The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-02-15
CHAPTER III-Continued


ave course, Donny," he acquiesced.
save course ORR come back when
ye're finished"
He went downstairs, rubbers thump-
ing on the treads, but he stood at the
bottom a long interval, shaking his head
in misgiving and muttering to himself.
Then he turned about and crept back
as softly as cat. On the upper land
ing he seated himself leaning against
the thin partition of matched boards
which separated him from the sick
man.
A half hour, perhaps, Bird-Eye sat
there growing cramped and chilly in
the draughty hallway. Then he leaped
to his feet with a little cry. From
within had come long, retching gasp,
a sharp creak of bed springs, thud
on the floor. Blaine burst into the
room. The catalogue was beside the
bed. Old Don lay half doubled for
ward, face in the blankets, one limp
hand swaying slightly as it dangled
over the edge.
"Donny! Denny, by, what's upT
He raised the limp figure, laid it
back, stared hard at the face which
now seemed so peaceful and then ran
excitedly down the stairway in frenzied
search of Joe Petite.
In the room was confusion after Doc
tor Sweet answered the hasty sum-
MONS The doctor felt vainly for a
pulse, touched the shrunken breast Of
the old cruiser and then turned away
with a significant shake of his head.
The usual things were said and then
Bird-Eye and the physician were alone
in the room. The little Irishman's eyes
brimmcd with tears but behind these
was an intent look as of one who i'm
patiently awaits opportunity to pursue
specific purpose. and when the others
trooped down the stairway he closed
the door and returned hastily to the
bedside.
"Sure md where is ut?" he asked
beneath his breath, riffling the leaves
of the bulky catalogue, shaking folds
out of the rumpled blankets.
"What are you after, Bird Eyer" the
doctor asked.
"Ah! Here ut bel"
On his hands and knees, peering be-
meath the bed, he uttered that ejacula-
tion and, reaching far under, rose to
his knees with sealed, envelope in his
hands. 4@
Across the face was a scrawl, writ
ten with an indelible pencil. Blaine
scowled as he tried to make out the
words, got to his feet, and moved
across the room to hold the envelope
closer to the light. Doctor Sweet bent
over it beside him.
"Ben Elliott" the latter read aloud.
"Open this when the nut gets too hard
to crack"
The doctor scratched his mustache.
He turned his face to meet Bird-Eye's
startled gaze.
Its somethin', Doctor, thut he didn't
dare die with on his soul! Somethin'
he was fearful to tell if he lived, as
well. :. Somethin' :" His hand
holding the letter trembled sharply.
Doctor. sure md it's somethin' about
tn ovid devil himself!"
Brandon"
"None otherr'
Emory Sweet Strengthened and gave
a long-drawn Hum-m-m.
Brandon for surew Bird Eye whis-
pered hoarsely. Twas Brandon kept
Denny out av lineup fer years, want
it? Twas Brandon TUX him when he
was hittin' tn booze years back md
made a slave av him. he did! It's
Brandon who's ben comm here livery
night, not lolke you or I'd come, but
loike a masther d come to watch a
slave slave he was a-scared to
have around.
why was a rich man lolke Nick
Brandon afraid av n ovid bum like
DonnyT' he demanded, shaking the let
ter almost accusingly close In the
others face. "Who was Z with Faxson
when he died? Who was t put Fax
sons murder on McManus?" He gesti-
culated gravely toward the bed. Him.
Him, Nick Brandon's slave, who
vance was a man, who wlnt to hell
with booze, who's truckled to Brandon
evir since until his pore ovid heart
broke I"
"By George. Bird-Eye. 1t does look
as though 1t might" The doctor
did not finish what he had started to
say. Instead he remarked intently:
I'D give good deal to know Just
what's In that letterl"
"Ofl be takin' II myself to Ben
Elliott this night. Aw. nd won't
Misther Brandon squirm whin tn by
starts In crackin' tn tough mutt Nd
it's tn justice av the saints, no less,
that Brandon brings Elliott to Able's
attinrion in foight over ovid Denny"
They went down the stairway to-
gether after closing the door softly be-
hind them. Bird-Eye mutterIng impreca-
lions on the head of Nicholas Brandon.
And even as Doctor Sweet emerged
from the dark mouth of the narrow
stairway, the front door opened and
Brandon himself entered the hotel,
STAINING new snow from hie foot