CHAPTER VIII A FIGHT
"My territory!" growled the man, motioning toward the house. "What are_you_ doing here?"
"You're mistaken," responded Jack quickly. "I have old Simon's entireroute, and this is the first stop on the list he gave me."
"It may have been his, but it ain't goin' to be yours!"
"And who is going to prevent me?" inquired Jack, in even, quiet toneswhich Desire knew meant that he was working hard to keep his temper undercontrol.
"_I_ am. I made up my mind soon as I heard the old man was sick, that Iwould take this route; and nobody's goin' to stop me. Least of all,_you_," he added, looking Jack's slender form up and down contemptuously.
"You great--big--" began Priscilla excitedly.
"Be quiet, Prissy," said her brother. "You and the others stand overthere beside the wagon."
As he spoke, he started in the direction of the farmhouse. Like a flashthe thick-set figure was in his pathway.
"No, you don't!" he sneered.
The two measured each other silently for a moment, standing as motionlessas dogs in that last tense moment just before they spring.
Jack put out his foot to advance, and his opponent was upon him. Theyfell heavily to the ground, the stranger on top.
"He'll kill him!" sobbed Priscilla, while Rene added his wails to hers.
"Don't kill Jack!" he cried.
"Hush!" pleaded Desire, her eyes wide with fright. "Say a prayer thatJack will come out all right."
The terrified little group watched the two adversaries roll over andover, pounding, grappling, struggling. Then Jack, with a quick twist,loosened the grasp of the other and sprang to his feet. With surprisingswiftness, for a man so heavy, the enemy also righted himself and againleaped upon Jack. Back and forth they swayed, locked in a close embrace,each trying desperately to keep his own footing and trip the other. Attimes they stood stock still waiting to get breath and strength for arenewal of the contest. Then it began all over again.
Finally Jack succeeded in twisting one of his long legs quickly aroundone of his adversary's, thereby throwing him heavily to the ground. Witha leap, Jack was astride of him, pinning his arms to the earth. The mantried to roll sufficiently to throw him off, but Jack was too well placedto allow him very much motion. Weight, anger, and unskilled methods hadworked against him; now Jack had complete advantage.
"Shall I give you what you deserve?" demanded Jack, after a moment'spause.
"Nough!" muttered the man sullenly.
"Get off this route, then, and _stay_ off of it; or next time--"threatened Jack, getting up. "Turn that team right around, and go back toYarmouth, or wherever you come from!"
Slowly, keeping one eye on Jack the while, he obeyed. As soon as he wason the way, Desire and the children ran toward their brother.
"Oh, Jack, aren't you hurt somewhere?" demanded Desire anxiously.
"Only a few bruises and scratches, thank God!" was the grateful response."I kept wondering what you would do, poor child, if I were smashed up."
After a good brushing, and "first-aid" treatment of his scratches, Jackpronounced himself as good as new.
"Children," said Desire, "we begged so hard for Jack's safety. We mustn'tfail to say 'Thank You' for what we received. Let's each say a littleprayer of thanksgiving right now."
After a moment of silence they again turned their attention to thebusiness in hand. Desire and the children stayed with the wagon, whileJack started once more toward the house.
At his knock, the inner door opened, a woman's head showed behind theglass of the storm door, and then the outer door was pushed back. Almostevery dwelling, no matter how small and unpretentious, has its stormdoor, and usually these are left on all summer.
"I'm taking old Simon's route this summer," began Jack, using the wordshe was to repeat so many times that season; "and I called to see if youneed anything."
"Yes, I do," answered the plump little woman in the doorway, her blackeyes busily inspecting Jack, and traveling rapidly to the wagon, thegirl, and the children on the road. "I'm all out of thread, crackers,kerosene, and--what else was it? Oh, yes, shoe laces. Where's old Simon?I've been watching out for him for three weeks."
"Sick, in Yarmouth," replied Jack, turning to go to the wagon to fill herorder. The woman followed him.
"This your wife?" she asked, curiously staring at Desire.
Jack flushed.
"No, my sister; and that is another sister, and my kid brother," hereplied, talking more rapidly than usual to hold the woman's attention;for Desire, overcome by laughter, had walked a few steps down the road torecover her composure.
"Where are your folks!"
"Dead," was the brief reply.
"Now that's too bad! You so young, and with three youngsters to keep.Dear! Dear!"
Desire returned just in time to hear the last remarks, and her facetwitched so in her efforts to control it that Jack himself had to buryhis head in the depths of the wagon while he looked for the crackerboxes.
"Come up to the house with me when this young man carries my things in,"she said to Desire, taking her by the arm. As if she were indeed a child,she led her along the path to the doorstep.
"Set here," she directed; and disappeared into the house.
"Ready?" asked Jack, when he came out.
"I don't know. I was told to 'set here'; and here I 'set,'" whisperedDesire.
At that moment the woman returned with a pasteboard box which she thrustinto Desire's hands.
"Here's a few cookies for your dinner. They always taste good tochildren, I guess."
"Oh, thank you so much. I'm sure we'll enjoy them," responded the girl.
"Stop every time you come around," called the odd little woman, as theyclosed the gate behind them.
Finding the Lost Treasure Page 8
