"Dr. Russell announced it at the school. Are you telling, Mr. Gardner,
what the News will have to say about it?"

"I don't mind," replied the editor, who was fond of Harry, and who liked
his alert mind. "If it comes to a breach, I'm going with my people.
It's hard to tell what's right or wrong, but my ancestors belonged to
the South and so do I."

"That's just the way I feel!" exclaimed Harry vehemently.

The editor smiled.

"But I don't intend to say so in the News tomorrow," he continued.
"I shall try to pour oil upon the waters, although I won't be able to
hide my Southern leanings. The Colonel, your father, Harry, will not
seek to conceal his."

"No," said Harry. "He will not. What was that?"

The sound of a shot came from the street. The two ran hurriedly down
the stairway. Three men were holding a fourth who struggled with them
violently. One had wrenched from his hand a pistol still smoking at the
muzzle. About twenty feet away was another man standing between two who
held him tightly, although he made no effort to release himself.

Harry looked at the two captives. They made a striking contrast.
The one who fought was of powerful build, and dressed roughly. His
whole appearance indicated the primitive human being, and Harry knew
immediately that he was one of the mountaineers who came long distances