"I-remember now. 1t was a pistol
He snapped 1t twice, but it missed
fire."
HE can't hide where we'll not fine
him!" The doctor spoke with low bui
terrible energy.
mot that / care-myself," said the
major difficulty. But l reckon he't
better be settled with, or he'll-be kill
ing some one worth while one of these
days"
A big tear suddenly loosed itsel
from the doctors eyelid and rolled
down his cheek, and he turned hastil.
away.
There's no call to feel bad" saiC
the major gruf1y. I've sort of been
thorn-in-the-f1esh to you, Southall. w
always rowed, somehow, and yet"
The doctor choked and cleared hi
throat.
81 reckon" the major murmuret
with a faint smile, you won't ge
quite so much fun out Of Chalmers
and the rest. They never did rise t.
you as 1 did"
A little later he asked for the restor
alive. Ten minutes gone" he sal,
then. Chalmers ought to be at Rose
wood by now what a fool wa,
to go-like this. But it wasn't-apo
plexy, Southall, anyway"
4 At the sound Of wheels on the drive
Valiant went out quietly. Huddled il
a corner of the hall were Uncle Jei
ferson and Aunt Daphne, with Jert
boam, the majors b~ody-servant. Aun
: Daphne, her apron thrown over he
face was rocking to and fro silently
and old Jereboam's head was bowe
: on his breast. Valiant went quickl
to the rear of the hall. A painful en-
barrassment had come to him-a cur
Gus. confusion mingling with a fastid
GUS ems of shrinking. How shout
3 he meet this woman who recoiled fro1
: the very sight Of his face? In th
swiftness Of the tragic event he ha
forgotten this. From the backgroun