Westerfelt

ading into the village, and a sparse row of houses on the opposite side of the street. In front of the stable stood a blacksmith shop, and next to it, on the right, the only sto

site the jail of the place, and partially hidden by the thinning foliage of sycamore, chestnut, and mulberry trees, was the

he ought to go over at once and speak to the landlady about his board. As he arranged his cravat before the little walnut-framed mirror, which the stable-boys in placing his furniture had hung on the wall, together

Washburn, the book-keeper for the former owners of the livery-stable, whom Westerfelt had retain

ked Westerfelt, looking ov

"The old firm knowed everybody in creation, an' never could refus

said he thought I might co

be a half, o

t, indifferently, "we'

ood." Washburn pointed to an

's i

Wamb

w m

nin' on fer two yeer, an' thar hain't a single credit

out to him till th

ants to go anywhar tell he's drinkin', an' then he's as ill as a snake an' wil

f he doesn

ever se

last n

he's a dangerous man, an' takes

wes a bill like that, and won't pay it, he can do so. I obey the law my

father's this morning, an' wants to d

he had my turn

n' I knowed he'd make tr

in any deeper till the old debt is settle

ched hats, and coarse brogans. Some of them sat on the benches, supported by the square columns, at the end of t

the parlor on the right of the long hall which ran through the centre of the main wing. A slovenly negro

lored leaves and grasses, and lying near it was a plush photograph album. The rest of the furniture consisted of an ancient hair-cloth sofa, an old rocking-chair, the arms of which had been tied on with twin

omewhere in the rear, a

Floyd

ly embarrassed. "Mother was busy

oduced, in a general wa

you re

deed," she

s causing him to pause unnecessarily long before speaking in his turn. But he simply could not help it; he experienced a subtle pleasure he could not explain in watching her warm, slightly flushed

aid. "It is near my place of business, and I've hea

other will be glad to have you. Won't you take a seat?" S

the party last night,

le and glanced at him rather steadily,

ey always gives

were not

Toot-Mr. Wambush-had sprained his f

t many girls would be so consi

t that came into the room and ru

s of men," she answered, after a little pause. "If

omen can ref

anage. Sometimes they can't help it, and they drink more

of Wambush, but was prevented from answering by hearing his name angrily

ivery man?" The voic

o the door. "I am afraid he-" Just then the young ruffian entered

u are the one man in the United Kingdom that I want to see jest at this present moment. Bill Wa

felt. He rose and coolly looked Wambush in the face

no secrets frum them mount'in men out thar nur this young lady. I jes

r place to settle such a matt

a coward; you are

face, tried to slip between the two me

peated, shaking his fis

was puckered. "I have fought some in my life, and sometimes I get as mad as the next on

outside, then?"

in at the window. Mrs. Floyd was running up and down in the hall, excitedly calling

s ought to spill blood over a matter of business, and I don't like to fight a man that's drin

or you are mine." He turned to the door and pushed the cro

oulders and looked at him beseechingly. "Don't go out there," she pleade

ored too much," he smiled. "I'd never have any respect for myself if I was to back down now. I'

m the door, one booted foot on the curbstone, the other on the ground. He had thrown his broad-brimmed hat on the ground, and tos

ak-kneed," he jeered, as West

of him, Wambush suddenly drew a revolver, cocked it, and deliberately

ver carry a pistol; is that t

ookout, not mi

is lips, but seeing the critical situation he said nothing. A white, tigerish look came into the face of

," cautioned Bradley.

, an' fight like a

ng the revolver, foll

caution of a panther w

you are a dead ma

uite saw how it happened, but Westerfelt suddenly bent near the earth and sprang forward. Wambush's revolver went off over his head,

e silent crowd, and the two men, cl

at are you about?"

mebody 'll get his beauty spiled; Toot kin claw like a pant'

d-faced Buck Hillhouse, the bar-keeper, in the autocrati

ike his antagonist, was growing calmer every second. All at once Wambush sent his right arm towards Westerfelt's face so quickly that the spectators scarcely saw it leave his side, but it wa

lt and caught him by the throat. Westerfelt tried to shake him off, but he was unsuccessful. He attempted to strike him in the face, but Wambush either dodged the thrusts or caught them in his thic

ead-basket, John!"

released Westerfelt's throat. The two men now clinched breast to breast, and, with arms round each other's bodies,

ackward. In an instant Wambush would have gone down, but seeing his danger he wriggled

" cried Luke Bradley

ran towards Wambush, but they were not quick enough. He had stabbed Westerfelt once in the breast and drawn back his arm for another thrust, when Luke B

ce exclaimed, as a big man ro

use, and Luke Bradley, in the name o' the law

bloody lips. He made a violent effort to

Bradley, as he hung to the hand which still held the knif

ty," said the bar-keeper, "but I

the sheriff; "fust with a gun an' then with a knife. Ef you don't ja

stepped up

ife!" he orde

truggling and glared defiantly

He grasped Wambush's hand and tried to take the kni

ambush, and, powerless to do anything

ick him in the stomach, but Bradley prevented it by jerking him backward. It now became a strug

with the butt of it began to hammer Toot's clinched fingers. As he did t

arlick," he groaned in pain, b

he sheriff. "Let it a-loose, I t

bar-keeper, sullenly. "Law or no law,

rd almost in a scream, and he beat Wambush's knuck

earth with his knees, and held t

evidence," he panted. "Don't

owed the sheriff to jerk him to his feet, and walked passive

ush locked up except Harriet and her mother. They instantly came o

rop this?"

into his coat pocket. It had fallen from Wambush's pocket. H

our coat; look!

in the cloth and raised his hand towards it, but

" asked Mrs. F

said; "but maybe

d screamed, "Oh, mother, h

but could not use his finge

h blood," Harriet insisted, a

p and heavy. Then he raised his heel in

y smile. "I reckon I have lost som

ross from the jail ahead of the others

lie down; fix a place, Miss Harri

Westerfelt between them into a room adjoining the parlor. They m

runnin' like a wet-we

a doctor?" he asked

but he may not b

o Harriet, who had knelt by the bed and was holding the lips of the wound toge

eranda. The people were returning from the jail. We

t to her mother. "Shut the door; don

o go outside, but they remained in the hall, silent and awed, wait

sweep at you!" he said, as he approached the bed. "

." But his voice was faint and his eyelids drooped despite his ef

d. "He's been sent fer, an' ort ter git heer before long

heard this. Her knees ached and her fingers

ened his eyes and

you?" she a

s eyes lingered on her face ti