Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-03-10
CHAPTER 1I.--(Continued).

The w ord Major had been abandoned
sometime before at Mr.. Carr's request,
and Uncle Jabe' substituted. He
said he liked it better: it wasn't so
of truthfnlness. he had never been
more than Il captains mate.
Not personally. my lad replied
Jabez. betweeE putfs. Jest as every
one moved her hereabouts. Kind OF
at a distance. YOU might say"
Did o know my father"
Jabez looked up quickly. He had
never 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
a cautious reply. He did his best.
Yes, sir, and lie was a powerful fine
chap. too. l used to see Il great deal of
him when he lived h~ereabouts.'
But he didn't live here, Uncle Jabe."
Jabez collected himself in our fierce
puffs at his pipe. ITO be sur he
did"'t," he corrected. II was thinkin'
Briggs. Handsome chap as used to be
,econd mate on the FREELY. a ship l."
did my father kill q man?"
OF course, old Jabez knew the story
VI 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 cane at Il squirrel
that frisked nearby-an unheared of
act Of cruelty or the part of the keeper
Of the gate.
"Crnsarn them pets" he growled as
he shuffled over to recover the cane.
The squirrel. in plain establishment.
paused after r%etreating "A rod or two,
ind looked back at it's former friend.
Whcreupon Jabez hoping to gain time,
hurlad mis- cane once more. The third
attempt required q most Unnecessary
and futile fling into the lower branches
of a tree which might Ave been the
considered the private property of the
perplexed quadruped. always poster
shga Teller, dang EN-. They're gettin"
60 %dog-gone sassy lately that they Jest
set up and mak faces at me. Did you
see that little cuss turnin" up his nose
ct me? II I ever
II want to know all about my
father" interrupted Eric. a tense note
In hts 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, n a DANCED brave
thing it was, too. Did't your aunt tell
you 10 brave he WASP"
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 ears might
have caught u reference to that animal
in his muttered remark.
"Well. TN be jiggered! Ibid she say
that? She must be crazy. Why, it was
done in Il juel. fair and square. Every
body knows that"
"A jewell"
Yes. sir, a juel. The fit a tuel.
| With swords, dye see-or maybe it was
pistols. They fit like two southern
gentlemen always f~ight-with weepins.
| Amt you ever heerd about it? Well.
well! I guess O was too young. Takes
q 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 doin'- fightin' fer his true lady
love"
"For my mother?"
Jobez felt that he had come near to
overriding 1t. He acquiesced with haste.
.Of course. Who else?" he demand.
ed.
why did Aunt Rena say he had
murdered a man? It isn't murder II
you Kill q mar In a duel. Everybody
knows that"
These ere Curinth folks amt got
an idea Of chivalery," explained Jabez
warmly. They amt like you an me
They are the narriest people on the
face OF the yearth. Wo does your aun,
know.abcnt ,~chivalery? Nobody eve,
fought a juel fer her did they7 I sh'd
say not! Did your Uncle Horace evel
challenge anybody to pistols or cut
lasses? No. Stree! It ant In 'em
Course she'd Think It was murder
6'posin' the other fellere'd killed YOU
pa? Wot then? s'posin. they'd botl
hit each otter in q vital spot. Wo
then? she'd cali It = double murder. 1
shows how DANCED marry these north
erners ART"
He had worked himself into a prett,
state.
You said you were from Maine. re
minded Eric, his eyes dancing. I file
cffe:t Of his ruthless lying.
II was necesaary for him to repudl
ate the state he loved 20 we'll.
Who said I wa born In Maine? VIII
I ask: Ne from Maine? Well. I CUES
moi. Ill went tO school in Maine 70
In virginny. Don't you ever say l."
Listen, Uncle Jabe." interrupted tn
boy eagerly. wont you tell me a
about my father and the duel? Wha
was It about? Who was the other man
Where was my mother when"
"Stcw that. now. my lad" erie
Jahex Carr. Don't ask so man
question:. Why. shiver me. I'm no eI
cycl0peedy. Jest wait . minute TIL
70 over and shut that gate. Tho
1ll-"
"IIl do IT," cried Eric. starting Of
eagerly.
But Jabes halted him with IN OF
disguised BY g~ruf1ness. He needed
Mnnen6At -, pnVlANelNm amA hA uAAA0