第4章

Sheisthinkingofthewheatharvestwheretheyisthousandsmakesfureveryfall。Butnoneof\'emfurme。ThattherecountryisfullofthemScandiluvianSwedesandNorwegians，andtheygetsintothefieldbeforedaylightandstaystheresolongthehiredman\'sgottomilkthecowsbymoonlight。

“IbeenacrosttheriverintoI\'way，“Isays，“a-workingatmytrade，andnowI\'mgoingbacktoChicagotoworkatitsomemore。“

“Whatmightyourtradebe？”sheasts，sizingmeupcareful；andIthinksI\'llhandheronetochewonsheain\'tneverhearntellofbefore。

“I\'maagnosticbytrade，“Isays。Ispottedthattherewordinareligiousbookonetime，andthat\'sthefirstchancetIeverhastotryitonanyone。

Youcan\'tnevertellwhatthemreg\'larsockdologersisgoingtodotillyoutriesthem。

“Isee，“saysshe。ButIseenshedidn\'tsee。

AndIdidn\'thelphernone。Shewouldofrutherdiedthantoletonshedidn\'tsee。TheIrishislikethat。Purtysoonshesays：

“Ain\'tthatthedangerouskindo\'work，though！”

“Itis，“Isays。Andsaysnothingfurther。

Shesetsdownandfoldsherarms，likeshewasthinkingofit，watchingmyhandsclosetallthetimeIwaseating，likeshe\'slookingfurscarswheresomethingslippedwhenIdonethatagnosticwork。

Purtysoonshesays：

“MebrotherMichaelwaskiltatitintheoldcountry。Hewasthemostvinturesomeladofthimall！”

“Diditflyupandhithim？”Iastsher。I

waswonderingw\'ethersheismakingfunofmeoramImakingfunofher。ThemIrishislikethat，youcannevertellwhich。

“No，“saysshe，“hefelloffofit。AndI\'mthink-

ingyoudon\'tknowwhatitisyourself。“AndthenextthingIknowI\'measedouto\'thebackdoorandshe\'sgrinningatmescornfulthroughthecrackofit。

SoIwaswalkingslowaroundtowardthefrontofthehousethinkinghowtheIrishwasagreatnation，andwhatshallIdonow，anyhow？AndIsaystomyself：“Danny，youwasafooltoletthatcircuswalkoffandleaveyouasleepinthisheretownwithnothingoveryoubutabarbedwirefencethismorning。FurwhatAREyougoingtodonext？Firstthingyouknow，youWILLbeareg\'lartramp，whichsomefolkscan\'tbemadetoseeyouain\'tnow。“AndjestwhenIwasthinkingthat，afellercomesdownthefrontstepsofthathouseonthejumpandnabsmebythecoatcollar。

“Didyoucomeoutofthishouse？”heasts。

“Idid，“Isays，wonderingwhatnext。

“Backinyougo，then，“hesays，marchingmeforwardtowardthemfrontsteps，“they\'vegotsmallpoxinthere。“

Iliketoofjumpedloosewhenhesaysthat。

“Smallpoxain\'tnoinducementtome，mister，“

Itellshim。Buthetwistedmycoatcollartightanddughisthumbsintomyneck，allthetimehelpingmeonwardwithhiskneefrombehind，andIseentheywasn\'tnousepullingback。I

couldprobableoflickedthatman，butthey\'snosysteminmixingupwiththemwell-dressedmenintownswheretheythinkyouareatramp。Thejudgewillgiveyoutheworstofit。

Herungthedoorbellandthegirlthatopenedthedoorshelookedkindo\'surprisedwhensheseenme，andinwewent。

“TellProfessorBooththatDoctorWilkinswantstoseehimagain，“saysthemana-holto\'

me，notlettingloosenone。Andwesaysnothingfurthertilltheperfessorcomes，whichhedoes，slowandabsent-minded。Whenheseenmehetookoffhisglassesso\'shecouldseemebetter，andhesays：

“Whatisthatyouhavethere，DoctorWilkins？”

“Aguestforyou，“saysDoctorWilkins，grinningalloverhisself。“Ifoundhimleavingyourhouse。

Andyoubeingunderquarantine，andmebeingsecretarytotheboardofhealth，andthecitypest-housebeingcrowdedtoofullalready，I\'llhavetoaskyoutokeephimheretillwegetMissMargeryontoherfeetagain，“hesays。Ortheywaswordstothateffect，asthelawyersastsyou。

“Dearme，“saysPerfesserBooth，kindo\'help-

lesslike。AndhecomesoverclosettomeandlooksmealloverlikeIwasoneofthemamphimissourianlizardsinafreemuseum。Andthenhegoestothefootofthestairsandsingsoutinavoicethatwassobleached-outandflat-chesteditwouldoflookedjestlikehimhimselfifyoucouldofsawit——

“Estelle，“hesingsout，“oh，Estelle！”

Estelle，shecomedownstairslookinglikeshewastheperfessor\'sbigbrother。Ifoundoutlatershewashisoldmaidsister。Shewasn\'tnospringchicken，Estellewasn\'t，andtheywasacontinuousgrinonherface。Ifiggereditmustoffrozethereyearsandyearsago。Theywasakidabouttenorelevenyearsoldcomealongdownwithher，thathadhairdowntoitsshouldersanddidn\'tlooklikeitknowedwhetheritwasagirloraboy。

MissEstelle，shelooksmeoverinawaythatmakesmeshiver，whilethedoctorandtheperfessorjawsaboutwhosefaultitisthesmallpoxsignain\'tbeenhungout。Andwhenshewasdonelisteningshesaystotheperfessor：“Youhadbettergobacktoyourlaboratory。“Andtheperfessorhewentalongout，andthedoctorwithhim。

“Whatareyougoingtodowithhim，AuntEstelle？”thekidastsher。

“WhatwouldYOUsuggest，William，Dear？”astshisaunt。Iain\'tfeelingverycomfortable，andI

wasgettingallreadyjesttonatcherallyboltoutthefrontdoornowthedoctorwasgone。ThenI

thinksitmightn\'tbenobadplacetostayinfuracoupleo\'days，evenriskingthesmallpox。FurIhadriccolectedIcouldn\'tketchitnohow，havingbeenvaccinatedafewmonthsbeforeinTerryHuttbycompulsivemedicaladvice，mebeingfurawhiledoingsomeworkonthecitypavementsthroughamistakeaboutmeinthepolicecourt。

WilliamDearlooksatmelikeitwasthedayofjudgmentandhisjobwastokeepthefattedcalvesseparatefromthegoatsandprodigals，andhesays：

“IfIwereyou，AuntEstelle，thefirstthingwouldbetogethishaircutandhisfacewashedandthengethimsomeclothes。“

“WilliamDearismyfriend，“thinksI。

ShecallsJames，whichwasabutler。James，hebuttlesmeintoabathroomthelikeo\'whichIneverseenafore，andthenhebuttlesmeintoasuito\'somebody\'sclothesandintoaroomatthetopo\'thehousenexttohis\'n，andthenhecomesbackandbuttlesacombandbrushatme。Jameswasthemostmournful-lookingfatmanIeverseen，andhesaysthataccountofmenotbeingrespectableIwillhavemymealsaloneinthekitchenaftertheservantshaseat。

ThefirstthingIknowedIbeeninthathousemore\'naweek。IeatandIsleptandIsmokedandIkindofenjoyednotworryingaboutthingsfurawhile。Theonlyoncomfortablethingaboutbeingtheperfessor\'sguestwasMissEstelle。Soon\'sshefoundoutIwasaagnosticshetookchargeo\'

myintellectualsandwhatwentinto\'em，andshemakesmereadthingsandastsmeabout\'em，andshesayssheisgoingfurtoreformme。Andwhat-

everbrando\'disgracethemthereagnosticsreallyisIain\'tfoundouttothisday，havingcomeacrostthewordaccidental。

BiddyMalone，whichwasthekitchenmechanic，shesaystheperfessor\'swife\'sbeenovertohermother\'swhilethissmallpoxhasbeengoingon，andtheyisanurseinthehouselookingafterMissMargery，thelittlekidthat\'ssick。AndBiddy，shesaysifshewasMrs。Boothshe\'dstaythere，too。They\'sbeensometalk，anyhow，aboutMrs。

Boothandamusicianfelleraroundthattheretown。ButBiddy，shelikesMrs。Booth，andevenifitwastrue，whichitain\'tBiddysays，whocouldofblamedher？Furthingsain\'tjoyousaroundthathousethelastyear，sinceMissEstelle\'scometheretolive。Theperfessor，he\'ssofullofscien-

tificshedon\'tknownothingwithnosensetoit，Biddysays。He\'sgotmoremoney\'nyoucanshakeastickat，andhedon\'thavetodonowork，norneverhas，andhisscientificsgetsworseandworseeveryyear。Butwhilescientificsisworryingtothenervesofafambly，andwhilehislabertoryoftenmakesthehousesmelllikeasickdrugstorehascrawledintoitanddiedthere，theywouldn\'tofbeennoseriousrowonbetweentheperfessorandhiswife，notALLthetime，ifithadn\'tofbeenfurMissEstelle。Shehasjestnatcherallymadeherselfbossofthattherehouse，Biddysays，andshe\'sashe-devil。BetweenallthemscientificsandMissEstellethingshasgotwhereMrs。Boothcan\'tstand\'emmuchlonger。

Ididn\'tblamehernonefurgettingsoreonherjob，neither。Youcan\'texpectawomanthat\'spurty，andknowsit，andain\'tnomore\'nthirty-twoorthree，anddon\'tlookit，tobeseriousintrustedinmummiesandpickledsnakesandchemicalperfusions，notALLthetime。MebbywhenMrs。

Boothwouldasthimifhewasgoingtotakehertotheoperythatnighttheperfessorwouldlookupinanabsent-mindedsortofwayandastherdidsheknowthemGermanshadinventedanewgerm？Itwouldn\'tofbeensobadiftheperfessorhadpickedoutjestonebrandofscientificsandstucktothatreg\'lar。Mrs。BoothcouldofgotusetoanyONEkind。Butmebbythisweektheperfessorwouldbetookhardwithornithographyandhe\'dgochasinghumming-birdsalloverthefrontyard，andthenexthe\'dbeputtinggastronomyintoWilliam\'sbreakfastfeed。

Theywasalwaysarowonoverthemkids，whichtheyhadn\'tbeentillMissEstellecome。Mrs。

Booth，shesaidtheycouldkilltheirownselves，iftheywantedto，himandMissEstelle，butshehadmorerightthananyoneelsetosaywhatwentintoWilliam\'sandMargery\'sdigestiveornaments，andshedidn\'twant\'embrungupscientificnohow，butjesthuman。ButMissEstelle\'sgotsosherunsthathullhousenow，andtheperfessortoo，buthedon\'tknowit，Biddysays，andhera-sayingeverynowandthenitwastoobadFrederickcouldn\'tofmarriedanoblewomanwhowouldoftookaseriousintrustinhiswork。Thekidsdon\'thardlydaretokisstheirmainfrontofMissEstellenomore，onaccountofgermsandthings。AndwithMissEstelletakingcareoftheirreligiousorgansandtheirintellectualsandthethingslikethat，andtheperfessorfillingthemuponnewinventedfeeds，I

guesstheyneverwastwokidsgotmoreeducationtothesquareinch，outsideandin。Ithadn\'tworkednoneonMissMargeryyet，herbeingyounger，butWilliamDearhetookithardandserious，anditmadebumpsalloverhishead，andhewaskindo\'paleandspindly。Everytimethatkidcuthisfingerhejestnatcherallybledscientifics。OnedayIsaystoMissEstelle，saysI：

“ItlookstomelikeWilliamDeariskindofpeaked。“Shelooksworriedandshelooksmadfurmelippingin，andthenshesaysmebbyitistrue，butshedon\'tseewhy，becauseheisbeingbrunguplikeheorterbeineverywayandnoex-

pensenortroublespared。

“Well，“saysI，“whatakidaboutthatsizewantstodoistogetoutandrollaroundinthedirtsome，andyellandholler。“

ShesniffslikeIwasn\'tworthtakingnonoticeof。Butitkindo\'soakedin，too。Sheandtheperfessormustoftalkeditover。FurthenextdayIseenherspreadingaoilclothonthehallfloor。AndthenJamescomesabuttlinginwithalotofsandwhattheperfessorhasbakedandmadeallscientificdowninhislabertory。James，hepoursallthatnice，cleandirtontotheoilclothandthenMissEstellesendsfurWilliamDear。

“WilliamDear，“shesays，“wehavedecided，yourpapaandI，thatwhatyouneedismoreromp-

ingaroundandplayingalongwithyourstudies。

Yououghttogetclosertothesoilandtonature，asismorehealthyforayouthofyourage。Soforanhoureachday，betweenyourstudies，youwillrompandplayinthissand。Youmaybegintofrolicnow，WilliamDear，andthenJameswillsweepupthedirtagainforto-morrow\'sfrolic。“

ButWilliamdidn\'tfrolicnone。Hejestlookedatthatdirtinasadkindo\'way，andhesaysveryseriousbutverydecided：

“AuntEstelle，IshallNOTfrolic。“Andtheyhadtoletitgoatthat，furheneverwouldfrolicnone，neither。Andallthatnicecleandirtwasthrowedoutinthebackyardalongwiththeunscientificdirt。

CHAPTERXI

OnenightwhenI\'vebeentheremore\'naweek，andamgettingkindo\'tiredstayinginoneplacesolong，Idon\'twanttogotobedafterIeats，andIgetsa-holtofsomeoftheperfessor\'scigarsandgoesintothelib\'arytoseeifhe\'sgotanythingfittoread。SettingtherethinkingoftheawfulremarkablepeopletheyisinthisworldImustofwenttosleep。Purtysoon，inmysleep，Ihearntwovoices。ThenIwakedupsudden，andstillhearn\'em，lowandquick-

like，intheroomthatopensrightoffofthelib\'arywithacoupleofthemslidingdoorslikeisontoaboxcar。Onevoicewasawoman\'svoice，anditwasn\'tMissEstelle\'s。

“ButIMUSTseethembeforewego，Henry，“

shesays。

Andtheotherwasaman\'svoiceanditwasn\'tnoonearoundourhouse。

“But，myGod，“hesays，“supposeyougetityourself，Jane！”

Isetupstraightthen，furJanewastheperfessor\'swife\'sfirstname。

“YoumeansupposeYOUgetit，“shesays。I

liketoofseenthelookshemustofgivehimtofitinwiththewayshesaysthatYOU。Hedidn\'tsaynothing，themandidn\'t；andthenhervoicesoftensdownsome，andshesays，lowandslow：

“Henry，wouldn\'tyoulovemeifIDIDgetit？

Supposeitmarkedandpittedmeallup？”

“Oh，ofcourse，“hesays，“ofcourseIwould。

NothingcanchangethewayIfeel。YOUknowthat。“Hesaiditquickenough，allright，jestthewaytheydoesinashow，butitsoundedTOOMUCH

likeitdoesonthestagetoofsuitedmeif_I_\'Dbeenher。Iseenfolksoverdothemlittletalksbeforethis。

Ilistenssomemore，andthenIseeshowitis。

ThisisthatmusicianfellerBiddyMalone\'sbeentalkingabout。Jane\'sgoingtorunoffwithhimallright，butshe\'sgottokissthekidsfirst。Womenislikethat。Theymayhatethekids\'paallright，butthey\'sdad-burnedfewof\'emdon\'tlikethekids。Ithinkstomyself：“Itmustbelate。

Ibettheywasalreadystarted，orreadytostart，andshemadehimbringherherefirstso\'sshecouldsneakinandseethekids。Shejestsimplycouldn\'tgetby。Butshe\'stakingafoolrisk，too。Furhow\'sshegoingtoseeMargerywiththatnursecomingandgoingandhangingaroundallnight？

AndevenifshetriesjesttoseeWilliamDearit\'satentooneshothe\'llwakeupandshe\'llbeketchedatit。“

AndthenIthinks，supposesheISketchedatit？

Whatofit？Ain\'tawomangotarighttocomeintoherownhousewithherowndoorkey，eveniftheyisaquarantineontoit，andseeherkids？Andifsheisketchedseeingthem，howwouldanyoneknowshewasgoingtorunoff？Andain\'tshegotarighttohaveafriendofhernandherhusband\'sbringheroverfromhermother\'shouse，evenifitisalittlelate？

ThenIseenshewasn\'ttakingnogreatrisksneither，andIthinksmebbyIbettergoandtellthatperfessorwhatisgoingon，furhehastreatedmepurtywhite。AndthenIthinks：“I\'llbegosh-dernedifImeddle。SofurasIcanseethatthereperfessorain\'tgettingfurfromwhat\'scomingtohim，nohow。AndasfurHER，yougottoletsomepeoplefindoutwhattheywantfurtheir-

selves。Anyhow，wheredo_I_comeinat？”

ButIwanttogetalookatherandHenry，anyhow。SoIeasesoffmyshoes，careful-like，andIeasesacrostthefloortothemslidingdoors，andIputsmyeyedowntothelittlecrack。Thetalkisgoingbackwardandforwardbetweenthemtwo，himwantinghertocomeawayquick，andherundecidedwhethertoriskseeingthekids。Andallthetimeshe\'skindo\'hopingmebbyshewillbeketchedifshetriestoseethekids，andshe\'sbeggingofffurmoretimeginerally。

Well，sir，Ididn\'tblamethatmusicianfellernonewhenIseenher。Shewasapeach。

AndIcouldn\'tblamehersomuch，neither，whenIthoughtofMissEstelleandallthemscientificsoftheperfessor\'sstrungoutfuryearsandyearsworldwithoutend。

Yet，whenIseentheman，Isorto\'wishedshewouldn\'t。IseenrightoffthatHenrywouldn\'tdo。Ittakesamanwithalotofgumptiontokeepawomanfeelinggoodandnotsorryfurdoingitwhenhe\'smarriedtoher。Butittakesamanwithtwicetasmuchtomakeherfeelrightwhentheyain\'tmarried。Thisfellerwearsoneofthemlittle，brown，pointedbeardsfurtohidewherehischinain\'t。Andhiseyesistoomuchlikeawoman\'s。Whichisthekindthatgetsthebiggestpieceofpieatthelunchcounterandfergitstothankthegirlascutsitbig。Shewassettinginfrontofatable，twistingherfingerstogether，andhewaswalkingupanddown。Iseenhewasmadandtryingnottoshowit，andIseenhewasscaredofthesmallpoxandtryingnottoshowthat，too。

Andjestaboutthattimesomethinghappenedthatkindo\'joltedme。

Theywasoneofthembigchairsintheroomwheretheywasthathasgotahighbackandspinsaroundonitself。Itwasrightacrostfromme，ontheothersideoftheroom，anditwasfacingthefrontwindow，whichwasabowwindow。Andthattherechairbeginstoturn，slowandeasy。

FirstIthoughtshewasn\'tturning。ThenIseenshewas。ButJaneandHenrydidn\'t。Theywasalltookupwitheachotherinthemiddleoftheroom，withtheirbackstoit。

Henryisa-beggingofJane，andsheturnsalittlemore，thatchairdoes。Willshesqueak，I

wonders？

“Don\'tyoubeafool，Jane，“saystheHenryfeller。

Aroundshecomesthreehullinches，thattherechair，andnaryasqueak。

“Afool？”astsJane，andlaughs。“AndI\'mnotafooltothinkofgoingwithyouatall，then？”

Thatchair，shemovedsixinchesmoreandI

seenthecalfofalegandpartofacrumpled-upcoattail。

“ButIAMgoingwithyou，Henry，“saysJane。

Andshegetsupjestlikesheisgoingtoputherarmsaroundhim。

ButJanedon\'t。Furthatchairswingscleararoundandtheresetstheperfessor。He\'sallhunchedupandcavedinandhe\'srubbinghiseyeslikehe\'sjestwokeuprecent，andhe\'sgotagrinontohisfacethatmakeshimlooklikehissisterEstellelooksallthetime。

“Excuseme，“saystheperfessor。

Theybothswingsaroundandfaceshim。Icanhearmyheartbumping。Janeneversaysaword。

Themanwiththebrownbeardneversaysaword。

Butiftheyfeltlikemetheybothfeltlikelayingrightdownthereandhavingafit。Theylooksathimandhejestsetsthereandgrinsatthem。

ButafterawhileJane，shesays：

“Well，nowyouKNOW！Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？”

Henry，hestartstosaysomethingtoo。But——

“Don\'tstartanything，“saystheperfessortohim。“YOUaren\'tgoingtodoanything。“Ortheywaswordstothateffect。

“ProfessorBooth，“hesays，seeinghehasgottosaysomethingorelseJanewillthinktheworseofhim，“Iam——“

“Keepstill，“saystheperfessor，realquiet。“I\'lltendtoyouinaminuteortwo。YOUdon\'tcountformuch。Thisthingismostlybetweenmeandmywife。“

WhenhetalkssodecidedIthinksmebbythatperfessorhasgotsomethingintohimbesidesscienceafterall。Jane，shelookskindo\'surprisedherself。Butshesaysnothing，except：

“Whatareyougoingtodo，Frederick？”Andshelaughsoneofthemmeankindoflaughs，andlooksatHenrylikeshewantedhimtospunkupalittlemore，andsays：“WhatCANyoudo，Fred-

erick？”

Frederick，hesays，notexcitedabit：

“There\'squiteanumberofthingsICOULDdothatwouldlookbadwhentheygotintothenews-

papers。Butit\'snoneofthem，unlessoneofyouforcesmetoit。“Thenhesays：

“YouDIDwanttoseethechildren，Jane？”

Shenodded。

“Jane，“hesays，“can\'tyouseeI\'mthebetterman？”

Theperfessor，hewaswokeupafterallthemyearsofscientifics，andhedidn\'twanttoseehergo。“Lookathim，“hesays，pointingtothefellerwiththebrownbeard，“he\'sscaredstiffrightnow。“

WhichIwouldofbeenscaredmyselfifI\'da-beenketchedthat-a-waylikeHenrywas，andtheper-

fessor\'svoicesoundinglikeyouwaschoppingiceeverytimehespoke。Iseentheperfessordidn\'twanttohavenobloodonthecarpetwithouthehadtohaveit，butIseenhewasmakinguphismindaboutsomething，too。Jane，shesays：

“YOUabetterman？YOU？Youthinkyou\'vebeenamodelhusbandjustbecauseyou\'veneverbeatenme，don\'tyou？”

“No，“saystheperfessor，“I\'vebeenablamedfoolallright。I\'vebeenaworsefool，maybe，thanifIHADbeatenyou。“ThenheturnstoHenryandhesays：

“Duelsareoutoffashion，aren\'tthey？Andaplainkillinglooksbadinthepapers，doesn\'tit？

Well，youjustwaitforme。“Withwhichhegetsupandtrotsout，andIhearnhimrunningdownstairstohislabertory。

Henry，he\'druthergonow。Hedon\'twanttowait。ButwithJanea-lookingathimhe\'sshamednottowait。It\'shisplacetomakesomekindofastrongactionnowtoshowJaneheisagreatman。

Buthedon\'tdoit。AndJaneistoomuchofathoroughbredtoshowhimsheexpectsit。Andme，I\'mgettingthefidgetsandwonderingtomyself，“Whatisthatthereperfessoruptonow？What-

everitis，itain\'tlikenooneelse。Heislooney，thatperfessoris。Andsheiskindo\'looney，too。

Iwonderiftheyisanyonethatain\'tlooneysome-

times？”Ibeenaroundthecountryagood\'eal，too，andseenandhearnofsomeawfulremarkablethings，andIneverseennoonethatwasn\'tmoreorlesslooneywhentheSEARCHUSTHEFEMMcomesintothecase。WhichisaDagowordIgotout\'nanewspaperanditmeans：“Whowasthedeadgent\'sladyfriend？”Andweallsetandsweatandgotthefidgetswaitingfurthatperfessortocomeback。

WhichhedonewiththatSisterEstellegrinontohisfaceandapillboxinhishand。Theywastwopillsinthebox。Hesays，placidandchilly：

“Yes，sir，duelsareoutoffashion。Thisistheageofscience。Allthesame，theonethatgetsherhasgottofightforher。Ifsheisn\'tworthfightingfor，sheisn\'tworthhaving。Herearetwopills。Imade\'emmyself。Onehasenoughpoisoninittokillaregimentwhenitgetstoworkingwell——whichitdoesfifteenminutesafteritistaken。Theotheronehasgotnothingharmfulinit。Ifyougetthepoisonone，Ikeepher。IfI

getit，youcanhaveher。OnlyIhopeyouwillwaitlongenoughafterI\'mdeadsotherewon\'tbeanyscandalaroundtown。“

Henry，heneversaidaword。Heopenedhismouth，butnothingcomeofit。WhenhedonethatIthoughtIhearnhistonguescrapeaginhischeekontheinsidelikeapieceofsand-paper。

Hewasscared，Henrywas。

“ButYOUknowwhichiswhich，“Janesingsout。

“Thething\'snotfair！”

“ThatisthereasonmydearJaneisgoingtoshufflethesepillsaroundeachotherherself，“saystheperfessor，“andthenpickoutoneforhimandoneforme。YOUdon\'tknowwhichiswhich，Jane。Andasheisthefavourite，heisgoingtogetthefirstchance。IfhegetstheoneIwanthimtoget，hewillhavejustfifteenminutestoliveaftertakingit。Inthatfifteenminuteshewillpleasetowalksofarfrommyhousethathewon\'tdienearitandmakeascandal。Iwon\'thaveascandalwithoutIhaveto。Everythingisgoingtobeniceandquietandrespectable。Theeffectofthepoisonissimilartoheartfailure。Noonecantellthedifferenceonthecorpse。There\'sgoingtobenobloodanywhere。Iwillbefounddeadinmyhouseinthemorningwithheartfailure，orelsehewillbepickedupdeadinthestreet，farenoughawaysoastomakenotalk。“Ortheywaswordstothateffect。

Heisrubbingitinconsiderable，Ithinks，thatperfessoris。IwonderifIbetterjumpinandstopthehullthing。ThenIthinks：“No，it\'sbetweenthemthree。“Besides，Iwanttoseewhichoneisgoingtogetthatthereloadedpill。Ialwaysbeenintrustedingamesofchancetofallkinds，andwhenIseentheperfessorwassuchasport，I\'msorryIbeenmisjudginghimallthistime。

Jane，shelooksatthebox，andshebreatheshardandquick。

“Iwon\'ttouch\'em，“shesays。“Irefusetobeapartytoanymurderofthatkind。“

“Huh？Youdo？”saystheperfessor。“Butthetimewhenyoumighthaverefusedhasgoneby。

Youhavemadeyourselfapartytoitalready。

You\'rereallytheMAINpartytoit。

“Butdoasyoulike，“hegoeson。“I\'mgivinghimmorechancethanIoughttowiththosepills。

Imightshoothim，andIwould，andthenfacethemusic，ifitwasn\'tformixingthechildrenupinthescandal，Jane。Ifyouwanttoseehimgetafairchance，Jane，you\'vegottohandoutthesepills，onetohimandthenonetome。YOUmustkilloneortheotherofus，orelse_I_\'LLkillHIMtheotherway。AndYOUhadbetterpickoneoutforhim，because_I_knowwhichiswhich。Orelselethimpickoneoutforhimself，“hesays。

Henry，hewasn\'tsayingnothing。Ithoughthehadfainted。Buthehadn\'t。Iseenhimlickinghislips。IbetHenry\'smouthwasalldryinside。

Jane，shetooktheboxandshewentroundinfrontofHenryandshelookedathimhard。Shelookedathimlikeshewasthinking：“FurGod\'ssake，spunkupsome，andtakeoneifitDOESkillyou！”Thenshesaysoutloud：“Henry，ifyoudieIwilldie，too！”

AndHenry，hetookone。Hishandshook，buthetookitout\'nthebox。IfshehadoflookedlikethatatmemebbyIwouldoftookonemyself。

FurJane，shewasapeach，shewas。ButIdon\'tknowwhetherIwouldofornot。Whenshemakesthatbragaboutdying，Ilookedattheperfessor。

Whatshesaidneverfazedhim。AndIthinksagin：

“MebbyIbetterjumpinnowandstopthisthing。“

AndthenIthinksagin：“No，itisbetweenthemthreeandProvidence。“Besides，I\'manxioustoseewhoisgoingtogetthatpillwiththescienceinit。IgetstofeelingjestlikeProvidencehisselfwasinthatthereroompickingoutthempillswithhisownhands。AndIwasanxioustoseewhatProvidence\'sideasofrightandwrongwaslike。

SofurasIcouldseetheywasallthreeinthewrong，butifIhadofbeeninthererunningthempillsinProvidence\'splaceIwouldofletthemalloffkindo\'easy。

Henry，heain\'teathispillyet。Heisjestlookingatitandshaking。Theperfessorpullsouthiswatchandlaysitonthetable。

“Itisaquarterpasteleven，“hesays。“Mr。

Murray，areyougoingtomakemeshootyou，afterall？Ididn\'twantascandal，“hesays。

“It\'sforyoutosaywhetheryouwanttoeatthatpillandgetyourevenchance，orwhetheryouwanttogetshot。Theshootingmethodissure，butitcausestalk。Thesepillswon\'t。WHICH？”

Andhepullsarevolver。WhichIsupposehehadgotthattoowhenhewentdownafterthempills。

Henry，helooksatthegun。

Thenhelooksatthepill。

Thenheswallersthepill。

Theperfessorputshisgunbackintohispocket，andthenheputshispillintohismouth。Hedon\'tswallerit。Helooksatthewatch，andhelooksatHenry。

“Sixteenminutespasteleven，“hesays。“AT

EXACTLYTWENTY-NINEMINUTESTOTWELVEMR。MURRAY

WILLBEDEAD。Igottheharmlessone。Icantellbythetaste。“

Andheputthepiecesoutintohishand，toshowthathehaschewedhis\'nup，notbeingwillingtowaitfifteenminutesfuraverdictfromhisdigestiveornaments。Thenheputthempiecesbackintohismouthandchewed\'emupandswallered\'emdownlikehewaseatingcoughdrops。

Henryhasgotsweatbreakingoutalloverhisface，andhetriestomakefurthedoor，buthefallsdownontoasofa。

“Thisismurder，“hesays，weak-like。Andhetriestogetupagain，butthistimehefallstothefloorinadeadfaint。

“It\'sadernshortfifteenminutes，“Ithinkstomyself。“ThatperfessormustofputmorescienceintoHenry\'spillthanhethoughthedidfurittoofknockedhimoutthisquick。Itain\'tskeerclythreeminutes。“

WhenHenryfallsthewomanstaggersandtriestothrowherselfontopofhim。Thecornersofhermouthwasalldraweddown，andhereyeswasturnedup。Butshedon\'tyellnone。Shecan\'t。

Shetries，butshejestgurglesinherthroat。Theperfessorwon\'tletherfallacrostHenry。Heketchesher。“Situp，Jane，“hesays，withthatEstellelookontohisface，“andletushaveatalk。“

Shelooksathimwithnomoresenseinherfacethanapieceofputtyhasgot。Butshecan\'tlookawayfromhim。

AndI\'mkindo\'paralyzed，too。Ifthatfellerlayingonthefloorhadonlyjestkickedoncet，orgrunted，ordonesomething，Icouldofloosenedupandyelled，andIwouldof。IjestNEEDEDtofetchayell。ButHenryain\'tmore\'ndroppeddowntheretillI\'mfeelingjestlikehe\'dALWAYSbeenthere，andI\'dALWAYSbeenstaringintothatroom，andthelastwordanyonespokewassaidhundredsandhundredsofyearsago。

“You\'reamurderer，“saysJaneinawhisper，lookingattheperfessorinthatstare-eyedway。

“You\'reaMURDERER，“shesays，sayingitlikeshewastryingtomakeherselffeelsurehereallywasone。

“Murder！”saystheperfessor。“DidyouthinkIwasgoingtorunanychancesforapuplikehim？

He\'sscared，that\'sall。He\'sjustfaintedthroughfright。He\'sacoward。Thosepillswerebothjustbreadandsugar。He\'llbeallrightinaminuteortwo。I\'vejustbeenshowingyouthatthefellowhasn\'tgotnerveenoughnorbrainsenoughforafinewomanlikeyou，Jane，“hesays。

ThenJanebeginstosobandlaugh，bothtooncet，kindo\'wildlike，hervoicecluckinglikeahendoes，andshesays：

“It\'sworsethen，it\'sworse！It\'sworseformethanifitwereamurder！Somefarcescanbemoretragicthananytragedyeverwas，“shesays。Ortheywaswordstothateffect。

AndifHenryhadofbeenreallydeadshecouldn\'toftookitnoharderthanshebeguntotakeitnowwhenshesawhewasalive，butjestwasn\'tnogood。

ButIseenshewastakingonfurherselfnowmore\'nfurHenry。DoctorKirbyalwaysusetosaywomenismadeunlikemostotheranimalsinmanyways。

Whentheyisfoolishaboutamantheycanstandtohavethatmankilledagood\'ealbetterthantohavehimshowedupridiculousrightinfrontofthem。Theywillstillbecrazyaboutthemanthatisdead，evenifhewascrooked。Buttheydon\'tneverforgivethefellowthatletshimselfbemadeafoolandletsthemlookfoolish，too。AndwhentheperfessorkicksHenryintheribs，andHenrycomestoandsneaksout，Jane，shenevereventurnsherheadandlooksathim。

“Jane，“saystheperfessor，whenshequietsdownsome，“youhavealoto\'thingstoforgiveme。ButdoyousupposeIhavelearnedenoughsothatwecanmakeagoofitifwestartalloveragain？”

ButJanesheneversaidnothing。

“Jane，“hesays，“EstelleisgoingbacktoNewEngland，assoonasMargerygetswell，andshewillstaythereforgood。“

Jane，shebeginstotakealittleintrustthen。

“DidEstelletellyouso？”sheasts。

“No，“saystheperfessor。“Estelledoesn\'tknowityet。I\'mgoingtobreakthenewstoherinthemorning。“

ButJanestillhateshim。She\'smakingherselfhatehimhard。Shewouldn\'tofbeenahumanwomanifshehadletherselfbecoaxedupalltooncet。Purtysoonshesays：“I\'mtired。“Andshewentoutlookingliketheperfessorwasaperfectstranger。Shewasapeace，Janewas。

Aftersheleft，theperfessorsettherequiteaspellandsmoked。Andhewaslookingtiredout，too。

Theywasn\'tnomistakeaboutme。Iwasjestdeadallthroughmylegs。

CHAPTERXII

Iwasdownintheperfessor\'slabertoryoneday，andthatwasaqueerplace。Theywaseverykindofscientificsthathaseverbeendis-

coveredinit。Somewaspickledinbottlesandsomewasstuffedandsomewaspinnedtothewallswiththeirwingsspreadout。Ifyoutookholdofanything，itwaslikelytobeaskullandgiveyoutheshiversorsomeelectriccontraptionandshockyou；andifyoutippedoverajaranditbroke，enoughgermsmightgetloosetoslaughterahulltown。Iwashelpingtheperfessortounpackalotofstuffsomefriendshadsenthim，andInoticedabottlethathadontoit，blowedintheglass：

DANIEL，DUNNEANDCOMPANY

“That\'sfunny，“saysI，outloud。

“Whatis？”aststheperfessor。

IshowedhimthebottleandtoldhimhowIwasnamedafterthecompanythatmade\'em。Hesaystolookaroundme。Theyisallkindsofglass-

wareinthatroom——bottlesandjarsandqueer-

shapedthingswithcrookedtailsandnoses——andnigheverypieceofglasstheperfessorownsismadebythatcompany。

“Why，“saystheperfessor，“theirfactoryisinthisverytown。“

AndnothingwoulddofurmebutImustgoandseethatfactory。Icouldn\'ttillthequarantinewaspriedloosefromourhouse。Butwhenitwas，I

wentdowntownandhunteduptheplaceandlookedherover。

Itwasabigfactory，andIwaskindofproudofthat。Iwasgladshewasn\'tnomeasly，little，old-

fashioned，run-downconcern。Ofcourse，Iwasn\'treallynorelationtoitanditwasn\'tnonetome。

ButIwasnamedfurit，too，anditcomeaboutasneartobeingafamblyasanythingIhadeverhadorwaslikelytofind。SoIwasprouditseemedtobedoingsowell。

IthinksasIlooksatherofthethousandsandthousandsofbottlesthathasbeencomingoutoftherefuryearsandyears，andwillbefuryearsandyearstocome。Andonebottlenotsomuchdifferentfromanotherone。Andallthatwasreallyknowedaboutmewasjestthenameononeoutofallthemmillionsandmillionsofbottles。Itmademefeelkindofqueer，whenIthoughtofthat，asifIdidn\'thavenoseparateplaceintheworldanymorethanoneofthemmillionsofbottles。Ifanyonewillshuthiseyesandsayhisownnameoverandoveraginfurquiteaspell，hewillgetkindofwonderizedandmesmerizeda-doingit——hewillbegintowonderwhothedickensheis，anyhow，andwhatheis，andwhatthedifferencebetweenhimandthenextfelleris。HewillwonderwhyhehappenstobehimselfandthenextfellerHIMSELF。

Hewonderswherehimselfleavesoffandtherestoftheworldbegins。Ibeenthatwaymyself——allwonderized，sothatIfeltjestlikeIwasameltingpieceofthehullcreation，anditwasallshiftinganddriftingandchangingandflowing，andnotsolidanywhere，andIcouldhardlykeepmyselffromflowingintoit。Itmakesapersonfeelawfulqueer，likeseeingaghostwould。ItmakeshimfeellikeHEwasn\'tnosoliderthanaghosthimself。Well，ifyoueverdonethatandgotthatfeeling，youKNOW

whatImean。Allofasudden，whenIamtryingtotakeinallthemmillionsandmillionsofbottles，itrushedontome，thatfeeling，strong。Thinkingofthembottleshadsomehowbrungiton。Thebignessofthehullcreation，andthesmallnessofme，andthegaitatwhicheverythingwasracingandrushingahead，mademewanttograbholdofsomethingsolidandhangon。

Ireachedoutmyhand，andithitsomethingsolidallright。Itwasafellerwhowaswheelingoutahandtruckloadedwithboxesfromtheshippingdepartment。Ihadbeenstandingbytheshippingdepartmentdoor，andIreachedrightaginhim。

HewantstoknowifIamdrunkorablankedfool。SoaftersometalkofthatkindIborrowsachewoftobaccoofhimandwegetsrightwellacquainted。

Ihelpedhimfinishloadinghiswagonandrodeovertothefreightdepotwithhimandhelpedhimunloadher。LiftingoneofthemboxesdownfromthewagonIgotsuchashockIliketoofdroppedher。

Furshewasmarkedsomanydozen，glass，handlewithcare，andshewasaddressedtoDr。HartleyL。Kirby，Atlanta，Ga。

Imanagedtogetthatboxontotheplatformwith-

outbustingher，andthenIsetsdownontopofherawfulweak。

“What\'sthematter？”aststhefellerIwaswith。

“Nothing，“saysI。

“Youlooksick，“hesays。AndIWASfeelingthat-a-way。

“MebbyIdo，“saysI，“andit\'senoughtoshakeafelleruptofindadeadmancometolifesuddenlikethis。“

“Greatsnakes，no！”sayshe，lookingallaround，“where？”

ButIdidn\'tstoptochewtheragnone。Ilefthimrightthere，withhismouthwideopen，staringaftermelikeIwascrazy。HalfablockawayI

lookedbackandIseenhimdoubleoverandslaphiskneeandlaughloud，likehehadhearnabigjoke，butwhathewaslaughingatIneverknew。

Iwastickled。Tickled？JestsotickledIwasplumbfoolishwithit。Thedoctorwasaliveafterall——Ikeptsayingitoverandovertomyself——hehadn\'tdrowndednorblowedaway。AndIwasgo-

ingtohunthimup。

Ihadalittlemoney。Theperfessorhadpaidittome。Hehadgivemeajobhelpingtakecareofhishossesandthingslikethat，andwantedmetostay，andIhadbeenthinkingmebbyIwouldfurawhile。Butnotnow！

IcalkelatedIcouldgrabaridethatverynightthatwouldputmeintoEvansvillethenextmorning。

IfiggeredifIketchedathroughfreightfromthereonthenextnightImightgetwherehewasalmostasquickasthembottlesdid。

Ididn\'tthinkitwasnousewritingoutmyresignationfurtheperfessor。ButIgotquiteabitofgrubfromBiddyMalonetomakeastarton，furIdidn\'tfiggeronspendingnomoremoneythanI

hadtoongrub。Sheastsmealotofquestions，andIhadtolietoheragooddeal，butIgotthegrub。

AndattenthatnightIwasinanemptybumpingalongsouth，alongwithacross-eyedfellernamedLooneyHoganwhohappenedtobetravellingthesameway。

Ridingontrainswithoutpayingfareain\'talwaystheeasythingitsounds。Itislikeatradethathasgottobelearned。Theyisdifferentwaysofdoingit。Ihavedoneeverywayfrequent，exceptone。

ThatIgiveupaftertryinghertwo，threetimes。

Thatisridingtherodsdownunderneaththecars，withapieceofboardputacrost\'emtolayyourselfon。

IneverwanttogoANYWHERESaginbadenoughtoridetherods。

Becausesometimesyouarrivewhereyouaregoingtopartlysmearedoverthetrucksandinnocondi-

tionfurtobemadewelcometoourcity，asDoctorKirbywouldsay。Sometimesyoudon\'tarrive。

Everyoncetinawhileyoureadalittlepieceinanewspaperaboutamanbeingfoundalongsidethetracks，considerablecutup，orlayingrightacrostthem，mebby。Heisheldinthemorgueawhileandnooneknowswhoheis，andnoneofthetraincrewknowstheyhasrunoveraman，andtheengineersaystheywasn\'tnoneonthetrack。More\'nlikelythatfellerhasbeenridingtherods，alongaboutthemiddleofthetrain。Mebbyhelethimselfgotosleepandjestrolledoff。Mebbyhispieceofboardslippedandhefellwhenthetrainjolted。Ormebbyhejestnatcherallymadeuphismindheratherletlooseandgetsquashedthengetanymorecindersintohiseyes。RidingtheblindbaggageorthebumpersgivesmealltheexcitementIwants，orallthegamblingchanceteither；otherscanhavetherodsfurallofme。AndtheyISsomepeopleack-

shallysaystheylikes\'embest。

Agoodplace，ifitiswintertime，isthefeedrackoveracattlecar，furtheheatandsteamfromallthemsteersintherewillkeepyouwarm。Butdon\'tcrawlinnolumbercarthatisonlyloadedabouthalffull，andshortlengthsandbundlesoflathsandshinglesinher；furtheyislikelytogettoshiftingandbumping。Baledhayispurtygoodsometimes。

Myself，notbeinglikethesebumsthatistooproudtowork，Ihaveoftenhelpedthefiremanshovelcoalandpaidfurmyridethat-a-way。Butanempty，furgineralpurposes，willdoaboutaswellasanything。

ThisfellerLooneyHoganthatwaswithmewasakindofaharmlesscritter，andhedidn\'tknowjestwherehewasgoing，norwhy。Hewasmostlyscaredofthings，andifyouspoketohimquickheshiveredfirstandthengrinnedidioticsoyouwouldn\'tkickhim，andwhenhetalkedhehadasillylittlegiggle。Hehadbeenmadethat-a-wayinareformschoolwheretheytookhimyoungandtriedtoworkthecussednessout\'nhimbybattinghimaround。Theyworkeditout，andpurtynighevery-

thingelsealongwithit，Iguess。LooneyhadhadapardnerwhosenamewasSlim，hesaid；butacoupleofyearsbeforeSlimhadfelloverboardoff\'nabargeuptoDuluthandnevercomeupagin。

LooneyknowedSlimwasdrowndedallright，buthewasalwaystravellingaroundlookingattanksandfreightdepotsandswitchshanties，furSlim\'smarktobefreshcutwithaknifesomewheres，sohewouldknowwheretofollerandketchupwithhimagin。HeknowedhewouldneverfindSlim\'smark，hesaid，buthekepta-looking，andheguessedthatwasthewayhegotthenameofLooney。

LooneyleftmeatEvansville。Hesaidhewasgoingeastfromthere，heguessed。AndIwentalongsouth。ButIwashinderedconsiderable，beingputoffoftrainsthreeorfourtimes，andhav-

ingtograbthesehereslowlocalfreightsbetweentownsallthewaydownthroughKentuckey。Any-

wheressouthoftheOhioRiverandeastoftheMississippiRivertrainmenisgrouchiertothemtheythinksisbumsthannorthofit，anyhow。Andinsomepartsofit，ifarealbumgetspinched，heavenhelp\'im，furnothingelsewon\'t。

Onenight，betweentwelveandoneo\'clock，IwasputoffofafreighttrainfurthesecondtimeinaplaceinthenorthernpartofTennessee，rightneartheKentuckeyline。Isetdowninalumberyardneartherailroadtrack，andwhenshestartedupaginIgrabbedontotheironladderandswungmy-

selfaboard。Butthebrakemanwaswatchingfurme，andclumbdowntheladderandstampedonmyfingers。SoIdroppedoff，withonefingercon-

siderablemashed，andsetdowninthatlumberyardwonderingwhatnext。

Itwasadarknight，andsofurasIcouldseetheywasn\'tmuchmovinginthattown。Onlyafewplaceswaslitup。Onewaswayacrostthetownsquarefromme，anditwasthetelephoneexchange，withamanoperatorreadingabookinthere。Theotherwasthetelegraphroominthedepotaboutahundredyardsfromme，andtheywasonlytwofellersinit，bothsmoking。Themainbusinesspartofthetownwasbuiltuparoundthesquare，likelotsofold-fashionedtownsis，andtheywasjestenoughbrightnessfromfour，fiveelectriclightstoshowtheshapeofthesquareandbereflectedfromthewindowsoftheclosed-upstores。

Iknowedtheywaslikelyawatchmansomewheresabout，too。IguessedIwouldn\'twanderaroundnoneandrunnochancesofgettingtookupbyhim。

SoIwasgettingreadytolaydownontopofalevelpileofboardsandgotosleepwhenIhearnacuriouskindofnoiseawayoff，likeitmustbeattheedgeoftown。

Itsoundedlikequiteabunchofcattlemightshufflingalongadustyroad。Thenightwassoquietyoucouldhearthingsplainfromalongwaysoff。Itgrowedalittlelouderandalittlenearer。

Andthenitstruckaplankbridgesomewheres，andcomeacrostitwithaclatter。ThenIknoweditwasn\'tcattle。Cowsandsteersdon\'tmakethatcanteringkindofnoiseasarule；theytrot。Itwashossescrossingthatbridge。Andtheywasquitealotof\'em。

Astheystruckthedirtroadagin，Ihearnashot。

Andthenanotherandanother。Thenadozenalltooncet，andawayoffthroughthenightawomanscreamed。

IseenthemaninthetelephoneplaceflingdownhisbookandgrabapistolfromIdon\'tknowwhere。

Hesteppedoutintothestreetandfiredthreeshotsintotheairasfastashecouldpullthetrigger。Andashedonesotheywasalightflashedoutinabuild-

ingwaydowntherailroadtrack，andshotscomeansweringfromthere。Men\'svoicesbegantoyellout；theywasthenoiseofpeoplerunningalongplanksidewalks，andwindowsopeninginthedark。

Thenwitharushthegallopingnoisecomenearer，comecloset；racedbytheplacewhereIwashiding，andnighahundredmenwithgunssweptrightintothemiddleofthatsquareandpulledtheirhossesup。

CHAPTERXIII

Iseenthefellerfromthetelephoneexchangerundownthestreetalittlewaysasthefirstrushhitthesquare，andfirehispistoltwice。Thenheturnedandmadefuranalleyway，butasheturnedtheylethimhaveit。Hethroweduphisarmsandmadeonelongstagger，rightacrostthebaroflightthatstreamedoutofthewindows，andhefellintotheshadder，outofsight，jestlikeascorchedmothdropsdeadintothedark-

nessfromatorch。

Outofthemiddleofthatbunchofriderscomeabigvoice，yellingnumbers，insteadofmen\'snames。

Thendifferentcrowdslitoutinalldirections——

someonfoot，whileothersheldtheirhosses——furtheyseemedtohaveaplanlaidahead。

Andthenthingsbegantohappen。Theyhap-

penedsoquickandwithsuchawhirlitwasallunrealtome——shotsandshouts，andwindowsbreakingastheyblazedawayatthestorefrontsallaroundthesquare——andordersandcuss-wordsringingoutbetweenthenoiseofshooting——andthoseelectriclightsshiningonthemastheytossedandtrampled，andshowingupmaskedfaceshereandthere——andpoundinghoofs，andhossesscream-

likehumanswithexcitement——andspurtsofflamesquirtedsuddenoutoftheringofdarknessroundabouttheopenplace——andabull-dogshutupinastoresomewhereshowlinghimselfhoarse——

andwhitepuffsofpowdersmokelikeghoststhatwenta-driftingbythelights——itwasallunrealtome，asifIhadafeverandwasdreamingit。

Thatsquarewaslikeagreatbigstageinfrontofme，andIlaidinthedarknessonmylumberpileandwatchedthingslikeashow——notmuchscaredbecauseitWASsodernedunreal。

Fromwaydownalongtherailroadtracktheycomeasortofbluntedroar，likeblastingbigstumpsout——andthenanotherandanother。Purtysoon，downthatway，aslimflamelickedupthesideofabigbuildingthere，andcrookeditstongueoverthetop。Thenasecondbigbuildingrightbesideitketchedafire，andtheybothshowedupintheirownlight，bigandangryandhandsome，andthelightshowedupthemeninfrontof\'em，too——

guarding\'em，Iguess，furfearthetownwouldgetitsnerveandmakeafighttoput\'emout。Theybeguntolightthewholetownupaslightasday，andpaintaredpatchontothesky，thatmustofbeennoticedfurmilesaround。Itwasamightypurtysighttosee\'emburn。Thesmokewasrollinghigh，too，andthesparksflyingandotherthingsindangerofketching，andafterwhilealickofsmokecomedriftingupmyway。Ismelther。

Itwastobaccoburninginthemwarehouses。

Butthattownhadsomefightinher，inspiteofbeingtookunexpectedthat-a-way。Itwasn\'tnocowardtown。Thelightfromtheburningbuildingsmadealltheshaddersaroundaboutseemallthedarker。Andeveryonceinawhile，afterthesurpriseofthefirstrush，theywouldcomethinlittlestreaksoffireoutofthedarknesssomewheres，andthesoundofshots。Andthenagangofriderswouldgallopinthatdirectionshootingupallcrea-

tion。Butbythetimethewarehouseswasalllitupsothatyoucouldseetheywasnohopeofputtingthemouttheshootingfromthedarknesshadjestaboutstopped。

Itlookedlikethembigtobaccowarehouseswasthemainobjectoftheraid。Furwhentheywasburningpastallchancetofsaving，withwallsandfloorsa-tumblingandcrashingdownandsendingupgreatgoutsoffreshflameastheyfell，theleadersingsoutanorder，andallthatisnotontheirhossesjumpson，andtheyridesawayfromtheblaze。

Theycomeacrossthesquare——notgallopingnow，buttakingiteasy，laughingandtalkingandcussingandjokingeachother——andpassedrightbymylumberpileaginanddownthestreettheyhadcome。YoubetIlaidlowonthemboardswhiletheywasgoingby，andflattenedmyselfouttillIfeltlikeashingle。

AsIhearntheirhoof-soundsgettingfartheroff，Iliftsupmyheadagin。Buttheywasn\'tallgone，either。Threethatmustofbeenuptosomepertic\'lerdeviltryoftheirowncomegallopingacrostthesquaretoketchupwiththemainbunch。

Twowasquiteabitaheadofthethirdone，andheyelledtothemtowait。Buttheyonlylaughedandrodeharder。

Andthenfursomefoolreasonthatlastfellerpulleduphishossandstopped。Hestoppedintheroadrightinfrontofme，andwheeledhishossacrosttheroadandstoodupinhisstirrupsandtookalonglookatthatblaze。You\'d\'a\'saidhehaddoneitallhimselfandwasmightyproudofit，thewayheraisedhisheadandlookedbackatthattown。HewassonearthatIhearnhimdrawinaslow，deepbreath。Hestoodstillfurmostaminutelikethat，blackagintheredsky，andthenheturnedhishoss\'sheadandjabbedhimwithhisstirrupedge。

Jestasthehossstartedtheycomeashotfromsomewheresbehindme。Is\'posetheywassomeonehidinthelumberpiles，wherethestreetcrossedtherailway，besidesmyself。Thehossjumpedforwardattheshot，andthefellerswayedsidewaysanddroppedhisgunandlosthisstirrupsandcomedownheavyontheground。Hishossgallopedoff。

Iheardthenoiseofsomeonerunningoffthroughthedark，andstumblingaginthelumber。Itwasthefellerwhohadfiredtheshotrunningaway。

Isupposehethoughttherestofthemriderswouldcomeback，whentheyheardthatshot，andhunthimdown。

Ithoughttheymightmyself。ButIlaidthere，andjestwaited。Iftheycome，Ididn\'twanttobefoundrunning。Buttheydidn\'tcome。Thetwolastoneshadcaughtupwiththemaingang，Iguess，furpurtysoonIhearnthemallcrossingthatplankbridgeagin，andknowedtheywasgone。

AtfirstIguessedthefelleronthegroundmustbedead。Buthewasn\'t，furpurtysoonIhearnhimgroan。Hehadmebbybeenstunnedbyhisfall，andwascomingtoenoughtofeelhispain。

Ididn\'tfeellikeheorterbeleftthere。SoI

clumbdownandwentovertohim。Hewaslyingononesideallkindofhuddledup。Therehadbeenamaskonhisface，liketherestofthem，withsomehairontothebottomofittolooklikeabeard。

Butnowithadslippeddowntillithungloosearoundhisneckbythestring。Theywasenoughlighttoseehewasn\'tnothingbutayoungfeller。HeraisedhimselfslowasIcomenearhim，leaningononearmandtryingtosetup。Theotherarmhunglooseandhelpless。Halfsettingupthat-a-

wayhemadeafeelathisbeltwithhisgoodhand，asIcomenear。Butthatgoodarmwashisprop，andwhenhetookitoffthegroundhefellback。

Hishandcomeawayemptyfromhisbelt。

Thebigsix-shooterhehadbeenfeelingfurwasn\'tinitsholster，anyhow。Ithadfelloutwhenhetumbled。Ipickeditupintheroadjestafewfeetfromhisshot-gun，andstoodtherewithitinmyhand，lookingdownathim。

“Well，“hesays，inadrawlykindofvoice，slowandfeeble，butlookingatmesteadyandtryingtoraisehimselfagin，“yo\'canfinishyo\'

littlejobnow——yo\'shotmefromthedarkness，andnowyo\'donegotmypistol。Ireckonyo\'

bettershootAGIN。“

“Idon\'twanttorubitinnone，“Isays，“withyoudownandout，butfromwhatIseenaroundthistownto-nightIguessyouandyourownganggotnoGREATobjectionstoshootingfromthedarkyourselves。“

“Whydon\'tyo\'shootthen？”hesays。“ItmostsuttinlyisYO\'turnnow。“Andheneverbattedaneye。

“Bo，“Isays，“yougotnerve。ILIKEyou，Bo。

Ididn\'tshootyou，andIain\'tgoingto。Thefellerthatdidhaswent。I\'mgoingtogetyououtofthis。Whereyouhurt？”

“Hip，“hesays，“butthatain\'tmuch。Thethingthatbothersmeisthisarm。It\'sdonebusted。I

fellonit。“

IdrughimoutoftheroadandbackofthelumberpileIhadbeenlayingon，andhurthimconsiderablea-doingit。

“Now，“Isays，“whatcanIdofuryou？”

“Ireckonyo\'betterleaveme，“hesays，“withoutyo\'wanttogetyo\'selfmixedupinallthis。“

“IfIdo，“Isays，“youmaybleedtodeathhere：

oranywayyouwouldgetfoundinthemorningandberunin。“

“Yo\'mightygoodtome，“sayshe，“consideringyo\'arenokintothisherepartofthecountryatall。Ireckonbyyo\'talkyo\'areoneofthemdamnYankees，ain\'tyo\'？”

InIllinoiseaYankeeissomeonefromtheEast，butdownSouthheisanybodyfromnorthoftheOhio，andthoughthattherewarwasfoughtfortyyearsagosomeofthemfellersdowntheredon\'tknowdamnandYankeeistwowordsyet。Butshucks！——theydon\'tmeannoharmbyit！SoItellshimIamadamnYankeeandastshimaginifIcandoanythingfurhim。

“Yes，“hesays，“yo\'cantellafriendofmineBudDavishashappenedtoanaccident，andgethimoverherequickwithhiswagontototemehome。“

IwastogodowntherailroadtrackpastthemburningwarehousestillIcometothethirdstreet，andthenturntomyleft。“Thethirdhousefromthetrackhasgotanironpicketfenceinfrontofit，“saysBud，“andit\'stheonlyhouseinthatpartoftownwhichhas。BeauregardPeopleslivesthere。Heiskintome。“

“Yes，“Isays，“andBeauregardisjestaslikelyasnotgoingtotakeashotoutofthefrontwindowatme，furluck，aforeIcantellhimwhatIwant。

Itseemstobeakindofhabitintheseherepartsto-night——I\'mgettinghomesickfurIllinoise。ButI\'lltakeachancet。“

“Hewon\'tshoot，“saysBud，“ifyo\'goaboutitright。Beauregardain\'tgoingtobeasleepwithallthisgoingonintownto-night。Yo\'rattleontheirongateandhe\'llhollertoknowwhatyo\'allwant。“

“Ifhedon\'tshootfirst，“Isays。

“Whenhehollers，yo\'crybackathimyo\'havefoundhisOLDDEADHOSSintheroad。Itwon\'thurttohollerthatloud，andthatwillmakehimletyouwithintalkingdistance。“

“HisoldDEADHOSS？”

“Yo\'don\'tneedtoknowwhatthatis。HE

will。“AndthenBudtoldmeenoughofthesignsandwordstosay，andthingstodo，tokeepBeaure-

gardfromshooting——hesaidhereckonedhehadtrustedmesomuchhemightaswellgothehullhog。Beauregard，hesays，belongstothemriderstoo；theyhavefriendsinallthetownsthatwatchesthelayofthelandfurthem，hesays。

Imadealonghalf-circlearoundthemburningbuildings，keepinginthedark，furpeoplewascomingoutinbunches，nowthatitwasalloverwith，watchingthemfiresburning，andtalkingexcited，andsayingtheridersshouldbefollered——

onlynotfollering。

IfoundthehouseBudmeant，andtheywasalightinthesecond-storywindow。Irattledonthegate。Adogbarkedsomewheresnear，butIhearnhischainjangleandknowedhewasfast，andI

rattledonthegateagin。

Thelightmovedawayfromthewindow。Thenanotherfrontwindowopenedquiet，andavoicesays：

“Doctor，isthatyo\'backagin？”

“No，“Isays，“Iain\'tadoctor。“

“Staywhereyouare，then。_I_GOTYOUCOVERED。“

“Iamstaying，“Isays，“don\'tshoot。“

“Whoareyo\'？”

“Afeller，“Isays，kindofsensinghisgunthroughthedarknessasIspoke，“whohasfoundyourOLDDEADHOSSintheroad。“