Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-03-11
CHAPTER m.-(continued)

The word Major had been abandoned
Lometime before at Mr.. Cars request,
n Uncle Jabe' substituted He
said he liked it better; it wasn't SO
formal, Besides, he admitted, in a burst
of truthfllness. he had never been
more than a captains mate.
Not personally. my lad" replied
one knowed her hereabouts. Kind OF
at a distance. o might say"
Did you know my father?"
Jabez looked up quickly. He had
newer heard quite that note in the
boys voice before. 1t occurred to him.
also, that Eric was paler than usual.
The old man suddenly felt the need of
q cautious reply. He did his best.
Yes. sir. md he was q powerful fine
chap. too. / used to see a great deal of
him when he lived ~hereabouts."
But he didn't live here, Uncle Jabe. -
Jabez collected himself In four fierce
puffs at his pipe. ITO be sure he
of another Teller. A Teller named
Briggs. Handsome chap as used to be
second mate on the FREELY, a ship l."
did my father Kill a MANI"
OF course. old Jabez knew h story
of the Ill fated Midthornes. One could
not live in Corinth or Todville and be
out of touch with Blagden history. But
it had not occurred to him that Eric
might be ignorant Of the tragedy in his
own small life.
Jabez got up from the bench and
Violently hurled his can at a squirrel
that frisked nearby-an unheared Of
net OF cruelty on the part Of the keeper
of the gate.
"Ccnsarn them pets!" he growled as
ne shuffled over to recover the cane.
The squirrel. in plain establishment.
paused after retreating a rod or two,
and looked back at its former friend.
Whcrclpon Jabez hoping to gain time,
hurled his cane once more. The third
attempt required a most unnecessary
and futile fling into the lower branches
of II tree which might have been the
considered the private property of the
perplexed quadruped. always poster
inga Teller. dang 'em. They're gettin'
80 ~dog-gone sassy lately that they Jest
set up and make faces at me. Did you
see that little cuss turnin" up his nose
ct me? If I ever
Il want to know all about my
father" interrupted Eric. a tense note
In his young voice. What did he do?
Tell me. My aunt says he killed a
man,"
a bright thought struck the old man.
Sure he did, and a DANCED brave
thing it was, too. Did't your aunt tell
you how brave he VASE"
mo. She said he murdered a man in
cold blood"
Jabez said something under his
breath. and looked about him for an
other squirrel-or perhaps it was the
cat, for one with very sharp ear might
nave caught u reference to that animal
In his muttered remark.
Well. IN be jiggered! did she say
that? She must be razy. Why, 1t was
done in a juel. fair and square. Every
body knows that"
"A jewel?"
Yes. sir. a juel. The tit a juel.
With swords, dye see-or maybe it was
pistols. They fit like two southern
gentlemen always fight-with weepins.
Amt you ever. heerd about it? Well,
well! l guess you was o young. Takes
mighty brave Teller to fight a juel,
sonny"
Eric's eyes began to glow: his lips
trembled with the sudden gush of re-
lief that swept through him.
"A duel. Uncle Jabe?" he cried. "a
real duel?"
"A reg'lar jeuel, the kind you read
about In books. i've see many of 'em
In my time. Brave fellers fightin' fer
their lady loves. That's wot your pa
was a DOM fightin' fer his true lady
love-"
For my mother?"
Jobez felt that he had come near to
overriding 1t. He acquiesced with haste.
II ~ SSAASC. CASo. le OGIIldllU-
Why did Aunt Rena say he had
murdered a man? 1t isn't murder IL
you kill o man in q duel. Everybody
knows that"
These ere Corinth folks Amt got
nm idea OF chtvalery," explained Jabez
warmly. They amt like you an me-.
They are the narriest people on the
face Of the yearth. Wot does your aunt
know about c~htvalery? Nobody ever
fought q 1uel fer her did they? I sh'd
sny not! Did your Uncle Horace aver
challenge anybody to pistols or cut
Course she'd Think ii wa as murder ser.
S'posin' the other fellere'd killed your
pa? Wot then? S'posin' they'd both
hit each other in a vital spot. Wot
then? shed call It q double murder, 1t
shows how DANCED marry these north
erners are
He had worked himself into a pretty
state.
You said you were from Maine" re-
minded Eric, his veg dancing. I filled
the old mans heart with Joy to see the
effect OF his ruthless lying.
1t was necessary for him to repudi-
ate the state he loved SO well.
Who said ! was born in Maine? Who
I ask: Me from Maine? Well. I guess
not. Ii went to school in Maine for
three years. but that's all. I was born
In virgirny. Don't you ever say t."
Listen, Uncle Jabe," interrupted the
boy eagerly. Wont you tell me all
about my father and the duel? What
was 1t about? Who was the other man?
Where was my mother when"
stew that, now. my lad" cried
Jahez Carr. Don't ask SO many
questions. Why. shiver. me. Tn no en-
cyclopeedy. Jest wait q minute till I
30 over and shut that gate. Then
I'll do It" cried Eric, starting off
eagerly.
But Jabez halted him with an ex-
IClamation In which disrnay was barely
disguised by gruffness. He needed a
mornen for reflection. n he needed
an inspiration.
.sSet down. tIll shut my " gate,
sonny. Wot am I here for? Set down,
! aay.
II seemed to the impatient, .quivcring
boy that the old man was uncon-
sci0nably slow In performing the simple
feat. Nj. Cars brow was more deep
" corrugated than ever az he ohuff1sd
back to the watch house bench. AT
fitst he sought TO change the topic OF
conversation then he assumed anger
atsthe boys persistence. Eric's white,
eager, aniverfnG face distressed him.
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