nd　quarrelsome。　　With　great　difficulty　Rosenblatt　was　able　to　keep　the　game　going　and　preserve　peace。　　The　singing；　swaying；　yelling；　cursing　crowd　beside　them　also　gave　him　concern；　and　over　and　again　he　would　shout；　〃Keep　quiet；　you　fools。　The　police　will　be　on　us；　and　that　will　be　the　end　of　your　beer；　for　they　will　put　you　in　prison！〃
  〃Yes；〃　jeered　the　black…bearded　man；　who　seemed　to　be　set　on　making　a　row；　〃all　fools；　Russian　fools；　Polak　fools；　Galician　fools；　Slovak　fools；　all　fools　together。〃
  Angry　voices　replied　from　all　sides；　and　the　noise　rose　higher。
  〃Keep　quiet！〃　cried　Rosenblatt；　rising　to　his　feet；　〃the　police　will　surely　be　here！〃
  〃That　is　true；〃　cried　the　black…bearded　man；　〃keep　them　quiet　or　the　police　will　herd　them　in　like　sheep；　like　little　sheep；　baa；　baa；　baa；　baa！〃
  〃The　police！〃　shouted　a　voice　in　reply；　〃who　cares　for　the　police？〃
  A　yell　of　derisive　assent　rose　in　response。
  〃Be　quiet！〃　besought　Rosenblatt　again。　　He　was　at　his　wits'　end。　the　police　might　at　any　time　appear　and　that　would　end　what　was　for　him　a　very　profitable　game；　and　besides　might　involve　him　in　serious　trouble。　　〃Here　you；　Joseph！〃　he　cried；　addressing　a　man　near　him；　〃another　keg　of　beer！〃
  Between　them　they　hoisted　up　a　keg　of　beer　on　an　empty　cask；　knocked　in　the　head；　and　set　them　drinking　with　renewed　eagerness。
  〃Swine！〃　he　said；　seating　himself　again　at　the　table。　　〃Come；　let　us　play。〃
  But　the　very　devil　of　strife　seemed　to　be　in　the　black…bearded　man。　He　gibed　at　the　good…natured　Dalmatian；　setting　the　Polak　at　him；　suggested　crooked　dealing；　playing　recklessly　and　losing　his　own　and　his　partner's　money。　　At　length　the　inevitable　clash　came。　　As　the　Dalmatian　reached　for　a　trick；　the　Polak　cried　out；　〃Hold！　　It　is　mine！〃
  〃Yes；　certainly　it　is　his！〃　shouted　the　black…bearded　man。
  〃Liar！　　It　is　mine；〃　said　the　Dalmatian；　with　perfect　good　temper；　and　held　on　to　his　cards。
  〃Liar　yourself！〃　hissed　the　little　Polak；　thrusting　his　face　toward　the　Dalmatian。
  〃Go　away；〃　said　the　Dalmatian。　　His　huge　open　hand　appeared　to　rest　a　moment　on　the　Polak's　grinning　face；　and　somehow　the　little　man　was　swept　from　his　seat　to　the　floor。
  〃Ho；　ho；〃　laughed　the　Dalmatian；　〃so　I　brush　away　a　fly。〃
  With　a　face　like　a　demon's；　the　Polak　sprang　at　his　big　antagonist；　an　open　knife　in　his　hand；　and　jabbed　him　in　the　arm。　　For　a　moment　the　big　man　sat　looking　at　his　assailant　as　if　amazed　at　his　audacity。　　Then　as　he　saw　the　blood　running　down　his　fingers　he　went　mad；　seized　the　Polak　by　the　hair；　lifted　him　clear　out　of　his　seat；　carrying　the　plank　table　with　him；　and　thereupon　taking　him　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　proceeded　to　shake　him　till　his　teeth　rattled　in　his　head。
  At　almost　the　same　instant　the　black…bearded　man　leaped　across　the　fallen　table　like　a　tiger；　at　Rosenblatt's　throat；　and　bore　him　down　to　the　earthen　floor　in　the　dark　corner。　　Sitting　astride　his　chest；　his　knees　on　Rosenblatt's　arms；　and　gripping　him　by　the　throat；　he　held　him　voiceless　and　helpless。　　Soon　his　victim　lay　still；　looking　up　into　his　assailant's　face　in　surprise；　fear　and　rage　unspeakable。
  〃Rosenblatt；〃　said　the　bearded　man　in　a　soft　voice；　〃you　know　me　me？〃
  〃No；〃　gasped　Rosenblatt　in　terrible　fury；　〃what　do　you〃
  〃Look；〃　said　the　man。　　With　his　free　hand　he　swept　off　the　black　beard　which　he　stuffed　into　his　pocket。
  Rosenblatt　looked。　　〃Kalmar！〃　he　gasped；　terror　in　his　eyes。
  〃Yes；　Kalmar；〃　replied　the　man。
  〃Help！〃　　The　cry　died　at　his　teeth。
  〃No；　no；〃　said　Kalmar；　shutting　his　fingers　upon　his　windpipe。　　〃No　noise。　　We　are　to　have　a　quiet　moment　here。　　They　are　all　too　busy　to　notice　us。　　Listen。〃　　He　leaned　far　down　over　the　ghastly　face　of　the　wretched　man　beneath　him。　　〃Shall　I　tell　you　why　I　am　here？　Shall　I　remind　you　of　your　crimes？　　No；　I　need　not。　　You　remember　them　well；　and　in　a　few　minutes　you　will　be　in　hell　for　them。　　Five　years　I　froze　and　burned　in　Siberia；　through　you。〃　　As　he　said　the　word　〃you〃　he　leaned　a　little　closer。　　His　voice　remained　low　and　soft；　but　his　eyes　were　blazing　with　a　light　as　of　madness。　　〃For　this　moment；〃　he　continued　gently；　〃I　have　hungered；　thirsted；　panted。　　Now　it　has　come。　　I　regret　I　must　hurry　a　little。　　I　should　like　to　drink　this　sweet　cup　slowly；　oh　so　slowly；　drop　by　drop。　　Butah；　do　not　struggle；　nor　cry。　　It　will　only　add　to　your　pain。　　Do　you　see　this？〃　　He　drew　from　his　pocket　what　seemed　a　knife　handle；　pressed　a　spring；　and　from　this　handle　there　shot　out　a　blade；　long；　thin；　murderous　looking。　　〃It　has　a　sharp　point；　oh；　a　very　sharp　point。〃　　He　pricked　Rosenblatt　in　the　cheek；　and　as　Rosenblatt　squirmed；　laughed　a　laugh　of　singular　sweetness。　　〃With　this　beautiful　instrument　I　mean　to　pick　out　your　eyes；　and　then　I　shall　drive　it　down　through　your　heart；　and　you　will　be　dead。　　It　will　not　hurt　so　very　much；〃　he　continued　in　a　tone　of　regret。　　〃No　no；　not　so　very　much；　not　so　much　as　when　you　put　out　the　light　of　my　life；　when　you　murdered　my　wife；　not　so　much　as　when　you　pierced　my　heart　in　betraying　my　cause。　　See；　it　will　not　hurt　so　very　much。〃　　He　put　the　sharp　blade　against　Rosenblatt's　breast　high　up　above　the　heart；　and　drove　it　slowly　down　through　the　soft　flesh　till　he　came　to　bone。　　Like　a　mad　thing；　his　unhappy　victim　threw　himself　wildly　about　in　a　furious　struggle。　　But　he　was　like　a　babe　in　the　hands　that　gripped　him。　　Kalmar　laughed　gleefully。　　〃Aha！　Aha！　　Good！　　Good！　　You　give　me　much　joy。　　Alas！　it　is　so　short…　lived；　and　I　must　hurry。　　Now　for　your　right　eye。　　Or　would　you　prefer　the　left　first？〃
  As　he　released　the　pressure　upon　Rosenblatt's　throat；　the　wretched　man　gurgled　forth；　〃Mercy！　　Mercy！　　God's　name；　mercy！〃
  Piteous　abject　terror　showed　in　his　staring　eyes。　　His　voice　was　to　Kalmar　like　blood　to　a　tiger。
  〃Mercy！〃　he　hissed；　thrusting　his　face　still　nearer；　his　smile　now　all　gone。　　〃Mercy？　　God's　name！　　Hear　him！　　I；　too；　cried　for　mercy　for　father；　brother；　wife；　but　found　none。　　Now　though　God　Himself　should　plead；　you　will　have　only　such　mercy　from　me。〃　　He　seemed　to　lose　hold　of　himself。　　His　breath　came　in　thick　sharp　sobs；　foam　fell　from　his　lips。　　〃Ha；〃　he　gasped。　　〃I　cannot　wait　even　to　pick　your　eyes。　　There　is　some　one　at　the　door。　　I　must　drink　your　heart's　blood　now！　　Now！　　A…h…h…h！〃　　His　voice　rose　in　a　wild　cry；　weird　and　terrible。　　He　raised　his　knife　high；　but　as　it　fell　the　Dalmatian；　who　had　been　amusing　himself　battering　the　Polak　about　during　these　moments；　suddenly　heaved　the　little　man　at　Kalmar；　and　knocked　him　into　the　corner。　　The　knife　fell；　buried　not　in　the　heart　of　Rosenblatt；　but　in　the　Polak's　neck。
  There　was　no　time　to　strike　again。　　There　was　a　loud　battering；　then　a　crash　as　the　door　was　kicked　open。
  〃Hello！　　What　is　all　this　row　here？〃
  It　was　Sergeant　Cameron；　pushing　his　big　body　through　the　crowd　as　a　man　bursts　through　a　thicket。　　An　awed　silence　had　fallen　upon　all；　arrested；　sobered　by　that　weird　cry。　　Some　of　them　knew　that　cry　of　old。　　They　had　heard　it　in　the　Old　Land　in　circumstances　of　heart…chilling　terror；　but　never　in　this　land　till　this　moment。
  〃What　is　all　this？〃　cried　the　Sergeant　again。　　His　glance　swept　the　room　and　rested　upon　the　huddled　heap　of　men　in　the　furthest　corner。　　He　seized　the　topmost　and　hauled　him　roughly　from　the　heap。
  〃Hello！　　What's　this？　　Why；　God　bless　my　soul！　　The　man　is　dying！〃
  From　a　wound　in　the　neck　the　blood　was　still　spouting。　　Quickly　the　Sergeant　was　on　his　knees　beside　the　wounded　man；　his　thumb　pressed　hard　upon　the　gaping　wound。　　But　still　the　blood　continued　to　bubble　up　and　squirt　from　under　his　thumb。　　All　around；　the　earthen　floor　was　muddy　with　blood。
  〃Run；　some　of　you；〃　commanded　the　Sergeant；　〃and　hurry　up　that　Dr。　Wright；　Main　Street；　two　corners　down！〃
  Jacob　Wassyl；　who　had　come　in　from　the　room　above；　understood；　and　sent　a　man　off　with　all　speed。
  〃Good　Lord！　　What　a　pig　sticking！〃　said　the　Sergeant。　　〃There　is　a　barrel　of　blood　around　here。　　And　here　is　another　man！　　Here　you！〃　addressing　Jacob；　〃put　your　thumb　here　and　press　so。　　It　is　not　much　good；　but　we　cannot　do　anything　else　just　now。〃　　The　Sergeant　straightened　himself　up。　　Evidently　this　was　no　ordinary　〃scrap。〃　〃Let　no　man　leave　this　room；〃　he　cried　aloud。　　〃Tell　them；〃　he　said；　addressing　Jacob；　〃you　speak　English；　and　two　of　you；　you　and　you；　stand　by　the　door　and　let　no　man　out　except　as　I　give　the　word。〃
  The　two　men　took　their　places。
  〃Now　then；　let　us　see　what　else　there　is　here。　　Do　you　know　these　men？〃　he　enquired　of　Jacob。
  〃Dis　man；〃　replied　Jacob；　〃I　not　know。　　Him　Polak　man。〃
  The　men　standing　about　began　to　jabber。
  〃What　do　they　say？〃
  〃Him　Polak。　　Kravicz　his　name。　　He　no　bad　man。　　He　fight　quick；　but　not　a　bad　man。〃
  〃Well；　he　won't　fight　much　more；　I　am　thinking；〃　replied　the　Sergeant。
  A　second　man　lay　on　his　back　in　a　pool　of　blood；　insensible。　　His　face　showed　ghastly　beneath　its　horrible　smear　of　blood　and　filth。
  〃Bring　me　that　lantern；〃　commanded　the　Sergeant。
  〃My　God！〃　cried　Jacob；　〃it　is　Rosenblatt！〃
  〃Rosenblatt？　　Who　is　he？〃
  〃De　man　dat　live　here；　dis　house。　　He　run　store。　　Lots　mon'。　　My　God！　　He　dead！〃
  〃Looks　like　it；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　opening　his　coat。　　〃He's　got　a　bad