The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-25


man. Then sitting down as his
housekeeper left the room, he heard
Christie's story. Her father had been
called out of the tent late the night
before, set on by two men, robbed
of all his money, brutally beaten
about the head-and she had not
dared leave the tent to hunt up the
doctor till after daylight.
Without discussion. Carpy told her
to wait one minute till he could get
a cup Of coffee and he would go with
her.
But the cook had oversight, the
'coffee was not ready. Carpy NUT
tered somewhat and sputtered, rum
mayed about for some bandages, and
was ready to go with Christie. Il
Selwood kept a room at "Carpy's
Hotel" as it was locally known, and
usually slept there, but his hours
were irregular and he did not often
appear in the dining-room before
noon. This Sunday morning he was
UP early and walked down to the
River quarter on his way to Tracy's
tent. Near the bridge he saw Christie
coming up from the tents with Doc
tor Carpy. He would have passed
them, and preferred to do so, without
comment, for he was in no mood,
being jealous and resentfu:. to make
any appeal for Christie's favor; ac-
cOrdingly, he tried to pass on.
Carpy, however, held him. "John,"
he began, without preface or apology,
and catching the lapel Of Selwood's
coat to make sure of his victim, II
said to you only the other day, If
there's any human scum in the
whole blamed United States that
hain't landed in Sleepy Cat, it must
be Because they amt never heard of
it"yet'"
Beyond touching his hat, and that
almost without looking at her, Sell
wood did not acknowledge Christie's
presence. He held his eyes strictly
on Carpy, and received the doctors
outburst without visible emotion.
"Why don't you say something, you
big galoot?" demanded the doctor,
fused, to tell the truth, by the pres
ence of the slip of young woman at
his side-so young, indeed, that she
should be called girl rather than a
woman.
"What do you want me to say?"
asked SelwOOd, without smile. "You
always ask me that when you get
mad-and you're mad most Of the
time. What's bothering you?"
"John, here's this nice little girl"
he looked toward her and knit his
brows in perplexity-"dash itw he.
continued apologetically, II never
can remember your name"
The doctor had taken off his hat
and was scratching his ear when he
appealed to his companion for help.
Christie Fyler," interposed Chris
tie. Just the sound of her voice
pulled Selwood's eyes to her eyes.
And he saw she had been crying.
"You know this big hulk, don't
you, Christie?" asked the doctor with
genial informality. "If you DON'T" lie
continued. meet Gentleman John"
Selwood was impatient. "Don't be
fool, Doctor" he protested, pleased
neither at the mention Of his Sleepy
Cat nickname nor at the situation be-
fore him.
"Well, it Is Gentleman Johnv You
can't get rid Of it," persisted the
doctor. "You just tipped up your hat
to her, didn't you? Nobody else with
in hundred and fifty miles of
Sleepy Cat would do that. would
they?'
Selwood, perceiving the source of
the doctors loquacity. ignored the
rest of it. He turned his eyes on
Christie, whose face showed her dis
tress.
SIS your father sick?" he asked
without much feeling.
HE was robbed and beaten last
night" she replied looking at him
and speaking quickly. "Two men
came to the tent, called him out,
knocked him senseless, and took all
his money"
"a pocketful, tool" interjected the
doctor.
"And yesterday morning Mr.. Atkins
took possession Of the store and put
father out of 1t entirely"
Selwood could no longer pretend In
difference.
"Why?" he asked mildly.
Christie wrung one hand nervously
in the other. "Oh, I don't know
I can't understand 1t. neither can
father. He says father owes him
money-he doesDt-not penny.
But he's taken all our goods, and
everything! and put us out in the
street,"
Selwood listened without batting
an eye. Christie's restrained grief
was plainly acute.
Carpy thought it should have called
forth some expression of sympathy
from the gambler. "Why don't you
cav somethingf" demonstrated tho