over. Then father began getting his
Crusader blood up, although he always said he was a man of peace. But
it was a lucky thing Even So got away; for after father had watched
Leon a while, he said if that man had been on the premises, his fingers
itched so to get at him, he was positive he'd have vented a little
righteous indignation on him that would have cost him within an inch of
his life. And he'd have done it too! He was like that. It took a
lot, and it was slow coming, but when he became angry enough, and felt
justified in it, why you'd be much safer to be some one else than the
man who provoked him.

After ten o'clock the dog barked, some one tapped, and father went; he
always would open the door; you couldn't make him pretend he was
asleep, or not at home when he was, and there stood Mr. Pryor. He said
they could see the lights and they were afraid the boy was ill, and
could any of them help. Father said there was nothing they could do;
Leon was asleep. Then Mr. Pryor said: "If he is off sound, so it
won't disturb him, I would like to see him again."

Father told him Leon was restless, but so exhausted a railroad train
wouldn't waken him, so Mr. Pryor came in and went to the couch. He
took off his hat, like you do beside a grave, while his face slowly
grew whiter than his hair, and that would be snow-white; then he turned
at last and stumbled toward the door. Laddie held it for him, but he
didn't seem to remember he was there. He muttered over and over:
"Why? Why? In the name of God, why?" Laddie followed to the gate to
help him on his horse, because he thought he was almost out of his
head, but he had walked across the fields, so Laddie kept far behind
and watched until he saw him go safely inside his own door.

I think father and Laddie sat beside Leon all night. The others went
to sleep. A little after daybreak, just as Laddie was starting to
feed, there was an awful clamour, and here came a lot of neighbours
with Even So. Mr. Freshett had found him asleep in a cattle hole in
the straw stack, and searched him, and he had more money, and that made
Mr. Freshett sure; and as he was very strong, and had been for years a
soldier, and really loved to fight, he marched poor Even So back to our
house. Every few rods they met more men out searching who came with
them, until there were so many, our front yard and the road were
crowded. Of all the sights you ever saw, Even So looked the worst.
You