Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-08-13
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-1zz ILLUSTRATIONS 81 LAUREN STOUT -

library, but not alone-the old niger
was with him!
Uncle Jefferson bore q tray with a
frosted goblet over whose rim peeped
green leaves and which spread abroad
an ambrosial odOr, which the major
shifted approvingly as the other set
the burden On the desk at his elbow.
"Majah," said the latter solemnly,
you reck'n Mars John en- Miss Shir-
ley"
Good lord!" said the major, wheel
ing to the small ormolu clock on the
desk. IT'S most four o'clock Haven't
you any idea where he's gomez"
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 trees? Is he going to sell
them?"
Tree man come fom 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 it right off You're
a lucky old rascal to have him for
master"
"Hyuh, hyuh!" agreed Uncle Jeffer-
son. Danny Co'ot er heap bettah
dan driyin' er OF 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 mought'ly 'sturbed in nah
mind-moughtly 'sturbed!"
The hidden watcher waited motion
less. From where he stood he could
look. He waited till through the rear
window he saw the Negroes 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 Hell's-Half-Acre rushed in and
struck him a single sledge-hammer
blow with the dubbed 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 PROSTATE form, his
hand CROPPED for the cold goblet and
lifting 1t to his lips, drained it to its
dregs "There!" he said. There's my
six-years' debt paid in full, We lily-liv-
cred, fancy-weskited hellion! Take
that from the mayor of the Dome!"
There was a 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 a swift
eT Nemesis pursuing. 1t is only a dog,
and not big one at that. but it is of a
faithful breed that knows neither fear
nor quarter. Like white lightning,
without a bark or growl, Chum
launched himself on the fleeing quar-
ry, and in the shadow of the trees his
teeth met in the ragged trousersIeg.
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 it was with a tearing of flesh and
| sinew Painting, snarling with rage and
| pain, the man seized a fallen branch
and stood at bay, striking out with
vicious sweeping blows But the bull
dog, the hair bristling up on his thick
neck, his red-rimmed eyes fiery, cir
| cled beyond reach of the fail, crouch
/ ing for another spring.
! Again he launched himself, and the
man. lodging, Numbered full-face into
a thorn-bush. The sharp spines
slashed his forehead and the starting
1 blood blinded him, so that he ran with
/ out sense of direction straight upon
| the declivity of Lovers Leap.
| He was topping 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 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 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.
''Wen-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
lengthy minute
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