n's teeth, he moved again, and his eyes
opened, and immediately the evil shone out of the face like a malignant
flame in a lamp. Knowledge of, and delight in, evil gleamed out of the
sudden brightness of the man's great eyes. Then the evil seemed to leap
to rage, as a spark leaps to flame. He tried to raise himself, and
cursed in a choking voice. He seemed awake most fully to consciousness,
and to know exactly what had happened. The dog in the office sent forth
a perfect volley of barks. The man had been obliged to sink back, but
his right hand fumbled feebly for his pocket.

"It is not there," Gordon said coolly.

"Shoot him, you--or--" croaked the man in his voice of unnatural rage.

"Time enough for that," said Gordon. He spoke coolly, but James saw him
shaking as if with the ague. He was deadly white, and his whole face
looked drawn and withered. Aaron came leading the team harnessed to the
wagon out of the stable. He had brought down the mattress and blankets,
as the doctor had directed, and the three men after the rude bed had
been made in the wagon lifted the man thereon. He seemed to be
conscious, but his muttering was so weak as to be almost inaudible, save
for occasional words.

After he was in the wagon Gordon, turning to James, said: "You had
better go in the house and stay with the women. Aaron will go with me. I
shall take this man to the hotel, to Georgie K.'s."

A perfect volley of mumbled remonstrances came from the prostrate figure
in the wagon. Gordon seemed to understand him. "No, I shall not take you
there," he said, "but to the hotel. You will be better cared for. I know
the proprietor."

He got in beside the man, and seated himself on the floor of the wagon.
Aaron mounted to the driver's seat.

"Tell Clemency and her mother not to worry if they are awake," Gordon
called to James as the horses started.

James said yes and went into the house. He entered through the office
door, and directly Clemency was in his arms, all trembling and
half-weeping. "Oh, what has happened? Has Uncle Tom taken him away?" she
quavered.

"Hush, dear, you will wake your mother. Yes, he has taken him away."

"What was the matter, tell me."

"He was unconscious. He had fallen."

"He came to. I heard him speak. Were any bones broken?"

"No, I think not. You must go to bed; it it very late, dear."

Clemency had put fresh wood on the hearth, and the little place was all
a-waver and a-flicker with firelight. G