Show I H The House of the Three Ganders 4 4 t By Irving Bacheller o B Copyright by Irvine j k t I tt L L. I t CHAPTER VIII Continued VIlI-Continued Continued 12 12 Shad answered with two whistles The boat moved forward and touched the dock A man came ashore The boy Imitated Trams Tram's voice olce to perfection when he said Let the boat go A gentleman of ot your talents should not be traveling In rowboats Here be he sniffed and nd grunted as ns Tram had done OBrien O'Brien is Js here with a steam yacht Come on Pu The newcomer paid and discharged discharged dis dis- dis charged his boatman He tIe turned addressing his supposed comrade with a n profane and affectionate oath of or the tho Wild West Shad made no answer but started at a fast walk toward the small custom house The Tb Theman man followed Precisely at this point a n thing happened which was not part of ot the program The sheriff In rising shouldered against one of ot the barrels barrels bar- bar reIs and created a startling noise iThe stranger turned It Is likely t tIt ho bo saw the risen figures of ot Dl IThie ke and Colewell He lie flung off his his coat Like a sped arrow his form form flashed through the darkness to the docks dock's edge and leaped into the Ithe water He LIe called to his boatman boat bont- man now well out of ot sight Neither the sheriff nor Colonel Blake bad tried to stop him bun The colonel blew his whistle As they stood facing the docks dock's edge another form darted darted darted dart dart- ed by them and tore Into the river surface with a splash that wet their faces It was the form of ot Shad who had thrown n off his two coats and was pursuing the fugitive The searchlight was now shining on the dock and the two men It swept the water and In a second or so Its ray was falling on the swimmers What a hole bole In the night It made Shad as expert In the water as ns a duck was gaining On he went drawing nearer neuer to the fugitive at I every stroke It was a thrilling contest bathed In that flood of golden gold gold- en light In a moment Shad had bad caught the back of ot the mans man's collar collar col col- col- col lar br and was hanging on The fugitive fugitive fu in- turned and was trying to break his hold but could not A boat and boatman drew up at the dock Colonel Blake and the sheriff Jumped aboard Pull Pullout out to them as as quick as you can the colonel commanded We Wo are not here Just to see a swimming match The struggle In the river contin contin- tIed ted The water boiled around the boy and his captive Blake make and those on the yacht were watching It eager e eyes es They could see that the desperado was tiring In a moment he had bad given up trying to shake off the strong and agile agUe lad who clung to his bis collar The boat drew up to them The colonel who sat cat In the stern took the hand band of ot the boy which was now disengaged Thus with Shads Shad's arm as a tow line they they hauled the boy and the exhausted exhausted ex ex- hausted criminal to the yachts yacht's side You needn't be afraid of ot him saId Bald Shad I 1 took his revolver out of ot his hip pocket and threw It away j i The two were pulled aboard Sheriff take this man to your room said the colonel Ill Til bring bringa I la a dry suit sult of ot clothes and a good cod I nt nf 1 tr v f 11 him I UI u VI v. uv u LJ I Irm Im I'm going to put this boy hoy to bed IL and nd give him a rubbing A first class criminal and a class first boy are i not to be carelessly treated I I CHAPTER IX I The Doctor Makes a Discovery I WHEN after a drink of ot hot bot waI water wa- wa I ter and a good rubbing Shad ceased to shiver and was 1 lying comI comfortably com corn I In bed Colonel Blake make went to the sheriffs sheriff's room Algyre Inthe in ini i the tho colonels colonel's dry clothing was sittIng sit- sit tIng by the be bed his feet shackled I lEe He TIe was In a bitter mood He ne greet greet- I jed cd the district attorney with foul fouland and profane words Dont be bo nasty Just because youve you've been outwitted said Blake Tm Im going to treat you well as long longas as youre you're In my hands I Algyre shouted angrily Id rather ruther rath ruth er cr be In h h l 1 than spend another I day among the God God-d d God d hicks hicke Inthis Inthis in inthis this part of ot the We country j Well sir air every one In your line Hue of business feels the tho same way war I I about t It It make Blake answered with a aI smile of ot good nature If a man has bas I an anything on him Its It's about toe we most dangerous part of Gods God's earth to tobe tobe tobe be in There was a moment of ot silence The Tue colonel went on I III happen hoppen to know that youre you're an nn able chap chup You oughtn't to be living the life ata of at ofa ofa a fugitive The Tho best thing you yon can cando cando cando do Is to clean your slate Begin BesIn by byI I telling w what nt you know about the I killing of ot Oscar Perry If you'll do that Ill I'll do what I can for tor you ou here and elsewhere I 1 i Tho answer of at the unfortunate Plan nan vas IQS rather decisive Go to h i h-i 1 he said I 11 know nothing about the Perry murder I j The district attorney gave up i that no progress could b be I PRECEDING EVENTS Rigged and starving a boy of about sixteen Ld m li Ie a befriended by a camping party He Ho has fled from his brutal father flat Bat The boy Shad Sheri Shei Sheridan dan n Is tent sent to Canton with a letter to Colonel Bloke The colonel his bis wife wile and end their daughter Ruth are arc Impressed by the boy mann manner r. r He Ho gets et work In the tho village of Amity Darn Dam and meets a youth of his hit age ege Bony and Bumpy Dro Brown tinker village character With Bony Dony Shad visits the shack which Brown calls caU home homo Bat seeks kl to take teke hi his hb son eon back to his hL own dissolute life but Is overawed by Colonel Blake the and his father passes out of Shed Shads lifo hie Love for Ruth Blake takes a strong hold on oo his heart In 10 on nn at attack ot- ot tack made on tho the Perry family Oscar Orcar Perry the father Is Li fatally shot and his hi Mrs Mra wife of Cyrus Cyru Doolittle prominent citizen chizen seriously wounded Circumstantial evidence points to Bumpy Brown as the asS assailant l and ho Is b arrested Shad cud and Bony find disi disguises ses tho the murderer bad had worn Colonel Colon 1 Blake arranges for Shad to study tudy law under tinder hi his guidance New evidence point points to R Robert rt Royce as tho the murderer of Perry Bumpy Brown is ls released on bail A stranger In a 11 nearby town Attracts the attention of Doctor Corso Gorso His do- do fits fit a proclamation calling for the arrest of Donald Algyre e. bandit and bank robber The stranger has hu associated with Robert Royce Cyrus Doo- Doo bLUes bLUe's stepson Colonel Blake nWe I Is convinced d Is accessory to the murder of Oscar Perry He deciphers rs Incriminating telegrams between and confederates crates then sends send a 11 message O. O apparently from a Ii friend urging to meet him bErn on on the dock doci at nt Shad cleverly disguised t Is used as aa the decoy 1 I made while the criminal was In his present frame of mind The yacht had bad arrived at her dockin dock in Ogdensburg The party spent tho remainder of the night aboard Next Nen day Shad the colonel and the sheriff took toole the Ule train to Canton with their prisoner whose r resentment hadnot hadnot had hadnot not abated He was still sUll sullen and abusive That day Shad returned with more provisions to the little house bouse at Browns Brown's cove I 11 knew you'd be a Bumpy Dumpy shouted This mornin I see seea a white swan in the sl sky y It means that a friend Is comin By I Ive I've got good fer yer dinner dinner din din- ner ncr an an dont don't you ou doubt It The day you left i I shot a wild goose on I the marsh below here bere Ive I've been keepin him lies Des In prime shape Keep him bm till tomorrow Shad suggested be Sunday Ill I'll go up and git gt Bony to come down I 1 Bumpy exclaimed the caper We dont don't really The Boat Drew Up to Them need the tho goose Youve You've brought some beef steak They had much to talk about Shad told of his great adventure while they were at the table By I You ought to have fit at Gettysburg said Bumpy I III Iguess Iguess guess ye would if It you'd a been born an an was Vas old enough This place beats heats the world for I t 11 no hI a 11 Lit i 1 u n uj un took another helping of the grilled steak When they had washed and put away the dishes Bumpy said If youre you're goin to be a l lawyer wyer youve you've got to study I dont don't want to hear another nother word from you JUl till night Ive I've got some wood to cut and Ill I'll gl sit o out t. t 0 o 0 yer way That afternoon sitting comfortably comfortably comfort comfort- ably by a window In the warm room Shad began the reading of Bla Blackstone's Commentaries The colonel had let him take the first volume of the famous classic with the notion that It was like hitching a goat to a plow It will wUl be Interesting to see what he ho says about It he remarked as he took the first volume from Its case I wonder if It the lad will surprIse surprise surprise sur sur- prise me again I rather think that this will stump him Shad was a courageous goat gont When the light began to fade Bumpy came in How be ye e gittin along alons the old man asked Good but theres there's some words here that are not In my dictionary I What does docs contravention mean meanT I III dont don't Just know Bumpy Dumpy answered as he put some wood on the fire I guess It has hns to do with politics Its It's like Uke a snag In the river rl When I run on to one I push my boat oft off an back up a little litHe an go round It Ive put down a list o 0 words words words' that Ive I've got to know about Ill I'll go up tIP to the tho Dam early in the mornIng morning morn morn- ing lag and see the doctor He Hell He'll explain explain explain ex ex- plain em to me Shad lighted the reading lamp lie He found the story In which he and ana Bumpy bad had become Interested and said Lets see what Pip and old Joe are doing By I You wait walt till I draw 1 my boot an loosen my belt an git my ray pipe lit I want to b be good an an ready He drew his boot and lighted his pipe with a sliver silver at the stove hearth and hauled his armchair near the table saying Now let er ergo ergo ergo go Shad began reading Meanwhile the parrot stood holding his head down near the bars of his cage coge on the window sill and saying In a low gentle voice Hello darling Hello Are you happy Praise the Lord I 1 It was as If some unseen hand band were petting him Shad paused a moment moment mo mo- ment meat looking up at the bird with witha a smile smile of amusement aint It itT in said Bumpy I Betsy Brown Is there rubbin his i head Just as she used to He sees her plain He can feel her hand band I guess parrots' parrots eyes can see things that we cant Do liDo you mean menn that her ghost Is here herein here Shad asked with a tingle In his nerves II I T dont don't call cali It that Its It's a kind of ot mean word It aint friendly Id I'd say angel was the word Dont Don't mind It Go on with your Shell She'll enjoy It as much as ns I do Soon they were both absorbed inthe In Inthe Inthe the moving tale and smiling or laughing at at Its quaint humor For more than two two hours they sat entranced entranced entranced en en- In that magic world of the great story The clock struck seven The boy closed the book Im Tm tired and hungry he said Lets have a little snack of cold victuals i I III could smash the clock said Bumpy I didn't know book hook could grab hold 0 o ye e an hang on so Come to think of It Im I'm hungry too Bumpy brought a snack of cold meat doughnuts and cheese and a pitcher of elder cider from his keg Inthe In Inthe In Inthe the cellar under the floor They finished finIshed finished fin fin- their snack and read on until bedtime Bumpy as usual put heavy sticks on the fire turned the damper covered his bird with n a shawl and hung the cage on a hook book fastened to one of at the cross As Bumpy got Into bed yawning the boy heard him saying to himself And nd there lay round upon the ground great heaps of ot Always he was up before day day- daylight daylight light In the morning when he be lighted light light- ed his lamp started his fire washed and dusted the furniture and swept the floor ha ht ho Mp II u v w v. v in the morning the grateful odor of ot coffee and buckwheat cakes and frying sausage was In the air Come 01 ol oP friend he called Its lilts the next day Breakfast Is ready an an I warn ye Its It's fit fer ter kings an queens Shad needed no urging He leaped out of ot bed and dressed In a hurry and washed at the rivers river's edge Hurry up nn an comb yer hair Bumpy sputtered as he brought the hot platters to the table It tilt looks as If It a mouse had made a nest In It it The boy had a great liking for hot cakes cales and maple and sau san sage Bumpy seemed to find a sufficient sufficient sufficient reward for tor his work In Shads Shad's enjoyment He kept an c eye e on hImIn him himIn himin In th the fashion of ot an Interested wit wit- ness Dont spill spUl so much on em cm he was wont to say By Jee Jee- I You make em look like Uke an Island Island Island Is Is- land In a red pond There aint no sense in that You dont don't take moren two fer ter a flapjack Anybody would think ye was mad at era em I T n vi f f h. h 1 r rn n 1 0 u U u.- u. ground of ot good nature Shad enjo enjoyed en en- jo joyed ed It After breakfast he brought In two palls pails of ot water and filled the Soon after seven seen o'clock Shad set setout setout setout out for Amity Dam with a volume of ot Blackstone ne under his arm Having arrived In the familiar village vii vil lage he went at once to the house of his friend the doctor The latter latter lat lat- ter was reading In his office I am glad to see you boy he be said without rising Sit down and tell teU me what has bas happened Shad told the doctor of the steps that led to the capture of ot Algyre and of the prisoners prisoner's sullen attitude Well done 1 I the doctor exclaimed with no change In the expression of his face It will yield no Immediate Imme Imme- diate date result but It Is a long step toward toward to to- ward the truth Soon or late the theman theman man may uncover It He Is a smart fellow He knows that Blake has not evidence enough to hold bold him We Ve have as yet only a suspicion Even Eyen If It he became a witness for forthe forthe forthe the people ho he could not escape life Imprisonment or a long term fo for a crime so atrocious He Is a born gambler He would rather take his chances In the West But If It they have a good case against him and he should be convicted we may eC ex expect i. i pert help from him We may not have long to wait walt Meanwhile my ray dear boy you will of ot course get geta a share of at the reward I 1 haven't thought of ot that I wouldn't know what to do with It 11 I IShad Shad answered But Dut you would know what to do with an education learnIng learning learning learn learn- Im getting educated Im I'm ing something every day Id I'd rather the reward would go to you and Colonel Blake The doctor smiled and said sald Well boy If It I 1 am entitled to any of ot It It which I question It shall be yours There Is another matter of ot which I would speak You Yon are to mention It only to Colonel Blake make Be careful that no one overhears you I recall your telling me once of ot the handsome young lady who worked In the store In South Bolton You had seen her one day at Bumpy Dumpy Browns Brown's shack I went to call on ona ona ona a patient In that village some ten days ago I t heard some gossip about her It was was Interesting Interesting but unkind I went to the store The girl was there alone The look of ot her confirmed confirmed confirmed con con- firmed the gossip It grieved me to see a 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