A Tar-Heel Baron

re of t

that a sharp rap summoned von Rittenheim to his cabin door. Three men stood outside in the grayness, their

, you did not reach

ast he would have to confess that there was nothing to eat in the house

heville, and Ah've

ioned to his companions, who step

of entire lack of understanding. His mind could not compass t

tates deputy-marshal, and tha

ion that caused three hands t

ou last night that whisky

ll took yo' chances, 'n

ted on this to look well at headquarters. Besides, he was having less trouble with the "b

aid Friedrich, misunderstanding. "But I com

tice of his capture appealed to the German, trained in the soldier's school, for it was true that he had

ool," he

te yo'self," said the deputy, more from ha

with

he picked himself up from the floor a little later he realized that his doubt was justified. At the mere sight of the irons the Baron had flashed into fury. He flung one man acros

se he felt von Rittenhei

intelligible in his excitement, "You understand not-how, indeed, s

nal relief to his feelings

iends and let us start.

e little detachment set out, headed by the prisoner, who had much more the

x Mile Branch that measured but half their journey done. The keen air of the early morning, whose cold was accentuated by a drizzling rain, chilled him to th

erfidy like that of Wilder. To have betrayed his hospitality was bad enough,-to have lured him on to selling the

was not probable. The county road was plain enough. He mus

the other? The Doctor was aware that he had the whisky. He must have

s road without noticing that he had left the highway. He had passed the Doctor, and had spo

in a mood to accept any suspicion, and the evil thought grew fat within him. He pondered every word of his conversati

might have the appearance of being in command of the troop. Von Rittenheim was too closely absorbed in his own painful thoughts to pay any attention to this e

was at his desk, for he hap

rying to effect a tonsure by force of friction. He nodded a recognition of Wilder and his men, and sent a look of surprise at Von Ritten

r, gruffly, when he was at

in which the details of his method of purchasing the liquor were meagr

t comment, though with a look of disgust that did not escape Mr. Weaver. Perhaps he knew his man in Wilder. At any rate,

you make me tired. Haven't you got good sense? Do y

ed Wilder, and added something about being blown up befor

omething in the case that was not in evidence; but the man had pleaded

bond?" he asked,

on

d for your appearance before t

not know. I hav

two hundr

till would it be the same. Yesterday I

rub to the top of his head. He opened a door and spoke

to step here, if he

to that of real-estate dealer and insurance agent, and inter

xistence caused the commissioner again to rub his head. Why in the world should a man-

d not attempt to understand. His courteous dignity and submission to the justice of the legal procedure told nothing of

o next. His immediate need was of something to eat. He was sick with hunger, and he found himself even casting a regretful thought after Wilder's quarter of a

"rather would I starve

n the buildings in the hope of seeing one that

o the open place from the north, and drove the loafers from

tenheim, disgustedly. "What will happen to thos

seless for him to go back into the country. There was no planting to be done as early as t

t to come to Asheville to-day, and thought with grim

knew that the usual sentence for moonshining was "A hundred dollars or three months," and, since he had no money, he must submit to th

with the thought, and a wild desire to avert the evil

erests. He thought that his negotiation with that excellent person had put his estate out of his hands for all similar uses. Vaguely he thought that the bondsman would be released when his trial came on, and that at that time the land would be free again

ch appealed to him as having to do with the subject he knew most about-horses; and he was pondering

ll over yonder," he s

Baron, to whom the

office, Mr. Weaver. He wa

d, and returned with docility to the Federal Buil

after you went out, von Rittenheim.

even this hour's tedium came to an end, and Weaver, with a "

uddenly he brought his heels together, made his low bow, and too

vincial American's amusement at forei

d telling me how you-al

back his head. Then he control

excuse me for a time, however, I will r-return after

d look of faintness that turned

" he thought, but said aloud onl

age, and he felt that the whole story of his trouble would be an appeal for sympathy that he could not make. However, he

you goin

pation in Asheville until

you wan

well, str-rong.

von Rittenheim's figure with his

hould th

bed his hea

you t

ave I done such a th

en. Still, you're

t where on Friedrich's the

I was at H

ge, and he's getting badly behind in his German. If you'd tackle his instructi

I shall be gr-rateful." And ag

rnoon, and here's a week's salary in a

blished as Tommy Weaver's tutor,

h spare time. Had he worked at a task that occupied seven or eight hours a day, his thoughts would have filtered through the

no account. He was beneath a gentleman's notice. But Dr. Morgan had pretended to be his friend. He dwelt on all his intercourse with him, and w

w moody and irritable, and daily the wish for revenge grew str