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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