Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-08-26

Don't disturb yourself about me-"
said.
A good deal Of my hurt pride must
have found expression in that remark.
II am unjust" she said. II know
that you are doing what my mother
wants done and that you are not con-
sfdering yourself. shall he reason
able. want to make my mothers life
as pleasant as it can be made. / can
not understand everything that she
needs Of me. but know that you have
done everything that you could do for
her. I do not want to seem inconsid-
crate"
I'D like to protect you and your
mother" l said.
1--WE are indebted" said Isobel, with
chill and unkind restraint. Then she
smiled and said:
Good night. doctor. If am incon-
siderate at any time, put it down to a
naturally bad temper"
Jed had taken a small shotgun and
said that he was going after rabbits,
which We're unusually numerous and
threatened to be damaging to the
young brush about the place. It was
an October afternoon with warm
sun. An hour or two after Jed had
gone, went out for walk, going
down by the pool.
was in the brush for fifteen min
utes, and 1t happened that while was
there I saw from little prominence
the figure Of Jed on ahead with his
shotgun. He was some distance away,
but I could see that he was going
stealthify from tree to tree in an odd
fashion for one hunting for rabbits. It
was as If he were stalking something
rather than trying to kick rabbits up
out of the brush.
went on toward the pool. Once
again I saw Jed ahead of me. I came
out on the path and went on to the
river bank, where I sat down.
Whenever I saw a piece of drift in
the pool and watched its movements,
/ thought Of the body Of the slain
brother. 1t had been whirled out into
the current and had been carried down
stream. On the bank had been found
few torn bits of clothing-the sleeve
Of coat, collar spotted with Blood
q necktie and piece, of q white shirt.
There also had been found heavy
walking stick, bloodied and with hair
in the blood.
I had not been sitting on the bank
five minutes when I was startled by d
shot from the nearby thickets, and
bullet hit within two feet Of where
was sitting, knocking off the bark of
a tree. The report was not that Of
small shotgun such as Jed had car
ried. It was the report Of rifle or
pistol.
The Clipped bark showed that bull
let, not shot, had hit the tree, and I
was unpfeasantly conscious of what
had happened. Jed had shot at me,
probably with large caliber revolver.
He could not have had rife, unless,
he had one hidden in the brush.
had seen what he carried. not only as
ne left the house but as he was dodg-
ing through the thickets.
1t likely was pistol or a revolver.
and that WIS why he had missed me:
was stupefied for an instant, and 1
did not jump or start. was motion
less. not even looking around, but 1
was thinking rapidly. A subco1scious
protective idea formed almost instant
~, and when the next moment another
shot came from behind me, L fell for
ward an my face, rolled a, couple of
feet to bush. turned my face in the
direction from which the shot came.
got out my pistol and lay still.
After minute or two which seemed
a very song time, Jed's face came in
view in the brush. He looked malevo-
lent but seemed undetermined and
cautious. think he was uncertain
whether to leave my body where it lay
the river and have my disappearance
unexplained. His decision was given
him by the noise of a farm wagon APP
preaching on the road, and he disap-
peared. ! was ready to, shoot him II
he came, near me.
! was young and had youths conf
dence, but nevertheless this event
would have sent me away from Fart
ley If 1t had not been for Isobel and
Mrs. Sidney. They needed even my
small help and had to remain. had
to remain, but had also to protect
myself. Another time Jed might not
miss On the way back to the house,
thought out a plan which I believed
would work. inquired for Jed and.
was told that he was with Mr.. Sidney.
! found him there drinking, and my
entrance gave him a shock which he
plainly indicated. His fright made
him so ugly that he was comic.
Mr.. Sidney never liked to have his
vicarious drinking interrupted, but he
always, was good natured.
swell, DOCTOR" he said, what now?
Is Jed drinking too much for my
health?"