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CHAPTERXVIII
ThePryorMystery“AndnowoldDodson，turningpale，Yieldstohisfate——soendsmytale。“
Itdidn’ttakemelongtoseewhyShelleylikedRobertPaget。HewasoneoftheverymostlikeablepersonsIeverhadseen。Weweresittingundertheappletree，growingbetterfriendseveryminute，whenweheardasmash，sowelookedup，anditwasthesoundmadebyRangerasMr。Pryorlandedfromtakingourmeadowfence。Hehadriddenthroughthepasture，andwascomingdownthecreekbank。Hewasaspectacletobehold。AmileawayyoucouldseethatThomashadtoldhimhehadseenRobert，andwherehewas。FatherhadbeenmistakeninthinkingMr。Pryorwouldgotothehouse。Hehadlosthishat，hiswhitehairwasflying，hishorsewasinalather，andheseemedtobetalkingtohimself。Roberttookonegoodlook。“YeGods！“hecried。
“Therehecomesnow，achatteringmadman！“
“TheStation，“Ipanted。“Upthatravine！Rollbackthestoneandpullthedoorshutafteryou。Quick！“
Henevercouldhavebeeninside，beforeMr。Pryor’shorsewasravingalongtheembankmentbesidethefence。
“Whereishe？“hecried。“Thomassawhimhere！“
Ididn’tthinkhishorsecouldtakethefenceatthetopofthehill，butitlookedasifheintendedtryingtomakeit，andI
hadtostophimifIcould。
“Sawwho？“Iaskedwithclickingteeth。
“Atall，slenderman，withahandsomeface，andtheheartofadevil。“
“Yes，therewasamanherelikethatintheface。Ididn’tseehisheart，“Isaid。
“Whichway？“ravedMr。Pryor。“Whichway？Isheatyourhouse？“
ThenIsawthathehadthereinsinhislefthand，andabigrevolverinhisright。Sotherewasnomistakeaboutwhetherhe’dreallyshoot。Butthatgunprovokedme。Peoplehavenobusinesstobecarelesswiththosethings。They’redangerous！
“Hedidn’tdowhatyouthinkhedid，“Icried，“andhecanprovehedidn’t，ifyou’llstopcavorting，andlistentoreason。“
Mr。Pryorleanedoverthefence，darkpurplelikeabeetnow。
“Youtellmewhereheis，orI’llchokeitoutofyou，“hesaid。
Iguesshemeantit。Itookonelonglookathislean，clawlikefingers，andputbothhandsaroundmyneck。
“HeknewThomassawhim。Hewentthatway，“Isaid，wavingofftowardthenorth。
“Hah！strikingforpetticoats，asusual！“hecried，andawayhewentinthedirectionofhishouse。ThenIflewfortheStation。
“Comefromthere，quick！“Icried。“I’vesenthimbacktohishouse，butwhenhefindsyou’renotthere，hewillcomehereagain。Hurry，andI’llputyouinthewoodshedloft。He’dneverthinkoflookingthere。“
Hecameoutandwestartedtowardthehouse，goingprettyfast。
AlmosttothebackgatewemetShelley。
“Doesmotherknow？“Iasked。
“Ijusttoldher，“shesaid。
“Father，“Icried，goinginthebackdining-roomdoor。“Mr。
PryorwasdowninthemeadowonRanger。ThomasdidseeRobert，andhisfatherishuntinghimwithagun。Wesawhimcoming，soIhidRobertintheStationandsentMr。Pryorbackhome——IguessItoldhimalie，father，oratleastpartofone，Isaidhewent`thatway，’andhedid，butnotsofarasImadehisfatherthink；sohestartedbackhome，butwhenhegetsthereanddoesn’tfindRoberthe’llcomehereagain，madderthanever。Ohfather，he’llcomeagain，andhe’scrazy，father！Clear，ravingcrazy！Iknowhe’llcomeagain！“
“Yes，“saidfathercalmly。“Ithinkitveryprobablethathewillcomeagain。“
Thenhestartedaroundshuttingandlatchingwindows，closingandlockingthedoors，andhecarefullyloadedhisgun，andleaneditagainstthefrontcasing。Thenheputonhisglasses，andbeganexaminingthepaperstheyhadbroughtoutagain。Robertstoodbesidehim，andexplainedandshowedhim。
“Youseewithmeoutoftheway，theEnglishlawwouldgiveeverythingtomycousin，“hesaid，andheexplaineditalloveragain。
“Andtothinkhowhealwaysposedforaperfectsaint！“criedthePrincess。“OhIhopethedevilknowshowtomakehimpayforwhatallofushavesuffered！“
“Child！Child！
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