The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-03-11
CHAPTER n.-(Continued).

sometlfne beToTe at Mr cars request,
and Uncle Jabe'' substituted. He
said he liked it better; 1T wasn't so
formal. Besides, he admitted, in a burst
of truthfulness. he had never been
more than {. captains mate.
Not personally, my lad" replied
Jabez, between puffs. "Jest as every
one knewed her hereabouts. kim of
at a distance. you might say"
Did you Know my father"
3abez looked up quickly. He had
heard quite that note in the
boys voice before. It occurred to him,
also, that Eric was paler han usual,
The old man suddenly felt the need OF
a cautious reply. He did his best,
Yes, sir, and he was a powerful fine
chap, too I used to see a great deal Of
him when he lived hereabouts.'
But he didn't live here, Uncle Jabe."
puffs at his pipe. ITO be sure he
diu2't," he corrected. II was thinkin'
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 the story
of the i'll fated M~idthornes. One could
moi V in Corinth OF Todville and be
out OF touch with Blagden history. But
it had not occurred to him that Eric
might be 1gnoran of the tragedy in his
own small life.
Jabez got up from the bench and
violently hurled his cane at a squirrel
that frisked nearby-an unheared of
act of cruelty on the part of the keeper
Of the gate.
"Consarn them pets!" he growled as
he shuffled owe to recover the cane.
The squirrel in plain establishment
paused after retreating a rod or two,
end looked back at its former friend.
Whererpon Jabez hoping to gain time,
hurled MS cane once more. The third
attempt required d most unnecessary
and futile fling into the lower branches
of a tree which might have been the
considered the private property of the
~perpleNed ~quadruped. Always poster
inga Teller, dang 'em. They're gettfn"
so dog-gone sassy lately HI they jest
set up and make faces at me. Did you
see h a little cuss turnin" up his nose
at me? If I ever
Il want to know all about nv
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
o how brave he was?''
No. 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 Il reference to that animal
in his muttered remark.
Well. TN be jiggeredi did she say
that? She must be crazy. Why, it was
done in a juel. fair and square. Every
body knows that"
"a jewel?'
Yes, sir. a juel. The fit 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! | guess you was too young. Takes
e. 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 regular jeuel, the kind you read
about in books. I'VE see many of 'em
In my time. Brave fellers fightin' fer
their lady owes That's wot your pa
wa a doin'- fightin' fer his true lady
love-"
For my mother?"
Jobez felt that he had come near to
OVERRIDING it. He acquiesced with haste.
"Of course. Who else?" he demand
Why did Aunt Rena say he had
a man? 1t isn't murder if
you kill a man in a duel. Everybody
knows that"
These ere corinth folks amt got
an idea OF ciiivalery," explained Jabez
warmly. They amt like you an me.
face of the yearth. Wo does your aunt
know about ~chivalery? Nobody ever
fought a juel fer her did they? 1 sh'd
say not! Did your Uncle Horace ever
challenge anybody to pistols or cut
Course she'd thiEk it was murder.
S'posin' the ether fellere'd killed your
Pa? Wot then? S'posin' they'd both
hit each other in a vital spot. Wo
hen shed call it a double murder. IT
erners are"
He had worked himself into a pretty
state.
You said you We're from Maine" re-
minded Eric. his eyes 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 we'll.
Who said / was born in Maine? Who
I z ask: Me from Maine? Well, I guess
three years. but that's all. I was born
In Virginny. Don't you ever say II
Listen, Uncle Jabe," interrupted the
boy eagerly. won 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
Jabez Carr. Don't ask so many
questions. Why. shiver me, I'm no en-
cyclopeedy. Jest wait a minute Eli I
go over and shut that gate. Then
Pll-"
sI,i1 do it,. cried Eric starting off
eagerly.
But Jabez halted him with an ex-
clamation in which .disn1ay was barely
disguised by g~ruffness. He needed a
moment for reflection, and he needed
an Inspiration.
Set down. TIL shut my own gate,
sonny. Wot am / here for2 Set down,
I say"
1t seemed to the impatient, quivcring
boy that the old mar was uncon-
scionably slow in performing the simple
feat. Mr.. Carr,s brow was more deep-
ly corrugated than ever as he shufflad
back to the watch house bench. AT
first he sought to change the topic OF
conversation, then he assumed anger
at the boys persistence. Eric's white.
eager. ~quivering face distressed him.
lie realized. with a pain in his heart,