University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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Tin: tkss m si or aouKiira 31 though some women reluctantly withdrew inclined to dispute Mrs. O Flaherty 's supremacy. “Stand out of the way.’’ she said to the men, “an give yer help whin it’s axed. An’ you doctor, dear, give a hand to lift the hyc out. if they haven’t kilt him intirely.” The hoy had fainted from loss of blood and the hardships of the drive. He was of slender build but well-formed and hardy, and apparently about sixteen. He opened his eyes dreamily for a moment as he rested in her arms, then his head sank back upon her breast, his lips quivering with pain. Seb caught only a glance of a white face as he hurried into the hut from which he and everybody else save the doctor were rigorously excluded. While the wound was being examined and dressed, they withdrew to some distance, to listen to the stage-driver’s story. Black Jack single-handed had held them up. Terror of the man had paralyzed the bravest among them. With their hands in the air they were submitting to have their pockets rifled when from a nearby thicket a boy emerged into the road. He was armed with a shot-gun and had been hunting. Had it been a man Black Jack would have been more cautious. Covering the boy with his pistol yet keeping each of the others within his gaze, he ordered the boy roughly to throw away his gun. The boy obeyed and cast its powder horn after it. Some motion of one of our party distracted the robber’s attention for a moment, when quick as thought the boy drew a revolver from his breast and fired. Jack’s eye caught the motion too late. His bullet in reply was fired by a dying hand. Back fell Jack shot through the heart; the boy badly wounded in the thigh. Who was the boy? The drived dropped his voice. “They say he is the gambler’s son; but the father was not worthy of that child.” Seb placed his hand upon the driver’s shoulder, or he would have fallen. The words that he had heard were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. But he quickly recovered

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30 THE MS AT I AS ;il something wrapped in blankets on the root behind him. It was about the length and breadth of a man. Probably some passenger killed in the fray. “Gone? queried Seb, as the stage drew abreast and he nodded to the bundle. “Gone for good this time. answered the man; so at first I feared that the news had spread and that you might be a pal. Black Jack took the Kid too easily and here's all that't life of him. But the Kid himself is hurt and 1 must hasten to Gold-Bug. Nothing has been lost. You can go faster than 1, so have a doctor ready. “Drive him to my hut, said Seb. “I’ll have him tended to. and wheeling his horse, he was off with the wind. Black Jack dead Fire amid the Redwoods could only fly as fast as the news in Gold Bug. Killed by a Kid! It was as if a child had toppled over a giant of the forest. Whose kid? How? Where? There was a Babel of voices, but the doctor had to be found and the hut made ready. A horse and rider passed out from among them and none dared stop them. The gambling house was reached in a few minutes. The doctor listened, stacked his cards and hastened for his instruments. Mrs. O'Flaherty was giving a full account of the affray to a neighbor, imagination supplying all necessary details. But she broke off just at the most interesting part when Seb curbed his horse and shouted. “You're wanted at the hut, Mrs. O'Flaherty, and immediately galloped off. “I'll get me shawl an' be over, shouted Mrs. O'Flaherty. Seb caught the words and waved his hand that lie understood. “I'll need a guard as well as a nurse, he said to himself, “and that woman's a legion. lie knew of what he spoke. The stage was just at the door, as Mrs. O'Flaherty arrived. and a crowd of the curious had gathered. But a hand opportunely administered to the young and a word to their elders, aided by the doctor's warning that the boy would need quiet and rest, caused the bystanders to melt away,

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32 THE ms AT IAS himself, though lie could not control his voice. Drawing a handful of coin from his pocket he said quickly: “Let the hoys whoop up that kid. hut let not a word he ever whispered connecting him with the cur whose body rots in yonder grave, lie was no child of him. And turning abruptly he left them. Heart and brain were in a turmoil. Yes, he must force himself to think, and think quickly. The mother of tin hoy must he communicated with. Whatever happened, her place was at the bedside of her child. Perhaps, after all. there might he a mistake, and tin wounded youth might not he the child he had cherished in his dreams. The doctor and Mrs. O'Flaherty, or rather, Mrs. O'Flaherty and the doctor appeared at the door. “The angel is restin’ aisily, she said. All young people were angels to the good matron when they were sick and needed her ministrations; when they were well. “Mmre the divil was in thim. “Could he he removed? ventured Seb. “Shure he could. said tin prophetess of medicine, tartily. “Ye has wan grave here already, and 't would he as aisy ter have two. Seb thought that her eyes said, “there, and as if she took his own measure in the bargain. When the lioness is aroused it is well to he prudent. Seb had surely set a legion around the wounded hoy. He asked whether he might have a glance at the patient. Mrs. O'Flaherty consented. lie tiptoed into the darkened room. All doubt vanished. The hoy was his. He longed to take him in his arms. Mrs. O’Flaherty was tiie visible harrier; there were others invisible hut none tin less formidable and real. The mother was sent for. Seb was not present when she came. He took up his quarters elsewhere, appearing only in the early morning and evening to do the necessary chores around the house, though he sometimes stole in by night to gaze upon the sleeper when In knew that Mrs. O Flaherty was watching. He saw the lines of health returning to the hoy’s face. Mrs. Harwood had frequently asked for him.