to him that hath-第46节

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obviously　had　fallen　under　the　spell　of　the　bootleggers；　knew　too
well　the　peril　of　his　cause。　　Shrill　and　savage　rose　his　voice：

〃Don't　listen　to　'im。　　'E's　a　traitor；　a　blank　and　double…blank
traitor。　　'E　sold　us　（h）up；　'e　'as。　　Don't　listen　to　'im。〃

Like　a　maniac　he　spat　out　the　words　from　his　foam…flecked　lips；
waving　his　arms　madly　about　his　head。　　Relief　came　from　an
unexpected　source。　　Sam　Wigglesworth；　annoyed　at　Simmons's
persistence　and　observing　that　McNish；　to　whom　as　a　labour　leader
he　felt　himself　bound；　regarded　the　orating　and　gesticulating
Simmons　with　disfavour；　reached　down　and；　pulling　a　sizable　club
from　beneath　the　bottom　of　a　fence；　took　careful　aim　and；　with　the
accuracy　of　the　baseball　pitcher　that　he　was；　hurled　it　at　the
swaying　figure　upon　the　barrel。　　The　club　caught　Simmons　fair　in
the　mouth；　who；　being；　none　too　firmly　set　upon　his　pedestal；
itself　affording　a　wobbling　foothold；　landed　spatting　and　swearing
in　the　arms　of　his　friends　below。　　With　the　mercurial　temper
characteristic　of　a　crowd；　they　burst　into　a　yell　of　laughter。

〃Go　to　it　now；　McNish！〃　said　Maitland。

Echoing　the　laughter；　McNish　once　more　held　up　his　hand。　　〃Earth　to
earth；　ashes　to　ashes；〃　he　said　in　his　deepest　and　most　solemn
tone。　　The　phenomenal　absurdity　of　a　joke　from　the　solemn　Scotchman
again　tickled　the　uncertain　temperament　of　the　crowd　into
boisterous　laughter。

〃Men；　listen　tae　me！〃　cried　McNish。　　〃Ye　mad　a　bad　mistake　the
nicht。　　In　fact；　ye're　a　lot　of　fules。　　And　those　who　led　ye　are
worse；　for　they　have　lost　us　the　strike；　if　that　is　any
satisfaction　tae　ye。　　And　now　ye　want　to　do　another　fule　thing。
Ye're　mad　just　because　ye　didn't　know　enough　to　keep　out　of　the
wet。〃

But　at　this　point；　a　man　fighting　his　way　from　the　rear　of　the
crowd；　once　more　raised　the　cry　〃Scabs！〃

〃Keep　that　fool　quiet；〃　said　McNish　sharply。

〃Keep　quiet　yourself；　McNish；〃　replied　the　man；　still　pushing　his
way　toward　the　front。

〃Heaven　help　us　now；〃　said　Maitland。　　〃It's　Tony；　and　drunk　at
that！〃

It　was　indeed　Tony；　without　hat；　coat　or　vest。

〃McNish；　we　want　those　scabs；〃　said　Tony；　in　drunken　gravity。

〃There　are　nae　scabs　here。　　Haud　ye're　drunken　tongue；〃　said　McNish
savagely。

〃McNish；〃　persisted　Tony　in　a　grave　and　perfectly　courteous　tone；
〃you're　a　liar。　　The　scabs　are　in　that　office。〃　　A　roar　again　swept
the　crowd。

〃Men；　listen　to　me；〃　pleaded　McNish。　　〃A'll　tell　ye　about　the
scabs。　　They　are　in　the　office　yonder。　　But　I　have　Captain
Maitland's　word　o'　honour　that　they　will　be　shipped　out　of　town
by　the　first　train。〃

A　savage　yell　answered　him。

〃McNish；　we'll　do　the　shipping；〃　said　Tony；　moving　still　nearer　the
speaker。

〃Officer；〃　said　Maitland　sharply　to　a　uniformed　policeman　standing
by　his　side；　〃arrest　that　man！〃　pointing　to　Tony。

The　policeman　drew　his　baton；　took　two　strides　forward；　seized　Tony
by　the　back　of　the　neck　and　drew　him　in。　　An　angry　yell　went　up
from　the　mob。　　Maitland　felt　a　hand　upon　his　arm。　　Looking　down；　he
saw　to　his　horror　and　dismay　Annette；　her　face　white　and　stricken
with　grief　and　terror。

〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　pleaded；　〃don't　let　Tony　be　arrested。　　He　broke
away　from　us。　　Let　me　take　him。　　He　will　come　with　me。　　Oh；　let　me
take　him！〃

〃Rescue！　　Rescue！〃　shouted　the　crowd；　rushing　the　cordon　of　police
lining　the　street。

〃Kill　him！　　Kill　the　traitor！〃　yelled　Simmons；　struggling　through
and　waving　unsteadily　the　revolver　in　his　hand。　　〃Down　with　that
tyrant；　Maitland！　　Kill　him！〃　he　shrieked。

He　raised　his　arm；　holding　his　gun　with　both　hands。

〃Look　out；　Jack；〃　shrieked　Annette；　flinging　herself　on　him。

Simultaneously　with　the　shot；　a　woman's　scream　rang　out　and　Annette
fell　back　into　Maitland's　arms。　　A　silence　deep　as　death　fell　upon
the　mob。

With　a　groan　McNish　dropped　from　the　fence　beside　the　girl。

Annette　opened　her　eyes　and；　looking　up　into　Maitland's　face；
whispered：　　〃He　didn't　get　you；　Jack。　　I'm　so　glad。〃

〃Oh；　Annette；　dear　girl！　　He's　killed　you！〃

〃It'sallrightJack；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Isavedyou。〃

Meanwhile　McNish；　with　her　hand　caught　in　his；　was　sobbing：　　〃God；
have　mercy！　　She's　deed！　　She's　deed！〃

Annette　again　opened　her　eyes。　　〃Poor　Malcolm；〃　she　whispered。
〃Dear　Malcolm。〃　　Then；　closing　her　eyes　again；　quietly　as　a　tired
child；　she　sank　into　unconsciousness。　　The　big　Scotchman；　still
kissing　her　hand；　sobbed：

〃Puir　lassie；　puir　lassie！　　Ma　God！　　Ma　God！　　What　now？　　What　now？〃

〃She　is　dead。　　The　girl　is　dead。〃　　The　word　passed　from　lip　to　lip
among　the　crowd；　which　still　held　motionless　and　silent。

〃We'll　get　her　into　the　office；〃　said　Maitland。

〃A'll　tak　her；〃　said　McNish；　and；　stopping　down；　he　lifted　her
tenderly　in　his　arms；　stood　for　a　moment　facing　the　crowd；　and　then
in　a　voice　of　unutterable　sadness　that　told　of　a　broken　heart；　he
said：　　〃Ye've　killed　her。　　Ye've　killed　the　puir　lassie。　　Are　ye
content？〃　　And　passed　in　through　the　gate；　holding　the　motionless
form　close　to　his　heart。

As　he　passed　with　his　pathetic　burden；　the　men　on　guard　at　the　gate
bared　their　heads。　　Immediately　on　every　hand　throughout　the　crowd
men　took　off　their　hats　and　stood　silent　till　he　had　disappeared
from　their　sight。　　In　the　presence　of　that　poignant　grief　their
rage　against　him　ceased；　swept　out　of　their　hearts　by　an
overwhelming　pity。

In　one　swift　instant　a　door　had　opened　from　another　and　unknown
world；　and　through　the　open　door　a　Presence；　majestic；　imperious；
had　moved　in　upon　them；　withering　with　His　icy　breath　their　hot
passions；　smiting　their　noisy　clamour　to　guilty　silence。



CHAPTER　XVI

A　GALLANT　FIGHT


In　the　Rectory　the　night　was　one　long　agony　of　fear　and　anxiety。
Adrien　had　taken　Mrs。　Egan　and　her　babe　home　in　a　taxi　as　soon　as
circumstances　would　warrant；　and　then；　lest　they　should　alarm　their
mother；　they　made　pretense　of　retiring　for　the　night。

After　seeing　their　mother　safely　bestowed；　they　slipped　downstairs；
and；　muffling　the　telephone；　sat　waiting　for　news；　slipping　out　now
and　then　to　the　street；　one　at　a　time；　to　watch　the　glare　of　the
fire　in　the　sky　and　to　listen　for　the　sounds　of　rioting　from　the
town。

At　length　from　Victor　came　news　of　the　tragedy。　　With　whitening
face；　Adrien　took　the　message。　　Not　for　nothing　had　she　walked　the
wards　in　France。

〃Listen；　Victor；〃　she　said；　speaking　in　a　quick；　firm　voice。　　〃It
is　almost　impossible　to　get　a　nurse　in　time　and　quite　impossible　to
get　one　skilled　in　this　sort　of　case。　　Come　for　me。　　I　shall　be
ready　and　shall　take　charge。　　Tell　Dr。　Meredith　I　am　quite　free。〃

〃All　right。　　Lose　no　time。〃

〃Oh；　what　is　it；　Adrien？〃　said　Patricia；　wringing　her　hands。　　〃Is
it　Jack？　　Or　Victor？〃

Adrien　caught　her　by　the　shoulders：　　〃Patricia；　I　want　your　help。
No　talk！　　Come　with　me。　　I　will　tell　you　as　I　dress。〃

Swiftly；　with　no　hurry　or　flurry；　Adrien　changed　into　her　uniform；
packed　her　bag；　giving　Patricia　meantime　the　story　of　the　tragedy
which　she　had　heard　over　the　telephone。

〃And　to　think　it　might　have　been　Jack；〃　said　Patricia；　wringing　her
hands。　　〃Oh；　dear；　dear　Annette。　　Can't　I　help　in　some　way；
Adrien？〃

〃Patricia；　listen　to　me；　child。　　The　first　thing　is　keep　your　head。
You　can　help　me　greatly。　　You　will　take　charge　here　and　later；
perhaps；　you　can　help　me　in　other　ways。　　Meantime　you　must　assume
full　responsibility　for　them　all　here。　　Much　depends　on　you！〃

The　girl　stood　gazing　with　wide…open　blue　eyes　at　her　sister。　　Then
quietly　she　answered：

〃I'll　do　my　best；　Adrien。　　There's　Vic。〃　　She　rushed　swiftly
downstairs。　　Suddenly　she　stopped；　steadied　her　pace；　and　received
him　with　a　calm　that　surprised　that　young　man　beyond　measure。

〃Adrien　is　quite　ready；　Vic；〃　she　said。

〃Topping；〃　said　Vic。　　〃What　a　brick　she　is！　　Dr。　Meredith　didn't
know　where　to　turn　for　a　nurse。　　The　hospital　is　full。　　Every　nurse
is　engaged。　　So　much　sickness；　you　know；　in　town。　　Ah；　here　she　is。
You　are　a　lightning…change　artist；　Adrien。〃

〃How　is　Annette；　Vic？　　Is　she　still　living？〃　asked　Patricia。

〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Vic；　wondering　at　the　change　in　the　girl
before　him。

〃Darling；〃　said　Adrien；　〃I　will　let　you　know　at　once。　　I　hate　to
leave　you。〃

〃Leave　me！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃Nonsense；　Adrien；　I　shall　be　quite
all　right。　　Only；〃　she　added；　clasping　her　hands；　〃let　me　know　when
you　can。〃

When　the　ambulance　arrived　at　the　Maitland　home；　Adrien　was　at　the
door。　　All　was　in　readinesshot　water；　bandages；　and　everything
needful　to　the　doctor's　hand。

McNish　carried　Annette　up　to　the　room　prepared　for　her；　laid　her
down　and　stood　in　dumb　grief　looking　down　upon　her。

Adrien　touched　him　on　the　arm。

〃Come；〃　she　said。　　And；　taking　his　arm；　led　him　downstairs。　　〃Stay
here；〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　bring　you　word　as　soon　as　possible。〃

An　hour　later　she　returned；　and　found　him　sitting　in　the　exact
position　in　which　she　had　left　him。　　He　apparently　had　not　moved
hand　or　foot。　　At　her　entrance　he　looked　up；　eager；　voiceless。

〃She　is　resting；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃The　bullet　is　extracted。　　It　had
gone　quite　through　to　the　outer　skina　clean　wound。〃

〃How　long；〃　said　McNish；　passing　his　tongue　over　his　dry　lips；　〃how
long　do