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Kanaka Joe and two of his chums。 He was pitched into on your
quarrel； and he took it up for you like a little man。 I managed to
drag him off； up yer in the hazel…bush for safety； and out you
pops； and I thought you was him。 He can't be far away。 Halloo！
There they're comin'； and thar's the doctor； trying to keep them
back！〃
A crowd of angry； excited faces； filled the road suddenly； but
before them Dr。 Duchesne； mounted； and with a pistol in his hand；
opposed their further progress。
〃Back in the bush！〃 whispered the barkeeper。 〃Now's your time！〃
But Ruth stirred not。 〃Go you back；〃 he said in a low voice； 〃find
Rand； and take him away。 I will fill his place here。〃 He drew his
revolver； and stepped into the road。
A shout； a report； and the spatter of red dust from a bullet near
his feet； told him he was recognized。 He stirred not； but another
shout； and a cry； 〃There they areBOTH of 'em！〃 made him turn。
His brother Rand； with a smile on his lip and fire in his eye；
stood by his side。 Neither spoke。 Then Rand； quietly； as of old；
slipped his hand into his brother's strong palm。 Two or three
bullets sang by them； a splinter flew from the blacksmith's shed：
but the brothers； hard gripping each other's hands； and looking
into each other's faces with a quiet joy； stood there calm and
imperturbable。
There was a momentary pause。 The voice of Dr。 Duchesne rose above
the crowd。
〃Keep back； I say！ keep back！ Or hear me！for five years I've
worked among you； and mended and patched the holes you've drilled
through each other's carcassesKeep back； I say！or the next man
that pulls trigger； or steps forward； will get a hole from me that
no surgeon can stop。 I'm sick of your bungling ball practice！
Keep back！or； by the living Jingo； I'll show you where a man's
vitals are！〃
There was a burst of laughter from the crowd； and for a moment
the twins were forgotten in this audacious speech and coolly
impertinent presence。
〃That's right！ Now let that infernal old hypocritical drunkard；
Mat Nixon； step to the front。〃
The crowd parted right and left； and half pushed； half dragged
Nixon before him。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the doctor； 〃this is the man who has just shot at
Rand Pinkney for hiding his daughter。 Now； I tell you； gentlemen；
and I tell him； that for the last week his daughter； Mornie Nixon；
has been under my care as a patient； and my protection as a friend。
If there's anybody to be shot； the job must begin with me！〃
There was another laugh； and a cry of 〃Bully for old Sawbones！〃
Ruth started convulsively； and Rand answered his look with a
confirming pressure of his hand。
〃That isn't all； gentlemen： this drunken brute has just shot at a
gentleman whose only offence； to my knowledge； is； that he has； for
the last week； treated her with a brother's kindness； has taken her
into his own home； and cared for her wants as if she were his own
sister。〃
Ruth's hand again grasped his brother's。 Rand colored and hung his
head。
〃There's more yet； gentlemen。 I tell you that that girl； Mornie
Nixon； has； to my knowledge； been treated like a lady； has been
cared for as she never was cared for in her father's house； and；
while that father has been proclaiming her shame in every bar…room
at the Ferry； has had the sympathy and care； night and day； of two
of the most accomplished ladies of the Ferry；Mrs。 Sol Saunders；
gentlemen； and Miss Euphemia。〃
There was a shout of approbation from the crowd。 Nixon would have
slipped away； but the doctor stopped him。
〃Not yet！ I've one thing more to say。 I've to tell you； gentlemen；
on my professional word of honor； that； besides being an old
hypocrite； this same old Mat Nixon is the ungrateful； unnatural
GRANDFATHER of the first boy born in the district。〃
A wild huzza greeted the doctor's climax。 By a common consent the
crowd turned toward the Twins； who； grasping each other's hands；
stood apart。 The doctor nodded his head。 The next moment the
Twins were surrounded； and lifted in the arms of the laughing
throng； and borne in triumph to the bar…room of the Mansion House。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the bar…keeper； 〃call for what you like： the
Mansion House treats to…day in honor of its being the first time
that Rand Pinkney has been admitted to the bar。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
It was agreed； that； as her condition was still precarious； the
news should be broken to her gradually and indirectly。 The
indefatigable Sol had a professional idea； which was not
displeasing to the Twins。 It being a lovely summer afternoon； the
couch of Mornie was lifted out on the ledge； and she lay there
basking in the sunlight； drinking in the pure air； and looking
bravely ahead in the daylight as she had in the darkness； for her
couch commanded a view of the mountain flank。 And； lying there；
she dreamed a pleasant dream； and in her dream saw Rand returning
up the mountain…trail。 She was half conscious that he had good
news for her； and； when he at last reached her bedside； he began
gently and kindly to tell his news。 But she heard him not； or
rather in her dream was most occupied with his ways and manners；
which seemed unlike him； yet inexpressibly sweet and tender。 The
tears were fast coming in her eyes； when he suddenly dropped on his
knees beside her； threw away Rand's disguising hat and coat； and
clasped her in his arms。 And by that she KNEW it was Ruth。
But what they said； what hurried words of mutual explanation and
forgiveness passed between them； what bitter yet tender recollections
of hidden fears and doubts； now forever chased away in the rain of
tears and joyous sunshine of that mountain…top； were then whispered；
whatever of this little chronicle that to the reader seems strange
and inconsistent （as all human record must ever be strange and
imperfect； except to the actors） was then made clear；was never
divulged by them； and must remain with them forever。 The rest of
the party had withdrawn； and they were alone。 But when Mornie
turned； and placed the baby in its father's arms； they were so
isolated in their happiness； that the lower world beneath them might
have swung and drifted away； and left that mountain…top the
beginning and creation of a better planet。
。 。 。 。 。 。
〃You know all about it now；〃 said Sol the next day； explaining the
previous episodes of this history to Ruth： 〃you've got the whole
plot before you。 It dragged a little in the second act； for the
actors weren't up in their parts。 But for an amateur performance；
on the whole； it wasn't bad。〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 said Rand impulsively； 〃how we'd have got
on without Euphemia。 It's too bad she couldn't be here to…day。〃
〃She wanted to come；〃 said Sol； 〃but the gentleman she's engaged to
came up from Marysville last night。〃
〃Gentlemanengaged！〃 repeated Rand； white and red by turns。
〃Well； yes。 I say； 'gentleman；' although he's in the variety
profession。 She always said；〃 said Sol； quietly looking at Rand；
〃that she'd never marry OUT of it。〃
AN HEIRESS OF RED DOG。
The first intimation given of the eccentricity of the testator was；
I think； in the spring of 1854。 He was at that time in possession
of a considerable property； heavily mortgaged to one friend； and a
wife of some attraction； on whose affections another friend held an
encumbering lien。 One day it was found that he had secretly dug；
or caused to be dug； a deep trap before the front…door of his
dwelling； into which a few friends； in the course of the evening；
casually and familiarly dropped。 This circumstance； slight in
itself； seemed to point to the existence of a certain humor in the
man； which might eventually get into literature； although his
wife's lovera man of quick discernment； whose leg was broken by
the falltook other views。 It was some weeks later； that； while
dining with certain other friends of his wife； he excused himself
from the table to quietly re…appear at the front…window with a
three…quarter inch hydraulic pipe； and a stream of water projected
at the assembled company。 An attempt was made to take public
c