Part 12 (1/2)

”Here, you, come out of that; we've got you covered, and you can't escape!” exclaimed the colonel, who was gripping something that shone like steel in his right hand, and which Elmer guessed must be a pistol of some sort.

”Don't shoot, kunnel!” cried a quivering voice; ”'deed, an' I surrenders, suh! I reckon I's pow'ful glad yuh kim. I's Sam, suh, yuh man Sam! Please don' pull de triggah ob dat gun, Mars Kunnel!”

It was the coachman who had driven Elmer and Mark on the occasion of the latter's being summoned to an interview with the old traveler.

”Here, go and get a lantern at once, Sam, and run for all you're worth!”

called the old gentleman. ”Meanwhile, the rest of us will surround the tool house, and be ready to give them a volley if they succeed in breaking out!”

Sam had already turned and hurried away toward the stables, where he must have been sitting in his room at the time the row broke out, that drew him toward the scene of the disturbance.

Of course, the last remark of the colonel's had been made with the intention of its being overheard by the men who were fastened inside the outhouse. The sounds of pounding had suddenly ceased as the colored man started to answer the command of the colonel, and those within could easily hear every word uttered.

A silence followed that was only broken by low groans within. Doubtless the more timid rascal was repenting of having been led into this dangerous game of seeking revenge. The dreadful penalty meted out to house burners loomed up before his horrified eyes. The only pity was that he had not allowed himself to see this earlier, and resisted temptation.

”h.e.l.lo!”

That was Phil calling. His heavy voice seemed to express all the signs of acknowledged defeat. Elmer waited to see what the colonel would do, nor was he kept long in suspense.

”This time you're caught in a trap like a rat, Phil Lally,” remarked the old gentleman. ”I'm sorry for you, more than sorry for your poor old mother; but since you took to drink this was bound to be your end. It came quicker than I thought, I admit, but you've got n.o.body to blame save yourself.”

An intense silence followed, broken only by occasional low whines from the weaker rascal. Then Phil called out again.

”Well, I reckon yuh speaks only the truth, kunnel. I allers had a job up tuh the time I took tuh drinkin'. Sense then hard luck has follered clost tuh my heels. An' now I sure knows it's got me. I'd like one more chanct tuh try an' do better; but I reckon it's too late, an' I'll have tuh grin an' bear it.”

Elmer heard him give a big sigh. Somehow the sound affected the boy more than he would have believed possible. He had supposed that Phil must be just naturally a bad man, wicked all the way through. Now he realized that it all came through his one weakness, a love for strong drink.

The colonel moved up a step closer to the door. Elmer wondered whether he meant to throw open the barrier and hold the two scoundrels up as they came forth. But he mistook the action of the old gentleman.

”Phil!” he said, quietly.

”Yes, sir,” answered the gruff tones from within, but no longer filled with a savage brutality, for Elmer could detect a quaver as of strong emotion. Perhaps it may have been the mention of that old mother whose heart would be broken when her boy was sent to prison for a long term.

And somehow Elmer found himself hanging on the next words of the gentleman with an eagerness which he could hardly understand--for it seemed to him that a human soul was trembling in the balance.

”Listen to me, Phil,” continued the colonel. ”What if I gave you one more chance to make good; do you think you could keep your pledge, if you gave it to me, never to take a single drop again as long as you live? Are you strong enough to do this for the sake of that old mother of yours?”

There was an inarticulate sound from within. It might have been Phil talking to himself; but Elmer was more inclined to believe something else--that the strong man was almost overwhelmed by the magnanimity of the gentleman whom he had once served, and whose kindness of the past he had returned so meanly.

”How about it, Phil?” continued the colonel. ”Shall I 'phone in to town and have the police come out here to take you into custody, or are you ready to put your signature to a pledge for me to hold?”

”I'll do it, kunnel, I'll do it, and thank yuh a thousand times for the chanct!” broke out the man. ”Oh, what a crazy fool I was to go agin the best friend I ever had! I'll sign anything yuh arsks me tuh, an' I'll keep it, too, or die atryin'!”

”I'm glad to hear you say that, Phil,” went on the colonel, with a low laugh. ”You were a good gardener up to the time you began to booze and neglect your work My new man proved a failure, and I've let him go. The job's open, Phil!”

”For me?” cried the man, as though utterly unable to believe his ears.

”D'ye mean, kunnel, yu'd dar take me back agin, arter the way I been actin'?”

”Oh, we'll try and forget all that, Phil. It wasn't you, but the devil you took inside, that made you act that way. And since you're never going to give way to the tempter again I guess I'll risk the chances.”