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to the ground。
With an exclamation of horror； the first and only terrible emotion
he had felt； he ran to the fallen man； as Harrison reached his side
at the same moment。
〃For God's sake；〃 he said wildly； throwing himself on his knees
beside McKinstry； 〃what has happened？ For I swear to you； I never
aimed at you！ I fired in the air。 Speak！ Tell him； you；〃 he
turned with a despairing appeal to Harrison； 〃you must have seen it
alltell him it was not me！〃
A half wondering； half incredulous smile passed quickly over
Harrison's face。 〃In course you didn't MEAN it；〃 he said dryly；
〃but let that slide。 Get up and get away from yer； while you kin；〃
he added impatiently； with a significant glance at one or two men
who lingered after the sudden and general dispersion of the crowd
at McKinstry's fall。 〃Getwill ye！〃
〃Never！〃 said the young man passionately； 〃until he knows that it
was not my hand that fired that shot。〃
McKinstry painfully struggled to his elbow。 〃It took me yere；〃 he
said with a slow deliberation； as if answering some previous
question； and pointing to his hip； 〃and it kinder let me down when
I started forward at the second call。〃
〃But it was not I who did it； McKinstry； I swear it。 Hear me！ For
God's sake； say you believe me。〃
McKinstry turned his drowsy troubled eyes upon the master as if he
were vaguely recalling something。 〃Stand back thar a minit； will
ye；〃 he said to Harrison； with a languid wave of his crippled hand；
〃I want ter speak to this yer man。〃
Harrison drew back a few paces and the master sought to take the
wounded man's hand； but he was stopped by a gesture。 〃Where hev
you put Cressy？〃 McKinstry said slowly。
〃I don't understand you；〃 stammered Ford。
〃Where are you hidin' her from me？〃 repeated McKinstry with painful
distinctness。 〃Whar hev you run her to； that you're reckonin' to
jine her arterarterTHIS？〃
〃I am not hiding her！ I am not going to her！ I do not know where
she is。 I have not seen her since we parted early this morning
without a word of meeting again；〃 said the master rapidly； yet with
a bewildered astonishment that was obvious even to the dulled
faculties of his hearer。
〃That war true？〃 asked McKinstry； laying his hand upon the master's
shoulder and bringing his dull eyes to the level of the young
man's。
〃It is the whole truth；〃 said Ford fervently； 〃and true also that I
never raised my hand against you。〃
McKinstry beckoned to Harrison and the two others who had joined
him； and then sank partly back with his hand upon his side； where
the slow empurpling of his red shirt showed the slight ooze of a
deeply…seated wound。
〃You fellers kin take me over to the ranch；〃 he said calmly； 〃and
let him；〃 pointing to Ford； 〃ride your best hoss fer the doctor。 I
don't；〃 he continued in grave explanation； 〃gin'rally use a doctor；
but this yer is suthin' outside the old woman's regular gait。〃 He
paused； and then drawing the master's head down towards him； he
added in his ear； 〃When I get to hev a look at the size and shape
o' this yer ball that's in my hip； I'llI'llI'llbealittle
more kam！〃 A gleam of dull significance struggled into his eye。
The master evidently understood him； for he rose quickly； ran to
the horse； mounted him and dashed off for medical assistance； while
McKinstry； closing his heavy lids； anticipated this looked…for calm
by fainting gently away。
CHAPTER XIII。
Of the various sentimental fallacies entertained by adult humanity
in regard to childhood； none are more ingeniously inaccurate and
gratuitously idiotic than a comfortable belief in its profound
ignorance of the events in which it daily moves； and the motives
and characters of the people who surround it。 Yet even the
occasional revelations of an enfant terrible are as nothing
compared to the perilous secrets which a discreet infant daily
buttons up； or secures with a hook…and…eye； or even fastens with a
safety…pin across its gentle bosom。 Society can never cease to be
grateful for that tact and considerationqualities more often
joined with childish intuition and perception than with matured
observationthat they owe to it； and the most accomplished man or
woman of the great world might take a lesson from this little
audience who receive from their lips the lie they feel too
palpable； with round…eyed complacency； or outwardly accept as moral
and genuine the hollow sentiment they have overheard rehearsed in
private for their benefit。
It was not strange therefore that the little people of the Indian
Spring school knew perhaps more of the real relations of Cressy
McKinstry to her admirers than the admirers themselves。 Not that
this knowledge was outspokenfor children rarely gossip in the
grown…up senseor even communicable by words intelligent to the
matured intellect。 A whisper； a laugh that often seemed vague and
unmeaning； conveyed to each other a world of secret significance；
and an apparently senseless burst of merriment in which the whole
class joined and that the adult critic set down to 〃animal
spirits〃a quality much more rare with children than generally
supposedwas only a sympathetic expression of some discovery
happily oblivious to older preoccupation。 The childish simplicity
of Uncle Ben perhaps appealed more strongly to their sympathy； and
although； for that very reason； they regarded him with no more
respect than they did each other； he was at times carelessly
admitted to their confidence。 It was especially Rupert Filgee who
extended a kind of patronizing protectorate over himnot unmixed
with doubts of his sanity； in spite of the promised confidential
clerkship he was to receive from his hands。
On the day of the events chronicled in the preceding chapter；
Rupert on returning from school was somewhat surprised to find
Uncle Ben perched upon the rail…fence before the humble door of the
Filgee mansion and evidently awaiting him。 Slowly dismounting as
Rupert and Johnny approached； he beamed upon the former for some
moments with arch and yet affable mystery。
〃Roopy； old man； I s'pose ye've got yer duds all ready in yer pack；
eh？〃
A flush of pleasure passed over the boy's handsome face。 He cast；
however； a hurried look down on the all…pervading Johnny。
〃'Cause ye see we kalkilate to take the down stage to Sacramento
at four o'clock；〃 continued Uncle Ben； enjoying Rupert's half
sceptical surprise。 〃Ye enter into office； so to speak； with me
at that hour； when the sellery； seventy…five dollars a month and
board； ez private and confidential clerk； beginseh？〃
Rupert's dimples deepened in charming； almost feminine；
embarrassment。 〃But dad？〃 he stammered。
〃Et's all right with HIM。 He's agreeable。〃
〃But？〃
Uncle Ben followed Rupert's glance at Johnny； who however appeared
to be absorbed in the pattern of Uncle Ben's new trousers。
〃That's fixed；〃 he said