ebridgewasup—mymindwasalwaysmorerestfulwhenthatbridgewasupintheevenings—Iputthethingclearoutofmyhead.Ineverdreamedofhisgettingintothehouseandwaitingforme.ButwhenImademyroundinmydressinggown,aswasmyhabit,IhadnosoonerenteredthestudythanIscenteddanger.Iguesswhenamanhashaddangersinhislife—andI'vehadmorethanmostinmytime—thereisakindofsixthsensethatwavestheredflag.Isawthesignalclearenough,andyetIcouldn'ttellyouwhy.NextinstantIspottedabootunderthewindowcurtain,andthenIsawwhyplainenough.
“I'djusttheonecandlethatwasinmyhandbuttherewasagoodlightfromthehalllampthroughtheopendoor.IputdownthecandleandjumpedforahammerthatI'dleftonthemantel.Atthesamemomenthesprangatme.Isawtheglintofaknife,andIlashedathimwiththehammer.Igothimsomewherefortheknifetinkleddownonthefloor.Hedodgedroundthetableasquickasaneel,andamomentlaterhe'dgothisgunfromunderhiscoat.IheardhimcockitbutIhadgotholdofitbeforehecouldfire.Ihaditbythebarrel,andwewrestledforitallendsupforaminuteormore.Itwasdeathtothemanthatlosthisgrip.
“Heneverlosthisgripbuthegotitbuttdownwardforamomenttoolong.MaybeitwasIthatpulledthetrigger.Maybewejustjolteditoffbetweenus.Anyhow,hegotbothbarrelsintheface,andthereIwas,staringdownatallthatwasleftofTedBaldwin.I'drecognizedhiminthetownship,andagainwhenhesprangformebuthisownmotherwouldn'trecognizehimasIsawhimthen.I'musedtoroughworkbutIfairlyturnedsickatthesightofhim.
“IwashangingonthesideofthetablewhenBarkercamehurryingdown.Iheardmywifecoming,andIrantothedoorandstoppedher.Itwasnosightforawoman.IpromisedI'dcometohersoon.IsaidawordortwotoBarker—hetookitallinataglance—andwewaitedfortheresttocomealong.Buttherewasnosignofthem.Thenweunderstoodthattheycouldhearnothing,andthatallthathadhappenedwasknownonlytoourselves.
“Itwasatthatinstantthattheideacametome.Iwasfairlydazzledbythebrillianceofit.Theman'ssleevehadslippedupandtherewasthebrandedmarkofthelodgeuponhisforearm.Seehere!”
ThemanwhomwehadknownasDouglasturneduphisowncoatandcufftoshowabrowntrianglewithinacircleexactlylikethatwhichwehadseenuponthedeadman.
“Itwasthesightofthatwhichstartedmeonit.Iseemedtoseeitallclearataglance.Therewerehisheightandhairandfigure,aboutthesameasmyown.Noonecouldsweartohisface,poordevil!Ibroughtdownthissuitofclothes,andinaquarterofanhourBarkerandIhadputmydressinggownonhimandhelayasyoufoundhim.Wetiedallhisthingsintoabundle,andIweightedthemwiththeonlyweightIcouldfindandputthemthroughthewindow.Thecardhehadmeanttolayuponmybodywaslyingbesidehisown.
“Myringswereputonhisfingerbutwhenitcametotheweddingring,”heheldouthismuscularhand,“youcanseeforyourselvest