第10章

"Fourth。ThemoneyBurgesshadisyours，onlybecauseI\'mgivingittoyou。

ItbelongstoBugBuler。Hecouldn\'ttalkplainwhenyousavedhim。

He\'snotBugBuler；he\'sBugBurleigh，sonofVictorBurleigh，heirtoV。B。\'smoneyinthelaw。I\'vegotalltheproofs。

Youseewhyyoucanhavethatmoney。Nobodywilleverknowbutme。

Don\'thuntformeandI\'llnevertell。TOMGRESH。”

ThepaperfellfromVictorBurleigh\'shands。Theworld，thattenminutesagowasarose-huedsunsetland，wasadrearymidnightwastenow。

TheonebarrierbetweenhimselfandElinorhadfallenonlytoriseupagain。

ThencameSatanintothegame。"NobodyknewthisbutGresh!WhohadsavedBug\'slife？Whohadcaredforhimandwouldalwayscareforhim？

WhyshouldBug，little，lovingBug，comenowtospoilhishopes？

IfBugknewhewouldbefirsttogiveitalltohisbelovedVic。”

AndthencameSatan\'stenstrike。"Noneedtosettlethingsnow。

Waitandthinkitover。”AndVicdecidedinablindwaytothinkitover。

IntherotundahemetTrench，oldTrench，slowofstepbutalightningcalculator。

"Whereareyougoing？"heexclaimed，ashesawVic\'sface。

"I\'mgoingtothewhirlpoolbeforeI\'mthrough，"Vicsaid，hoarsely。

Trenchcaughthiminapowerfulgripandshovedhimtothefootoftherotundastairs。

"No，-youre-not-going-to-the-whirlpool，"\'hesaid，slowly。

"You\'regoinguptothetopofthedomerightagainstthat_AdAstraperAspera_businessupthere，andopenthewestwindowandlookoutattheworldtheLordmadetohealhurtsoulsbylookingat。

Andyouaregoingtostayupthereuntilyouhavefoughtthethingoutwithyourself，andcomedownlikeMosesdidwiththetenCommandmentscutdeeponthetablesofyourstonyoldheart。

Ifyoudon\'t，you\'llnotneedtogotooldLagonda\'spool。

Bytheholysaints，I\'lltakeyoutheremyselfandplungeyouinjusttoridtheworldofsuchafool。Youhearme!Now，goon!

AndrememberinyourtusslethatthatbigScutovertheoldSunrisedoorouttherestandsforService。That\'swhatwillmakeyournamefityouyet，Victor。”

Vicslowlyclimbeduptowhereanhouragothesuddenopportunityforthefruitionofhisyounglifeandhopehadbeenbroughttohim。

Lostnow，unless——NobodywouldeverknowandBugcouldlosenothing。

HeopenedthewestwindowandlookedoutattheWalnutValley，dimandshadowynow，andthesilverprairiesbeyonditandthegorgeouscrimsontintedskywherefromthesunhadslipped。Andthenandthere，withhisfacetothelight，hewrestledwiththeblackApollyonofhissoul。

Andeveryminutethetemptationgrewtokeepthefunds"intrust，"

andtokeeponcaringfortheboyhehadcaredforsincebabyhood。

HeclinchedhiswhiteteethandthetigerlightwasinhiseyesagainasthelongingforElinor\'sloveovercamehim。Hepicturedherasonlyonesunsetagoshehadlookedupintohiseyes，herfacetransfiguredwithlove\'ssweetness，andhewishedhemightkeepthatpictureforever。

But，somehow，betweenthatfaceandhisown，camethepictureoflittleBugaloneinthewretcheddugout，reachingupbabyarmstohimforlifeandsafety；onhisbabyfaceapleadingtrustfulness。

Victorunbuttonedhiscuffandslippeduphissleevetothescaronhisarm。

"AnybodycanseethescarIputtherewhenIcutoutthepoison，"

hesaidtohimself，atlast。"Nobodywillseethescaronmysoul，butI\'llcutoutthepoisonjustthesame。Ididnotsavethatbabyboyfromtherattlesnakesonlytolethimbecrushedbytheserpentinme。

Trenchwasright，theSoverthedoorwaydowntherestandsforServiceaswellasforSacrificeandStrife。Dr。FennebensaystheyallenterintothewinningofaMaster\'sDegree。ShallIevergetmineearned，Iwonder？"

Helookedoncemoreatthewest，allasoftpurple，gray-veiledwithmistyshadows，saveovertheplacewherethesunwentoutoneshaftofdeepestrosehuetippedwithgoldenflamewascleavingitswaytowardthedarkeningzenith。

ThenheclosedthewindowandwentdownstairsandoutintothebeautifulDecembertwilight。

InallKansasinthateveninghournomanbreatheddeeperofthesweet，pureair，norwalkedwithfirmerstride，thanthemanwhohadgoneoutunderthecarvedsymbolofthecollegedoorway，VictorBurleighofthejuniorclassatSunrise。

SUPREMACY

MakethyselffreeofManhood\'sguild，Pulldownthybarnsandgreaterbuild，Pluckfromthesunset\'sfruitofgold，Gleanfromtheheavensandoceanold，FromfiresideloneandtramplingstreetLetthylifegarnerdailywheat，Theepicofamanrehearse，Besomethingbetterthanthyverse，Andthoushalthearthelife-bloodflowFromfartheststarstograss-bladeslow——

LOWELL

CHAPTERXIII

THEMANBELOWTHESMOKE

_Andforgiveusourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors_。

ELINORWREAMwasstandingatthegateasVictorBurleighcamestridingupthestreet。

"Whereareyougoingsofast，Victor？"sheasked。"Everybodyisinarushthisevening。WehadatelegramfromtheEastthisafternoon。

UncleJoshuaisveryill，andUncleLloydhadtogetawayonshortnotice。

OldBondSaxonwentbyjustnow，but，"loweringhervoice，"hewasawfullydrunkandslippedalonglikeasnake。”

"HaveyouseenBug？"Victorasked。"Denniesaysheleftalittlewhileagotofindhisballhelostoutnorththisafternoon。

Hewouldn\'ttellwhere，becausehehadpromisednotto。”

"No，Ihavenotseenhim。Butdon\'tbeuneasyaboutBug。Heneverplaysneartheriver，northerailroadtracks，andhealwayscomesinattherighttime，"

Elinorsaid，comfortingly。

"Iknowhealwayshasbefore，butIwanttofindhim，anyhow。”

TheaffectionatetonetoldElinorwhatalovingguardianshipwasgiventotheunknownorphanchild。

"TherewasamanheretoseeUncleLloydjustafterheleftthisevening。

Thesamemanthatbroughtalittlepackageforyouthenightwecamehome。

IsupposehecomesfromyourpartofthestateoutWest，forheseemedtoknowyouandBug。HeaskedmeifBugeverplayedalongtheriverandifhewasashychild。Hewasastrange-lookingman，andIthoughthehadthecruelestfaceIeversaw，butIamnoexpertonstrangefaces。”

Victordidnotwaitforanotherword。

"ImustfindBugrightaway。Youcan\'tthinkwhatheistome，Elinor，"

andhehurriedaway。

AtthebendintheWalnutVicsawBug\'slittlescarletstockingcapbesidetheflatstone。Thetwilightwasalmostgone，buttheglisteningriverreflectedonthetornbushesabovethebank-fullstream。

Thecrushingagonyofthefirstminutesmadethemseemlikehours。

Andthenthecollegedisciplineputinitswork。

Vicstoppedandreasoned。

"Bugisn\'tdownthere。Henevergoesneartheriver。ThatstrangemanisTomGresh。Hekilledmyfatherandhe\'slaidatrapforme。Hedoesn\'twanttokillBug。Hewantstokeephimtoworkoutvengeanceandhateonme。

Hesayshe\'llsendmetomyfatherifIgonearhim。Well，I\'mgoingsonearhe\'llnotdoubtwhoIam，andI\'llhaveBugunharmedifIhavetosendGreshwheremyfathercouldnotgoevenwithwatertocoolhistongue。

Amanmayfightwithamanashewouldfightwithabeasttosavehimselforsomethingdearerthanhimselffrombeastlydestruction，Fennebensays。

That\'sthebattlebeforemenow，andit\'stothedeath。”

Thetigerlightwasintheyelloweyesasneverbeforeandthesternjawwasset，asVictorBurleighhurriedaway。

Andthiswasthemanwho，suchalittlewhileago，wasdebatingwithhimselfoverthequietpossessionofBugBuler\'sinheritance。

TrulytheMasterycomesveryneartosuchashe。

Itwaswithtiger-likestepandinstinct，too，thattheyoungmanwentleapingupthedark，frost-coatedglen。

Aboutthemouthofthecavetheblacknesswasappalling。

Itseemedaplaceapart，cursedwiththefrownofNature。YetintheApriltime，thesweetestmomentsofVic\'syounglifehadbeenspentinthisveryspotthatnowshowedallthedifferencebetweenLoveandHate。

Ashenearedtheopeningofthecavernheguardedhisfootstepsmorecarefully。Thejunglebeastwasalertwithinhimandthecollegetrainingwasgivingwaytothemightofmusclebackedbyawilltowin。

Adimlightgleamedinthecaveandhewatchedoutsidenow，asGreshontheAprildayhadwatchedhiminside。

Downbyawoodfire，whosesmokewastwistingoutthroughacreviceoverheadsomewhere，littleBugwassittingonTomGresh\'sbigcoat，thefirelightinguphistangleofred-browncurls。

Hisbigbrowneyeslookingupatthemancrouchingbythefirewereeyesofinnocentcourage，andtheexpressiononthesweetchild-facewasimpenetrable。

"He\'saBurleigh。He\'snotafraid，"Victhought，exultingly。

"That\'shalfmybattle。Ihaditoutwiththerattlesnakes。

I\'lldobetterhere。”

AtthatmomenttheoutlawturnedtowardthedoorandleapedtohisfeetasVicspranginside。

Bugstartedupwithoutstretchedarms。

"Keepoutoftheway，Bug，"Viccried，asthetwomenclinched。

Andthestrugglebegan。Theywereevenlymatched，andbothhadthesinewsofgiants。Theoutlawhadtheadvantageofanironstrength，hardenedbyyearsofout-doorlife。

Butthecollegethathadsoftenedthecountryboysomewhatgaveinreturnthequickjudgmentandsuperioragilityofthetrainedpowerthatcountsagainstweightbeforethebattleisover。

Butwithal，itwasterrible。Onefighterwasamurdererbytrade，hishandsteadyfortheblackestdeeds，andherewasamanhehadwaitedlongmonthstodestroy。Theotherfighterwasinthestruggletosavealifedeartohim，alifethatmustvindicatehisconscienceandpreservehissoul\'speace。

Acrossthestone-flooredcavetheythreshedinfury，untilatthefartherwallGreshflungVicfromhimagainstthejaggedrockwithaforcethatcutagashacrosstheboy\'shead。

Thebloodsplashedonbothmen\'sfacesastheyrenewedthestrife。

ThenwithaquicktwistBurleighthrewtheoutlawtothefloorandheldhiminaclutchthatweighedhimdownlikealedgeofrock；

anditwaspoundforpoundagain。

Awayfromthemassofburningcoalstheblacknesswashorrible。

BeyondthatfireBugsat，silentasthestonewallbehindhim。

Greshgainedthemasteryagain，andwithagriponVic\'sthroatwasabouttothrusthishead，facedownward，intotheburningembers。

Vicunderstoodandstroveforhisownlifewithamaniac\'smight，forheknewthatonemorewrenchwouldendthething。

"Youfirst，andthenthebaby；I\'llroastyouboth，"Greshhissed，andVicsmelledtheheatofthewoodflame。

ButwhohadcountedonBug？Hehadwatchedthisfearfulgrapple，motionlessandterror-stricken，andnowwithachild\'svisionhesawwhatGreshmeanttodo。Springingup，hecaughttheheavycoatonwhichhehadbeensittingandflungitonthefire，smotheringtheembersandputtingthecavernintocompletedarkness。

Vicgainedthevantagebythisunlookedformovementandthegripshifted。

ThefightersfelltothefloorandthenbeganthesamekindofstrugglebywhichBurleighhadout-generaledbig，unconquerableTrenchoneday。

ThetwohadrolledandfoughtincollegecombatfromthetopofthelimestoneridgetothelowercampusandlandedwithBurleighgrippingTrenchhelplesstodefendfurther。Thatbattlewasfriendwithfriend。

Thisbattlewastothedeath。Thebloodofbothmensmearedthefloorastheytoreateachotherlikewildbeasts，andnomancouldhavetoldwhichoftenesthadthevantagehold，norhowthestrifewouldend。Butitdidendsoon。

Theheavycoat，thathadsmotheredthefireandsavedVic，smolderedalittle，thenflaredintoflame，lightingthewholecave，andthrowingoutblackandawfulshadowsofthetwofighters。Theywereclosetotheholeintheinnerwallnow。Gresh\'sfaceinthatunsteadyglarewashorribletosee。

Heloosedhisholdasecond，thenlungedatVicwiththefuryofamadbrute。

AndVic，whohadfoughtthedevilinhimselftoastandstillthreehoursago，nowcaughtthefiendoutsideofhimforafinishingblow，andthestrengthofthatlaststrugglewasterrific。

UptothistimeVichadnotspoken。

"Ikilledtheothersnakes。I\'llkillyounow，"hegrowled，asheheldtheoutlawatlengthinaconqueringgrip，hiskneesonGresh\'sbreast，hisrighthandonGresh\'sthroat。

Inthatweirdlighttheconqueror\'sfacewasonlyadegreelessbrutalthantheoutlaw\'sface。AndBurleighmeanteveryword，formurderwasinhisheartandinhisclutchingfingers。

BeneaththeweightofhisstrengthGreshslowlyrelaxed，strugglingfiercelyatfirstandgropingblindlytoescape。

Thenhebegantowhineformercy，buthiswhiningmaddenedhisconquerormorethanhisblowshaddone。Forsuchstrifeisnomerewrestlingmatch。Everyblowstruckagainstafellowmanisasthesmellofbloodtothetiger，feedingafiendisheagernesstokill。Beside，Burleighhadamplecauseforvengeance。

Thecreatureunderhisgripwasnotonlyabootleggerthroughwhoseevilinfluencementookotherlivesorlosttheirown；

hehadslainoneinnocentman，Vic\'sownfather，andintheroomwherehisdeadmotherlayhadrobbedVic\'shomeofeveryvaluablething。HehadswornvengeanceonallwhoborethenameofBurleigh。WhatfatemightawaitBug，Vicdarednotpicture。

Onestranglinggripnowcouldfinishthebusinessforever，andhisclutchtightened，asGreshlaybegginglikeacowardforhisownworthlesslife。

"It\'sagoodthingafellowhasaguardianangelonceinawhile。

Wegetprettyclosetotheedgesometimesandneverknowhownearwearetodestruction，"VichadsaidtoElinorinhereontheAprilday。

ItwasnotVic\'sguardianangel，butlittleBugwhosewhitefacewasthrustbetweenhimandhisvictim，andthetouchofasoftlittlehandandthepleadingchild-voicethatcried:

"Don\'tkillhim，Vic。He\'sfroughoffightingnow。

Don\'thurthimnomore。”

Vicstaidhishandatthewords。Thefewminutesofthismad-beastduelhadmadehimforgetthesoundofhumanvoices。

HehalfliftedhimselffromGresh\'sbodyatBug\'scry。AndBug，wisebeyondhisyears，quaint-mindedlittleBug，said，softly:

"Fordiveusourdebtsaswefordiveourdebtors。”

Strange，lovingwordsoftheManofGalilee，spokenonthemountain-sidelong，longago，andechoednowbychildishlipsinthedyinglightofthecaverntothesetwomen，drunkwithbrute-lustforhumanblood!ForVicthewordsstrucklikeblows。

Alltheyearssincehisfather\'sdeathhehadwaitedforthishour。

Atlasthehadmetandvanquishedthemanwhohadtakenhisfather\'slife，andnow，exultantinhisvictory，camethislittlechild\'svoice。

Thecavedarkened。Amist，halfblood，halfblindness，camebeforehiseyes，butcleartohisearstheresoundedtheringingwords:

"Vengeanceismine；Iwillrepay!"

ItwasthevoiceofDisciplinecallingtohisbetterjudgment，asBug\'sinnocentpleadingspoketothefinermanwithinhim。

UnderhisgripGreshlaymotionless，allpowerofresistancethreshedoutofhim。

"Areyoureadytoquit？"Vicquestioned，hoarsely，bendingoverthealmostlifelessform。

Theoutlawmumbledassent。

"ThenI\'llletyoulive，youmiserablewretch，andthecourtswilltakecareofyou。”

Burleighhimselfwasfaintfromstrifeandlossofblood。

Asherelaxedhisvigilancethelastatomofstrength，thelasthopeofescapereturnedtoGresh。Hesprangtohisfeet，staggeredblindlythen，quickasapanther，heleapedthroughtheholeinthefartherwall，wriggledswiftlyintotheblindcrevicesoftheinnercave，andwasgone。

ItwasTrenchwhodressedVic\'sheadthatnightandshieldedhimuntilhisstrengthreturned。ButitwasBondSaxonwhocounseledpatience。

"Don\'tsquealtothesheriffnow，"heurged。"Thescoundrelisgone，anditwouldmakeaninedays\'hooray，andnothingwouldcomeofit。

HewasdarnedslicktotakethetimewhenFunnybonewasaway。”

"Why？"Vicasked。

ButBondwouldnottellwhy。AndVicneverdreamedhowmuchcauseBondSaxonhadtodreadthedaywhenTomGreshshouldbebroughtintocourt，andhisowngreatcrimecommittedinhisdrunkenhourswoulddemandretribution。

SoLagondaLedgeandSunriseknewnothingofwhathadoccurred。

Burleighhadnorecoursebuttowait，whileBugbuttoneduphislips，ashehaddoneforBurgessoutatPigeonPlace，andconveniently"fordot"whathechosenottotell。

Buthewanderednomorealoneabouttheprettyby-cornersofLagondaLedge。

CHAPTERXIV

THEDERELICTS

_IdimlyguessfromblessingsknownOfgreateroutofsight，And，withthechastenedPsalmist，ownHisjudgments，too，areright。

IknownotwhatthefuturehathOfmarvelorsurprise，AssuredalonethatlifeanddeathHismercyunderlies_——

WHITTIER

ITwasearlyspringbeforeDr。FennebenreturnedtoLagondaLedge。Everybodythoughtthenewlineonhisfacewasputtherebythedeathofhisbrother。Tothosewholovedhimmost——

thatis，toallLagondaLedge——hewasgrowinghandsomereveryyear，andevenwiththisnewexpressionhiscountenanceworeamorekindlygracethaneverbefore。

"Norrie，yourunclewasastrangeman，"Fennebendeclared，asheandElinorsatinthelibraryontheeveningofhisreturn。

"Naturally，Iamunlikemystepbrothers，butIhavenotevenunderstoodthem。ThereweremanythingsIlearnedatJoshua\'sbedsidethatIneverknewofthefamilybefore。

Thereweresomethingsforyoutoknow，butnotnow。”

"Icantrustyou，UncleLloyd，todojusttherightthing，"Norriedeclared。

ThenewlineofsadnessdeepenedinLloydFenneben\'sface。

"Thatisahardthingtodosometimes。Yourtrustwillhelpmewonderfully，however，"hereplied。"MybrotherinhislasthoursmadeurgentrequestsofmeandpledwithmeuntilIpledgedmywordtocarryouthiswishes。

Here\'swhereIneedyourtrustmost。”

Elinorbentoverheruncleandsoftlystrokedtheheavyblackhairfromhisforehead。

"Here\'swhereIhelpyoumost，then，"shesaid，gently。

"Ihavesomefunds，Elinor，tobeyoursatyourgraduation——notbefore。

Believeme，deargirl，IbeggedofJoshuatoletmeturnthemovertoyounow，buthestaidobstinatetothelast。”

"AndIdon\'twantathingdifferenttillIgetmydiploma。

NoteventillIgetmyMaster\'sDegreeforthatmatter，"

Elinorsaid，playfully。

"Andmeantime，Norrie，willyoujustbeacollegegirlanddropallthoughtofthismarryingbusinessuntilyouarethroughschool？"

Fennebenwashesitatingalittlenow。"Ayearhencewillbetimeenoughforthat。”

"Mostgladly，"Elinorassuredhim。

"Thenthat\'sallformybrother\'ssake。Nowformine，Norrie，orforyours，rather，ifmylittlegirlhashermindallsetaboutthingsafterschooldays，Ihopeshewillnotbeaflirt。

Sometimesthewordsandactscutdeeperintootherlivesthanweeverdream。Norrie，Iknowthisoutoftheyearsofmyownlonelylife。”

Elinor\'seyesweredewywithtearsandshebentherheaduntilherhairtouchedhischeek。

"I\'lltrytobegood`fornever，\'asBugBulersays，"shemurmured。

OverintheSaxonHouseonthissameeveningVincentBurgesshadcomeintoseeDennieaboutsomebooks。

"Itookyouradvice，Dennie，"hesaid。"IhavebeenamantotheextentofmakingmyselfsquarewithVictorBurleigh，andI\'vefeltlikeafreemaneversince。”

ThelookofjoyandprideinDennie\'seyesthrilledhimwithakeenpleasure。

Hereyeswereofsuchasoftgrayandherprettywavyhairwassolustroustonight。

"Dennie，Iamgoingtobeevenmoreofamanthanyouaskedmetobe。”

Denniedidnotlookup。Thepinkofhercheek，herlonglashesoverherdowncasteyes，thesunnycurlsaboveherforehead，allwerefairtoVincentBurgess。Ashelookedatherhebegantounderstand，blindbatthathehadbeenallthistime，he，ProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。，InstructorinGreekfromHarvardUniversity。

"Imustbegoingnow。Good-night，Dennie。”

Heshookhandsandhurriedaway，buttothegirlwhowasearninghercollegeeducationtherewassomethinginhishandclasp，deniedbefore。

ThenextdaytherewasasettlingofaffairsatSunrise，andthecharacter-buildingputintoLloydFenneben\'shand，asclayforthepotter\'swheel，seemedtohimtobeshapingsomewhattoitsdestineduses。

Again，VincentBurgesssatinthechairbytheweststudywindow，acting-dean，nowseekingneithertypes，norgeographicalbreadth，norseclusionamidbarrenprairielandsforprofoundresearchinpreparingforaMaster\'sDegree。

Withnoefforttoconcealmatters，exceptthefactthatthetrustfundshadfirstbelongedtohisownsisterandbrother-in-law，heexplainedtoFennebenthelineofeventsconnectinghimwithVictorBurleigh。

"And，Dr。Fenneben，ImustspeakofamatterIhavenevertoucheduponwithyoubefore。ItwasagreedbetweenDr。WreamandmyselfthatIshouldbecomehisnephewbymarriage。

IwanttogotoMissElinorandaskhertoreleaseme。

Youwillpardonmyfrankness，forIcannothonorablycontinueinthisrelationshipsinceIhaverestoredthepropertytoVictorBurleigh。”

"Hethinksshewillnotcareforhimnow，"Fennebensaidtohimself。

Aloudhesaid:

"HaveyoueverspokendirectlytoElinoronthismatter？"

"N-no。Itwasanunderstandingbetweenherandheruncleandbetweenhimandme，"Burgessreplied。

"Well，Idon\'tpretendtoknowgirlsverywell，beingaconfirmedbachelor"——

theDean\'seyesweresmiling——"butmyadviceatthisdistanceisnottoaskNorrietoreleaseyoufromwhatsheherselfhasneveryetboundyou。

I\'llvouchforherpeaceofmind；andyoursenseofhonorisfullyvindicatednow。Tobeequallyfrankwithyou，Burgess，nowthatNorrieisentirelyinmycharge，Ihaveputthissortofthingforherabsolutelyintotheafter-commencementyears。Thebestwifeisnotalwaysthegirlwhowearsadiamondringthroughthreeorfouryearsofhercollegelife。

Iwantmyniecetobeagirlnow，notabride-in-waiting。”

AsBurgessrosetogohiseyecaughtsightofthepigeonsabovethebendintheriver。

"Bytheway，Doctor，haveyoueverfoundoutanythingaboutthewomanwhousedtoliveinthatdesertedplaceupnorth？"

"Nothingyet，"Fennebenreplied。"But，remember，Ihavenotspentaweek——

thatis，asaneweek——inLagondaLedgesincethenightyou，andshe，andSaxon，andthedogsavedmylife。Ishalltakeuphercasesoon。”

"Sheisgoneawayandnobodyknowswhere，Saxontellsme，"Burgesssaid。

"FormanyreasonsIwishwecouldfindher，butshehasdroppedoutofsight。”

LloydFennebenwonderedatthesorrowfulexpressionontheyoungerman\'sfacewhenhesaidthis。

AsheleftthestudyVictorBurleighcamein。

"Sitdown，Burleigh。WhatcanIdoforyou？"Fennebenasked。

Somethinglikehisownmagnetismofpresencewasintheyoungmanbeforehim。

"Iwanttotellyousomething，"Vicresponded。

"Letmetellyousomething。IknewyouhadgoodbloodinyourveinsevenwhenIsawyoukillthatbullsnake。Burgesshasjustbeenin。

Hehastoldmehissideofyourstory。Noblefellowheistofreehimselfofalife-longslaverytosomebodyelse\'sdollars。

Howevermuchamanmaytrytohidethefettersofunlawfulgains，theyclankinhisownearstillhehateshimself。NowBurgessisafreeman。”

"Iamgladtohearyousayso，Dr。Fenneben。Itmakesmyownfreedomsweeter，"Vicdeclared。

"Yes，"Fennebenreplied。"Youraddedmeanswillbringyoulife\'sbestgift——opportunity。”

"Ihavenoaddedmeans，Doctor。IhavefundsintrustforBugBuler，andIcometoaskyoutotakehislegalguardianshipforme。”

Andthenhetoldhisownlifestory。

"Sotheheroismshiftstoyouaswell。Icanpicturethecosttoamanlikeyourself，"theDeansaid。"HaveyounorecordofBug\'sfatherandmother？"

"NonebuttherecordgivenbyDr。Wream。Theyaredead，"Burleighreplied。

"Hisfathermayhavemetthesamefatethatmyfatherdid。”

"Whydon\'tyoutaketheguardianshipyourself，Burleigh？Theboyisyoursinloveandblood。Heoughttobeinlaw。”

VictorBurleighstooduptohisfullheight，amagnificentproductofNature\'shandiwork。Butthemindandsoul"DeanFunnybone"

hadhelpedtoshape。

"Iwillbehonestwithyou，Dr。Fenneben，"Burleighsaid，andhisvoicewasdeepandsweetlyresonant。"IfIkeepthemoneyinchargeImaynotbeproofagainstthetemptationtouseitformyself。Asstrongasmystrongarmsaremyhatesandloves，andforsomereasonsIwoulddoalmostanythingtogainriches。

Imightnotresistthetempter。”

LloydFenneben\'sblackeyesblazedatthewords。

"Iunderstandperfectlywhatyoumean，butnowomanwhoexactsthispriceisworththecost。”Then，inagentlertone，hecontinued:

"Burleigh，willyoutakemyadvice？Ihavealwayshadyourwelfareonmyheart。Finishyourcollegeworkfirst。

Getthebestoftheclassroom，thelibrary，theathleticfield，andthe`picnicspread。\'Isthattherightterm？

Butfityourselfformanhoodbeforeyouundertakeaman\'sduties。

Meantime，Hewhohasgivenyouthemasteryintheyearsbehindyouisleadingyoutowardthelargerplacesbeforeyou，teachingyouallthemeaningsofStrife，andSacrifice，andServicesymbolizedaboveourdoorwayinourproudCollegeinitialletter。

TheSupremacyisyettocome。Willyoufollowmycounsel？

I\'lltakecareofBug，andwewillkeepBurgessoutofthisforawhile。”

Burleighthoughtheunderstood，andthesilenthandclasppledgedthefaithofthecountryboytotheteacher\'swishes。

Itisonlyinstorybooksthateventsleapoutaspagesareturned，eventsthattakedaysondaysofreallifetocompass。

IntheswingofonebriefyearLagondaLedgeknewlittlechange。

NewcementwalkswerebuiltsouthalmosttotheKickapooCorral。Anewmanufacturingconcernhadbondsvotedforitatanexcitingelection，andasquabbleforasuitablesitewasinprocess。VincentBurgessandVictorBurleigh，twostrongmen，weregrowingactuallychummy，andTrenchdeclaredhewasgladtheyhaddecidedtoquitplayingmarblesforkeepsandhidingeachother\'scaps。

AndnowthespringtimeoftheyearwasonthebeautifulWalnutValley。ElinorandDennie，Trench，"Limpy，"thecrippledstudent，andVictorBurleighwereallonthehome-stretchoftheirsenioryear。

OnemoreJuneCommencementdayandSunrisewouldknowthemnomore。

BeyondallthistherewasnothingnewatLagondaLedgeuntilsuddenlythewhite-hairedwomanwasupatPigeonPlace，again，afactknownonlytooldBondSaxonandlittleBug，whosawherleavethetrain。

Thelittlebluesmoke-twistwasagainrisinglazilyinthewarmMayair，andsomebodywassystematicallyrobbinghousesintown，andBondSaxonwasoftendrunkandhidingawayfromsight。

AMaystormsenttheWalnutboomingdownthevalley，bankfull，cuttingofftrafficatthetownbridge，butthedaysthatfollowedwereajoy。

Atenderlygreenworlditwasnow，allblossom-decked，andblownacrossbythegentleMayzephyrs，withnothingharshnorcruelinit，unlesstherushingriverdownbelowtheshallowsmightseemso。

TheKickapooCorral，luxuriantwithflowers，andspringinggrass，andMaygreenfoliage，toldnothingoftheold-timesiegeandsorrowofSwiftElkandtheFawnoftheMorningLight。

OnthenightafterthestormProfessorBurgessstoppedattheSaxonHouse。

"Whereisyourfather，Dennie？"heasked。

"Hewentupnorthtohelpsomebodyoutofthemudandwater，Isuppose，"Denniereplied。"Heisthekindestneighbor，andhehasbeentryingto——tokeepstraight。Hetoldmewhenheleftthatthisnight\'sworkwastobeaworkofredemptionforhim。

Hemaygetstrongersometime。”

InhisheartBurgessknewbetter。Hehadnofaithintheoldman\'swillpower，andtheburdenofahiddencrimeheknewwouldbutincreaseitsweightwithtime，anddragBonddownatlast。

ButDennieneednotsuffernow。

"WillyougowithmedowntotheoldCorraltomorrowafternoon，Dennie？Iwantsomeplantsthatgrowthere。

I\'mstudyingnaturealongwithGreek，"hesaid，smiling。

"Ofcourse，ifitisfair，"Denniereplied，theprettycolorbloomingdeeperinhercheeks。