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。