how
about the other part of those rights? S'pose I walk right into that
house and--"

"Stop it! Shut up! You'd better not--"

"And into that bedroom and just say: 'Emmie, here's your--'"

He didn't finish the sentence. Captain Cy's big fist struck him fairly
between the eyes, and the back of his head struck the walk with a
"smack!" Then, through the fireworks which were illuminating his muddled
brain, he heard the captain's voice.

"You low - down, good - for - nothin' scamp!" growled Captain Cy. "All
this day I've been hatin' myself for the way I've acted to you. I've
hated myself and been tryin' to spunk up courage to say 'It's all off!'
But I was too much of a coward, I guess. And now the Lord A'mighty has
MADE me say it. You want your rights, do you? So? Then get 'em if you
can. It's you and me for it, and we'll see who's the best man. Teacher,
if you're ready I'll walk home with you now."

Mr. Smith was not entirely cowed.

"You go!" he yelled. "Go ahead! And I'll go to a lawyer's to-morrow. But
to-night, and inside of five minutes, I'll walk into that house of yours
and get my--"

The captain dropped Miss Dawes's arm and strode back to where his
antagonist was sitting in the dust of the walk. Stooping down, he shook
a big forefinger in the man's face.

"You've been out West, they tell me," he whispered sternly. "Yes! Well,
out West they take the law into their own hands, sometimes, I hear. I've
been in South America, and they do it there, too. Just so sure as you
go into my house to-night and touch--well, you know what I mean--just
so sure I'll kill you like a dog, if I have to chase you to Jericho. Now
you can believe that or not. If I was you I'd believe it."

Taking the frightened schoolmistress by the arm once more he walked
away. Mr. Smith said nothing till they had gone some distance. Then he
called after them.

"You wait till to-morrow!" he shouted. "You just wait and see what'll
happen to-morrow!"

Captain Cy was silent all the way to the gate of the perfect boarding
house. Miss Dawes was silent likewise, but she thought a great deal. At
the gate she said:

"Captain Whittaker, I'm EVER so much obliged to you. I can't thank you
enough."

"Don't try, then. That's what you said to me about the cow."

"But I'm almost sorry you were the one to come. I'm afraid that man will
get you into trouble. Has he--can he--What did he mean about to-morrow?
Who IS he?"

The captain pushed his cap back