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d kill me outright。 There was an awful rumpus at school。 They wrote him and he said he was coming； so I ran away。 It was all his fault； too； he had no business to send me back again when he knew how I hated it。 I told him he'd be sorry。〃
〃Well； he shan't get in here to…night；〃 returned Christopher soothingly。 I'll keep him out with a shotgun； bless him； if he shows his face。 Come； now； sit up and eat a bit； or there won't be any fight left in us。〃
Will took the food obediently； but before it touched his lips the hand in which he held it dropped limply to the straw。
〃I can't eat；〃 he complained； with a gesture of disgust。 〃I'm too sickI've been sick for days。 It was all grandpa's doing； too。 When I heard he was coming I went out and got soaking wet； and then slept in my clothes all night。 I knew he'd never make a fuss if I could only get ill enough； but the next morning I felt all right； so I came away。〃
Kneeling upon the floor； Christopher held the glass to his lips； gently forcing him to drink a few swallows。 Then dipping his handkerchief in the cattle trough outside； he bathed the boy's face and hands； and； loosening his clothes； made him as comfortable as he could。 〃This won't do； you know；〃 he urged presently； alarmed by Will's difficult breathing。 〃You are in for a jolly little spell； and I must get you home。 Your grandfather will never bother you while you're sick。〃
At the words the boy clung to him deliriously； breaking into frightened whimpers such as a child makes in the dark。 〃I won't go back！ I won't go back！〃 he repeated wildly； 〃he'll never believe I'm ill； and I won't go back！〃
〃All right； that settles it。 Lie quiet and I'll fetch you some bedding from my room。 Then I'll fix you a pallet out here； and we'll put up as best we can till morning。〃
〃Don't stay； don't stay；〃 pleaded Will； as the other； leaving his lantern on the floor； ran out into the moonlight。
Returning in a quarter of an hour； he threw a small feather…bed down upon the straw and settled the boy comfortably upon it。 Then he covered him with blankets； and； after closing the door； came back and stood watching for him to fall asleep。 A slight draft blew from the boarded window； and； taking off his coat； he hung it carefully across the cracks； shading the lantern with his hand that its light might not flash in the sleeper's face。
At his step Will gave a stifled moan and looked up in terror。
〃I thought you'd left me。 Don't go；〃 he begged； stretching out his hand until it grasped the other's。 With the hot； nerveless clutch upon him； Christopher was conscious of a quick repulsion； and he remembered the sensation he had felt as a boy when he had once suddenly brought his palm down on a little green snake that was basking in the sunshine on an old log。 Yet he did not shake the hand off； and when presently the blanket slipped from Will's shoulders he stooped and replaced it with a strange gentleness。 The disgust he felt was so evenly mingled with compassion that； as he stood there； he could not divide the one emotion from the other。 He hated the boy's touch； and yet； almost in spite of himself； he suffered it。
〃Well； I'm not going； so you needn't let that worry you；〃 he replied。 〃I'll stretch myself alongside of you in the straw； and if you happen to want me； just yell out； you know。〃
The weak fingers closed tightly about his wrist。
〃You promise？〃 asked the boy。
〃Oh； I promise；〃 answered the other； raising the lantern for a last look before he blew it out。
By early daybreak Will's condition was still more alarming； and leaving him in a feverish stupor upon the pallet； Christopher set out hurriedly shortly after sunrise to carry news of the boy's whereabouts to Fletcher。
It was a clear； cold morning； and the old brick house； set midway of the autumn fields； appeared； as he approached it； to reflect the golden light that filled the east。 Never had the place seemed to him more desirable than it did as he went slowly toward it along the desolate November roads。 The somber colours of the landscape； the bared majesty of the old oaks where a few leaves still clung to the topmost boughs； the deserted garden filled with wan specters of summer flowers； were all in peculiar harmony with his own mood as with the stern gray walls wrapped in naked creepers。 That peculiar sense of ownership was strongly with him as he ascended the broad steps and lifted the old brass knocker； which still bore the Blake coat of arms。
To his astonishment the door opened instantly and Fletcher himself appeared upon the threshold。 At sight of Christopher he fell back as if from a blow in the chest； ripping out an oath with a big downward gesture of his closed fist。
〃So you are mixed up in it； are you！ Whar's the boy？〃 From the dusk of the hall his face shone dead white about the eyes。
〃If you want to get anything out of me you'd better curb your tongue； Bill Fletcher；〃 replied Christopher coolly； feeling an animal instinct to prolong the torture。 〃If you think it's any satisfaction to me to have your young idiot thrown on my hands you were never more mistaken in your life。 I've been up half the night with him； and the sooner you take him away the better I'll like it。〃
〃Oh； you leave him to me and I'll settle him；〃 responded Fletcher； reaching for his hat。 〃Jest show me whar he is and I'll git even with him befo' sundown。 As for you； young man； I'll have the sheriff after you yit。〃
〃In the meantime； you'd better have the doctor。 The boy's ill； I tell you。 He came to me last evening； run to death and with a high fever。 He slept in the barn； and this morning he is decidedly worse。 If you come； bring Doctor Cairn with you； and I warn you now you've got to use a lot of caution。 Your grandson is mortally afraid of you； and he threatens to run away if I let you know where he is。 He wants me to sit at the door with a shotgun and keep you off。〃
He delivered his blows straight out from the shoulder； lingering over each separate word that he might enjoy to the full its stupendous effect。
〃This is your doing；〃 repeated Fletcher hoarsely； 〃it's your doing； every blamed bit of it。〃
Christopher laughed shortly。 〃Well； I'm through with my errand；〃 he said； moving toward the steps and pausing with one hand on a great white column。 〃The sooner you get him out of my barn the better riddance it will be。 There's one thing certain； though； and that is that you don't lay eyes on him without the doctor。 He's downright ill； on my oath。〃
〃Oh； it's the same old trick； and I see through it；〃 exclaimed Fletcher furiously。 〃It's pure shamming。〃
〃All the same； I've got my gun on hand； and you don't go into that barn alone。〃 He hung for an instant upon the topmost step； then descended hurriedly and walked rapidly back along the broad white walk。 It would be an hour； at least； before Fletcher could follow him with Doctor Cairn； and after he had returned to the barn and given Will a glass of new milk he fed and watered the horses and did the numberless small tasks about the house。 He was at the woodpile； chopping some light wood splinters for Cynthia； when the sound of wheels reached him； and in a little while more the head of Fletcher's mare appeared aro