8
◈But in the dark of the house, little Tom Holden slipped into a chair by the window and lay back in it with his eyes closed. The heavy revolver dropped from his hand to the carpet. Sneak came to examine it from end to end, carried it to a distant corner, and then lay down to chew the butt. But this Holden did not heed.
Then Aunt Carrie brought a lighted lamp and set it gently on the table beside him; next she drew the window shade near by, rather hastily.
“How are you feeling now?” she asked.
He opened his eyes and smiled up to her. “A little shaky, still,” said he.
She went without a word into the kitchen and returned with a glass of fragrant apple brandy.
“Close your eyes and breathe deep before you drink it,” said Aunt Carrie, “and you’ll be able to see a whole field of apple bl
