t T:
- -'
S-
DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD; DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA.
v, t
.ilC
the Mrm-OT
CHARLES NPOLLI DUCK
AUTHOR" 7lCm.o?t.heCUMBERIJipy
t, TtTriTT "
ii in i m -i 7.
1 cnDsf?UT nv I I
QOPYMGfTDY
CHA?LC3
ttEVJLLC ,
SYNOPSIS.
9
Juanlta HoUund, on her Journry Iito
(lip hart of tho Cumberland to become n
teicher of llio mountnlti children, faints
ut the door of I-'letcl) McNnsh's cabin.
Slip overhears n tnlk between Bad Anso
Hnvcy nntl one of his henchmen that ac
iiu.ilnts lier with tho Ihuey -McBrlar feud.
Cnl Douglas of the llavey clan Is on trlul
In Porll, for tho murder of u McHrlnr
Juanlta and Dawn McNash beepmo
friends. Cal Douglas la acquitted. Nash
Wyatt Is killed by the Haveys. Milt Mc
Drlar and Pad Anse declare n truce, un
der pressure from Oood Anse Talbott.
Ju-inlta thinks sho finds that Bad Anso
Is opposing her otTorts to buy land and
build a Bchool Milt McHrlnr breaks the
truce by having Kletch McNash mur
dered. Job McNash begs Had Anso to tell
him who killed his father, but Is not told.
Juanlta and Had Anso further mlsunder
stand each other. Had Anse tells Juanlta
he docs not tight women and Juanlta gets
her land and cabin. Job refrains from
killing YounK Milt McHrlar, as he Is not
sure Young Still Is the murderer. Young
Milt and Dawn meet several times, re
sulting In a demand from Bad Anso that
Dawn leave Juanlta's cabin. Juanlta and
Good Anso go to see Had Aiiho. who again
says that tho Bchool has been stnrted by
Juanlta In tho wrong way, Sho begins to
understand Had Anse's dream of regener
ation for his people. Young Milt nnil Had
Anso lay aside tho feud for the time to
prevent the burning of the new school
house. Dawn remains with Juanltn, Had
Anse finds himself drifting dangerously
near Juanlta. Hoger Malcolm of Phila
delphia comes to woo Juanlta and to In
vestigate tho mineral possibilities of the
district. Bad Anse gives him veiled wnrn
Ing. Young Milt comes openly to see
Dawn while sho Is nt Jeb's. cabin The
two men sot n, now precedent by lighting
with fists and then shaking hands on a
personal truce. Milt McHrlar plots to
liavo Had Anso killed. Juanlta's school
prospers. Had Anso ogrces to friendship
with her though he knows that on his
part It Is hopeless lovo.
CHAPTER XIX.
Onco, when Anso Hnvoy had been
tramping all afternoon through tho win
try woods withvJunnltn, ho had point
ed out a squirrel that sat erect on a
branch high abovo them with its tnil
curled up behind It. Ho had stopped
her with a touch on tho arm; then,
with a smilo of amusement, he handed
her his rlflo with much tho same man
ner that sho might havo handed him a
novel in Russian, and his eyes said
bantoringly: "Sco what you can do
with that."
But to his surpriso sho took tho gun
and lovoled it as ono accustomed to Its
ubo. Dad Anso Havey forgot tho squir
rel and saw only the slim figure in its
looso sweater; only tho stray wisps
of curling hair and the softness of tho
check that snuggled against tho rifle
stock. Then, at tho report, tho squir
rel dropped.
She turned with a matter-of-fact nod'
and handed back tho gun.
"I'm rathor sorry 1 killed it," she
said, 'but you looked so full of scorn
that I bad to show you. You know,
they do have a fow rifles outsido the
Cumberland mountains."
"Where did you learn to shoot?" ho
demanded, and sho answered casually:
"I used to shoot a rifle and pistol, too,
quite a good bit."
Ho took tho gun back, and uncon
sciously hlB and caressed tr spot
whoro her cneok had laid agalnBt its
lock. Ho had fallen into a rovcrlo out
of which her volco called him. Thoy
had crossed tho ridge itself and wcro
overlooking his place.
"Why nro thoy clearing that space
behind your housov Aro you going to
put It in corn?"
"No," ho laughed shortly. "Corn
would bo just about as bad as laurel."
Ho .was Instantly sorry ho had said
that. Ho had not meant to tell her of
tho plans ho was making plans of do
fonse and, If noed be, of offense Ho
bad not intended' to mention Ills pre
cautions to prevent nsBasBindtlou nt
his own door or window.
But tho girl understood, and her
volco was heavy with anxiety as sho
domanded: "Do you think you'ro In
danger, Anso?"
"Thoro's novor a day I'm not In
danger,'' bo replied casually. "I'vo got
pretty well used to it."
"But Bomo day," sho broko out,
"they'll get you."
Ho shrugged his shoulders. "May
be," ho said. ,
Ao Juanlta's Influence grow with Bad
Anso Havoy, so It waB growing at tho
school. Sho had to turn nway pupils
who had como across tho mountains
on wearisomo Journeys becauso as yot
sho had only limited room and no
teachers Bavo herself and Dawn to caro
for tho youngest.
At tho front of tho hall which led
Into tho main school building was a
rack with notches for rifles and pegs
for pistols. Sbo told all who entered
that sho made only ono stipulation, and
that was that whoever crossed tho
threshold must lcavo hlB armament at
tho door.
At first Bomo mon turned away
again, taking their children with them,
but bb tlmo wont on thoy grudgingly
acquiesced, and at last, with a sonso
of great victory, sho persuaded throo
shaggy fathers, who woro coming reg
ularly with their children, to rldo back
Jiomo unarmed.
Disarmament was her Idea for tho
great solution, and when Bad Anso
camo over and ho camo overy night
now sho led him with almost
breathless eagerness to tho rack and
showed him two modern rifles and ono
antiquated squirrel gun.
"What's tho Idea?" ho nsked with
his skeptical smile. Ho found it very
difficult to listen always to talk about
tho school in which ho felt no inter-
SNAPSHOTS
Students at Wclleslcy havo decided
to ollmlnato slang from their conver
sation. TUoy say It gets them in bad
wlUi people who aro not hep to It.
A woman Bhould start on her vaca
tion trip boforo the peachoB rlpon, and
bho skould Btay away until tho can
ning season la over.
Thero aro a lot of knotty probloms
tn life. Ono of tlicm concerns tho wis
dom of splitting a pair for tho pur
so of drawing a flush,
SN --HJ'YnCN -Jg!
ii si ii ii n " "-s
J ) ) v. fe 4
4
est and to regard his vow of silence ns
to herself whom he dumbly wor
shiped. "Look around you, Anse," sho com
manded. "Do you seo any dirt or dust
nnywhero? No; wo aro teaching
cleanliness and sanitation, but thero
is just one place hero whero tho spiders
aro welcome to como and spin their
webs unmolested. It's that rack of
guns. Did you ever hear of tho shrine
nt Lourdes?"
"I reckon not," ho confessed uneas
ily. Of late ho had become a little
ashamed of tho things ho did not
know.
"Woll, this Is going to bo Ilka it.
Anse. It Is told that when the lamo
rind halt and blind camo to Lourdes to
pray they went away straight and
strong nnd clear of vision. Thero
hang at tho shrine there numberless
crutches nnd canes, discarded because
tho men who were carried thero went
away needing them no more. Some
day your old order of crippled thlngB
hero In tho mountains Is going to bo-
como straight and strong, nnd these
guns will bo -tho discarded crutches."
Ho looked at her, and if no response
was elicited to her prophecy, at least
111.- UUUIU I1UI JUllH.'IIl)liH.U WIlllUUl u
stirring of cnthuslnBm tho flushed face
and glowing eye with which sho spoke.
It was all worth while If it could bring
that sparkle of delight to her counte
nance. "It's right pretty, but It won't hardly
work," ho said. "Thcso men will leave
tJjem guns Just so long as they don't
need 'em. I'm glad to seo yo pleased
but I don't want to seo yo disap
pointed." A llttlo before Christmas old Milt
McBrlar went to Lexington, and thero
ho met a heavily bearded man In rough
clothes who hnd arrived that morning
from tho West. They conferred In a
cheap eating house which bears a rag
ged and unwholesome nppearanco nnd
Is kept by an exllo from tho moun
tains. "Now tell me, Milt," suggested Luko
Thlxton briefly, "what air this thing yo
wants mo ter do. I'm done with these
hyar old Hat lands tbet they talks so
much erbout."
But Milt MoBrlnr's eyes had been
vacantly watching the door. It was a
glass door, with Its lower portion paint
ed red and bearing in black lottors tho
name of the proprietor.
"Damn!" ho exclnlmcd vlplcntly, but
undor his breath.
"Whnt's bltln yo?" nBkcd his com
panion, ns ho bolted his food.
"I jest seed Breck Havey pass by
that door," oxplalncd tho chief. "But
I reckon ho couldn't hardly recognize
you this fur back. I don't want no
word of yoro comin' ter go ahead of
ye."
"What Is :. I'm n-goin' back ter do?"
Insisted the cxilo doggedly.
"Oh." commented Milt McBrlar,
"wo'vo got tor talk thot over at Bomo
length. Yo'ro n-goln' back ter git Anso
Hnvey, but yo hain't n-goln Jlst ylt."
Ono morning ns ho sat over his
breakfast nt tho kitchen tnblo, Anse's
cousin, Breck Havoy, rodo up in hot
luiBto to rouse htm out of apathy and
remind him that he must not shirk his
role as lender of tho clan.
Tho Havoy from Porll came quickly
to tho point while tho Havey of tho
backwoods listened.
"I wns down ter Loxln'ton yesterday,
an' ns I wns passln' Jim Frooman's
dendfall I hnppencd tor look In. Thar
war old Milt McBrlar an' Luko Thlx
ton, thar heads as close tcrgether as a
pair of thloveB. Luko lies como back
from tho West, an' I reckon yo kin Ag
ger out what thet mennB."
AnBO grow suddenly rigid nnd his
faco blackened, So his destiny was
crowding him I
"What nlr ye goln ter do?'' demand
ed Breck with a tono of nnxlouB and
impotent pleading. Anso shook bis
bond.
"I don't know qulto yet," ho said.
"Let's see, is tho high cote tn ses
sion?" Breck Havey nodded his head In per
plexed asBont. Ho wondered what tho
court had to do with this exigency.
"All right. Toll Slderlng to havo
tho grand jury Indict Luko for the Mc
Nash murder an' Milt McHrlnr as ac
cessory" ,
"Good Ood, Anso!" burst out tho
other Hnvoy. "Does yo renllzo what
hell yo turns Ioobo when yo tries tor
drag Old Milt ter coto In Porll?"
"Yes, I know that." Tho answer wns
calm. "I'll glvo yo a list of wltnesBos.
Tell Slderlng to keep theso truo bills
secret. I'll rldo over and testify my
self, an'- I'll 'tend to keopln' tho wit
nesses quiet. I don't know whether
we'll over try theso cases, but It's Just
as well to bo ready along ovory lino."
Breck Havoy stood gazing down at
tho hearth with a troubled face. At
last ho hazarded a remonstrance.
"Anse," ho said, "I hain't nover quos.
tloned yo. I'vo nlwnys took yoro coun
sel. Yo'ro tho head of tho Hnvoys, but
next to you I'm tho man thoy barkens
to most. It any man has got ter dis
pute yer, I reckon yo'd tnko It most
wlllln'ly from mo."
"What Ib It, Breck? I'm plumb will
In' to listen to your counsel."
Every mnrrlnd wnmnn .no n .i..
to tako a roomor and save half tho
will.
Mrs Laban Cain, who has been mar
rled six years, still Is responding to
encores from her husband's family
This Is particularly noteworthy for
tho reason that a woman raroly suc
ceeds in gaining tho applnuso of her
husband's family. Jay E. House In
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Another objection in mnn.in.n i
that tho guilty parties got no tlmo for
good behavior
JQ'Tkw.
"Then I'll talk outspoken. Ter try ter
convict theso men in cote means to
take a desperato chance. Yo can't
hardly succeed, nn' if yo fnils yo'vo
lost yoro hold on tho Havoys yo'ro
plumb, eternally done for."
"I don't aim to fall."
"No; btlt yo mought. Anso, no man
hain't novor questioned yoro loyalty
till now. I mought as well tell ye
Btralght what talkln's goln' round."
Anso stiffened. "What ts It?" ho
demanded.
"Some folks 'low that ther Hnvoys
don't mean ns much ter yo now as ther
furrln' schoolteacher does. Them
folks'll bo pretty apt ter think yo ain't
tryin' tor plcaso them bo much ns her
If yer attempts this."
Anso stood for a long mtnuto silent,
and his bronzed features grew taut.
At Inst ho Inquired coolly:
"Whnt do you think, Breck?"
"I'd trust ye till hell froze."
"All right. Then do ns I tells yo, an'
If I falls I reckons you'll bo head of
tho Haveys In my place."
Down at tho school thero was going
to bo a Christmas treo that year.
Nover beforo had the children of tho
"branch-water folks" hoard of a Christ
mas tree. Tho season of Christ's birth
had always been celebrated with moon
shino jug nnd revolver. It was dread
ed in advanco and mourned over In
retrospect.
Now In many childish hearts largo
dreams were brewing. Enger antici
pations awaited the marvels. The hon
ored young fir treo which was to bear
a fruitago of gifts and lights bad been
singled 6ut and marked to tho ax. Anso
Havey and Juanlta had explored tho
woods together, bent on Its selection.
Perhaps Juanlta and Dawn were as
much excited as tho children, but to
Dawn it meant moro than to anyono
else. Sho was to accompany Juanlta
to Lexington to buy gifts and decora
tions and would havo her first won
drous gllmpso of tho lights and crowds
of a city.
Milt was there at college and would
bo returning about the same time, so
the mountnln girl secretly wrote him
of her coming And even facing so
grave a crisis, Anso Havey thought of
that treo and hoped that Luko would
not como back before Christmas.
That night, whllo ho was sitting
with Juanlta and tho lire was flashing
on her cheeks, he said moodily: "I'm
afraid yo'll have to start desplsln' me
all over again."
Sho looked up in astonishment.
"Why?" sho asked.
"I'vo got to kill a man."
Sho roso from her chair, her face
pallid.
"Kill a man?" she echoed.
"God knows I hato to do It." Ho
rose, too, and stood before the hearth.
"But I reckon It had better be mo than
Job."
"Do you mean " sho broko off and
finished brokenly, "that Fletch's mur
derer Is back?"
"He's comln'. He's comln' to kill
somebody else. Most likely me. It's a
quostlon of settlln scores with n mur
derer that kilt Fletch for a ticket
West and a hundred dollars or lettln'
young Jeb McNash go crazy an' start
In the feud all over again. I reckon
yo sees -that I ain't no choice."
Sho camo nearer nnd stood confront
ing him so closo that he felt her breath
on his fnce. Sho broko out In a low,
tenso voice: "Suppose ho kills you?"
"Ho'll Lavo his chance," said Anse
Havoy shortly. "I ain't 'lowln' to shoot
him down from ambush.
Tho girl leaned forward and clutched
his hands In both her own. Undor the
tight pressuro of her fingers he felt
"Thero Is Just One Plnce Here Where
the Spiders Are Welcome."
ovory nerve In his body tlnglo and leap
Into a hot ecstasy of emotion, while
his fnco became whlto and drawn.
"Don't riBk your life," sho plended,
"Your peoplo can't sparo you; I can't
spnre you. Not now, Anso; I need you
too much."
Tho man's volco camo in a hoarse
whisper.
"Yo needs mo?"
"Yes, yes," sho swept on, and for an
liiBtnnt ho wns on tho vergo of with
drawing his hands nnd crushing her to
him, but something In his faco had
warned her. Sho dropped tho hands
Bho had bcon holding and said In an
altered tono: "It's not just mo; It's
bigger than that. It's my work. Wo'vo
como to bo such good friends that I
couldn't go on without you. My work
would fall."
For a whllo ho was sllont, thon ho
Bald very slowly and very bitterly:
PELLETS OF TRUTH
When a rural community doesn't
know and can't And out tho dotectlvos
might as woll glvo up.
Tho rulo 1b that when tho mombora
of a family aro not quarreling with
each other thoy aro making fun of
relatives.
Tho fact that a band sorenados you
Is not prima facto ovldonco that you
aro a great man, Moro likely, It moans
tho leador of tho band believes you
will sot up tho cigars,
"Oh, it's Just your work that needs
mo?"
"But, Anse," sho argued, "my work
ts all that's biggest and best In me.
You understand, don't you?"
For a moment his volco got away
from him and ho roso fiercely:
"I don't glvo a damn for your work!"
ho blazed out. "It's vou I'm Interested
in. That's tho sort of friend I nm."
Sho looked up at his gleaming eyes,
a llttlo nmazed, and he went on, quiet
ly enough now:
"If I fallB to hang Luko Thlxton I'll
bo right now what yo prophesied for
me twenty years bonce the leader of
tho wolf-pack that goes down nn gets
trod on. I ain't never put no such
strain on my Influence ns this Is goln"
to be. I've got to hold back tho
Havoys an tho McBrlnrs whilst this
court foolishness dawdles along, an' If
I falls down Jeb Is goln' to kill Luko
anyway. I'm doln' this because yo
asks It; an now I'll say good night to
ye."
Juanlta Holland stood looking nt tho
door ho had closed behind him, a wild
senso of tumult and uneasiness In her
heart.
""That's tho sort of friend I
sho repeated to herself.
am,
CHAPTER XX.
There still remained the task of
winning young Jeb'B assent to his plan,
nnd Anso Havey foresaw a stubborn
battle there. Jeb had been reading
law that winter; reading by tho light
of a log flro through long and lonely
evenings in a smoke-darkened cabin
When Anso Havey called from the
stile ono night, the boy laid a battered
Blackstone on his thin kneo and called
out: "Come tn, Anso, nnd pull up a
cheer!"
Anso had been rehearsing his argu
ments as he rode through tho sleet
lashed hills, and he was deeply trou
bled. Tho man and the boy sat on either
side of tho fireplace. Penetrating
gusts swept In at the broken chinking
and up through tho warped floor until
old Bcardog, lying at their feet, shiv
ered as he slept with his forepaws
stretched on the hearth and tho two
men hitched their chairs nearer to tho
blaze. By tho bed still stood tho rlflo
that had been Fletch's; the rifle upon
which tho boy's eyes always fell and
which to him was the symbol of his
duty.
As Bad Anso Havey talked of tho fu
ture with all the Instinctive forceful
r.ess that he could command, the boy's
set face rclnxed, and Into his eyes
camo a glint of engerness, because he
himself was to play no small part In
theso affairs.
Into his heart crept tho first burning
of ambition, tho first reaching out
after a career. Ho saw a future open
ing boforo him, and his grnvo eyes
were drinking In pictures tn tho ltvo
embers.
Then, when ambition had been kin
dled, tho older man broached the topfc
which was the crux of his plea.
"Tho man that .can do things for tho
mountntns must bo willln' to make a
heap of sacrifices, Jeb," ho said.
Jeb laughed, looking about tho bare
room of his cabin.
"Mek sacrifices?" ho repeated. "I
hain't nover knowed nothln' elso but
that I reckon I hain't skeered of It."
"I didn't mean that way, Jeb." Anse
spoko slowly, holding the boy with his
eyes, and something of his meaning
sank in so that tho lad's lean faco
again hardened.
"Nothln knln't stand between me an
what I'vo got tor do, Anse," ho said
slowly. He did not speak now with
wild passion, but calm flnnllty. "I've
douo took ther oath."
For a whllo Anse Havey did not re
ply At last ho said quietly. "I reckon
yo'vo got rid of tho Idea that I waa
nlmln' to decelvo yo, Jeb. I told yo
that when Fletch's assassin camo back
to tho mountains I'd lot ye know. I'm
goln' to keep my word."
Job roso suddenly from his chair
nnd stood with the flro lighting up his
ragged trouBers and tho frayed sleeves
of his coat
"Air ho back now?" ho demanded.
Anso shook his head.
"Not yet, Jeb; but ho's coming." Ho
saw tho twitch that went across tho
tight-closed lips which made no com
ment. "Jeb," ho continued, "I want yo to
help me. I want yo to bo big enough
to put by things that It's hard to put
by."
Tho boy shook his head.
"Anso," ho roplled slowly, "nsk mo
tor do anything elso In God Almighty's
world, but don't ask mo thet, 'causo If
yo does I'vo got ter deny ye."
"I ain't nskln' yo to let tho man go
unpunished. I'm only nskln' you to let
mo punish him with tho law."
Astonishment was writ largo In
ovory featuro of Jeb's face Ho stood
in tho wavoring circlo of light whllo
tho shadows swallowed tho corners of
tho cabin, and wondered if he hnd
heard rightly. At last his volco carried
n noto of deep disappointment, nnd ho
spoko as though unwilling to utter
such trensonablo words.
"1 reckon, Anso," lie suggested, "yo
wouldn't hardly hov asked a thing llko
thet aforo" thero was a hesitating
halt beforo ho went on "aforo a fur
rln woman changed yoro fashion of
lookln nt things."
Anso Havey felt his fnco redden,
and nn angry retort roso to his lips.
But tho charge was truo.
Ho wont on ns though Jeb hnd not
Bpokcu.
"All I ask is that when that man
comes ye'll hold your hand until tho
coto has actod."
"Does yo reckon Milt McBrlar alms
tor lot Slderlng try kin of his?" was
tho next Incredulous question.
Anso Havoy's volco broko out of Its
It Is possible to be n tlroless vorkor
and havo nothing to show for It.
A man novor is as llerco as ho trios
to lead his family to bollavo.
Tho fa.t that tho parsnip is con
sidorod ii food problem entitles the
radish to tho snmo distinction.
Naturally So,
"Did you seo whoro n ship was hold
up In our ports becauso It hnd a car
go of false teeth for Germany?"
"Now, inustn t that havo made tho
consignors look down In the mouth''
quirt tones and his eyes yoke to a fire
that was convincing.
"By heavens, I alms ter have him
do It! I ain't nskln leave of Milt Mc
Hrlnr." Then ho added: "I alms to
hang tho man that kilt your duddy In
tho Jail house yard at Peril, an' If the
McBriars get him they've got to kill
me first. Will you hold your hand till
I'm through?"
Tho boy stood there, his fingers
slowly clenching nnd opening. Filially
ho said: "Hit nln't n-goln' ter satisfy
me ter penitentiary thet feller. He's
got ter die."
"He's goln' to die. If I fall, then"
tho clnnsmnn raised his hands In a ges
ture of concession "then he's yours.
Will you wait?"
"I don't hardly believe," said Jeb
McNash with conviction, "any man liv
in' kin keep Milt's hired assassin in no
jail house long enough ter try an' hang
him. But I'm willing ter sec. I'll hold
my hand thet long, AnBe, but"
Onco more n spasmodic tautening of
muscles convulsed tho boy's frame and
his voice took on Its excited note of
shrillness: "But I warns ye, I'm goln'
"I've Got to Kill a Man!"
ter be settln' In ther high cote. I
hain't never n-goin' ter leave hit, an'
of that Jury clars him or ef they Jest
penitentiaries him I'm goln' ter kill
him ns ho sets thar in his cheer so
help me God!"
Loyal in their stubborn ndherence to
feud obedience, tho Judge and grand
Jury secretly returned two Indictments
bearing the names of Luke Thlxton as
principal and Milton McBrlar, Sr., as
accessory to the crimo of murder
"against tho peace and dignity of the
commonwealth of Kentucky, and con
trary to tho statute in such case made
and provided." Also, they withheld
their action from public announce
ment. Surreptitiously and guardedly a
messago traveled up the watercourses
to the remotest Havey cabin. Bad
Anso bado his men be ready to rise
In Instant response to his call, and
they made ready to obey.
Ono day Juanlta Holland and Dawn
set out for Lexington to do their
Christmns shopping.
Anse Hnvoy rode with them across
to Peril and wnved his hat'ln farewell
ns they stood In the vestibule of tho
rickety passenger coach. It was a very
shabby car of worn nnd faded plush,
but to Dawn It seemed a fairy chariot.
As thoy entered tho lobby of the
Phoenix hotel, In Lexington, a tall
youth roso from a chair and camo for
ward. If tho boy was cruder and dark
er and less trim in appearance than
his Bluo-Qrass brethren, ho carried his
head as high and walked as Independ
ently. Ho camo forward with his hat
In his hand and said: "I'm mighty glad
ter sco yo, Dawn."
Tho girl looked about tho place, and
breathed rather than asked: "Isn't tho
world wonderful, Milt?"
Two days followed through which
Dawn passed In transports of delight.
Thero were tho undreamed sights of
shop-windows decked for tho holiday
season, and tho crowds on the streets,
and tho gayety and merriment of
Christmas overywhere. Sho had never
heard bo much laughter before, and
Bho found it infectious, and laughed,
too.
At last sho found herself again In a
faded plush car besldo Juanlta, with
Young Milt sitting opposite. Old Milt
was on that train, too, but ho paused
only to nod beforo disappearing into
tho shabbier smoking compartmont,
whero he had business to discuss. A
man was waiting for him in thero
whom old ncqualntnnces might havo
passed by without recognition. It wns
tho hopo of Milt McBrlar that when
they left the train at Peril, any nc
qualntnnces who might bo about would
do just this.
While tho Christmas shoppers
laughed In tho day coach, Luko Thlx
ton received ilnal Instructions in tho
empty smokor.
Ho was to pass ns swiftly aud un
obtrusively ns possible through Porll
and go direct across tho rldgo.
Ho nnd Milt would leavo tho train
without conversation or nnythlng to
mark them as companions. After that
Luke know what ho was to do, and no
further conforenco would bo nocessnry.
It wns noon when tho train rumbled
ngnin over tho trestlo near tljo tosvn,
nnd all morning n steady, feathery
snow had beon falling, veiling tho
sights from the windows and wrapping
tho mountains In a cloak of swan's
down At Inst tho trucks screamed, tho old
COUNTRY TOWN SAYINGS
Some saiosmen aro so anxious to
soil ns to cnuso customers to suspect
that it Is dangerous to buy.
Every woman la a llttlo touchy
nbout It If nor htiBband llkos bakers'
broad as well as ho likes hors.
You can got mighty llttlo dono un
less you do It yourself; and usually
you can't do It yourself very well.
Practically every scholar has been,
or has thought of being, a schoolteacher
cnglno camo puffing nnd wheozing to a
tired hnlt, and the two girls, with
Young Milt nt their heels, made their
wny out, burdened with parcels.
On tho cinder platform Juanlta
looked about for Anso Havoy, and sho
anw him standing in n group with Jeb
and soveral other men whom she did
not know but Aiibo's face was not
turned toward her, and It did not wear
tho look of expectancy that tho thought
of her usually brought thero. Job's
countenance, too, was whlto nnd set,
nnd a breathless tensity seemed to
hold the whole group In fixed taut
ness. There were severnl clumps of men
standing nbout, nil armed, and every
face wore the snmo expression of wait
'ing sternness.
A gasp of premonition rose to Jua
nlta's lips aB she caught the sinister
spirit of suspense in tho ntmoBphere.
Then Milt McBrlar stepped down from
tho smoker vestibule, followed by nn
other man.
Ab the two turned In opposite direc
tions on the snow-covered platform,
ono of tho men who hnd been standing
with Bad Anso Hnvey laid a hand on
the shoulder of tho clean-shaven ar
rival and said in a clear voice: "Luko
Thlxton, I want yo fer ther murder of
Fletch McNash."
Old Milt McBrlar, for once startled
out of his case-hardened self-control,
wheeled and demanded nngrliy: "What
hell's trick is this?" His eyes were
blazing nnd his fnce worked with pas
sionate fury
A deputy answered him: "An Milt
McBrlar, I wants you. too, on nn in
dictment fer nccesBory ter murder."
Juanita felt Da wn'si spasmodic fin
gers clutch her arm and her own knees
grow suddenly weak. She heard a clat
ter of parcels as Young Milt dropped
them in the snow and leaped forward,
his eyes kindling and his right hand
frantically clawing nt the buttons of
overcoat and coat. But bofore ha
could draw, Jeb McNash had wheeled
to face him, bending forwnrd to a half
crouch. The younger McBrlar halted
and bent back under the glint of tho
revolver which Jeb was thrusting into
his fnce.
Haveys, armed and grim of visage,
now began drawing closo about the
captives.
Dawn clung with bloodless lips and
white cheeks to Juanlta as Bho watched
Jeb holding his weapon In tho faco of
the boy whom sho suddenly realized
sho loved moro than her brother.
Then the sheriff spoke again.
"Thar hain't no use In makln' no
trouble, Milt. Thei grand Jury lies
done acted, an' I reckon ye'd better let
the law take its course."
"Why don't ye tnko me, too?" de
manded Young Milt in n tense, pnssion
nU volco. "I'm a McBrlar. That's all
yo'vo got against any of theso men."
"Tho grand Jury didn't indict ye,
son," responded the sheriff calmly.
Then the elder McBrlar b?oame sud
denly quiet again nnd self-possessed.
Ho turned to his son.
"Milt," he said, sternly, "you keep
outen this. IUde over home an' tell
every man that calls hisself a Mc
Briar" his voice suddenly rose In the
defiant crescendo of a trapped lion
"tell every mnn that calls hlsaolf a
McBrlar thet ther Havoys hov got mo
In ther damned Jatlhouso an' ask 'em
ef they alms ter let me lay thar."
Young Milt turned nnd went at a
run toward tho livery stable. Over his
shoulder as ho went he flung back at
Jeb, who stood looking after him with
lowered pistol: "I'm goln' now, but I'll
bo back ter reckon with you!"
And Jeb shouted, too: "Yo kain't
come bnck none too soon, Milt. I'll bo
hynr when yo comes."
Then tho group started on their
tramp toward tho courthouse and the
llttlo Jail that lay at its side.
Juanita suddenly realized that she
and Dawn were Btnndlng as If rooted
to the spot. Tho older girl heard an
Inartlculato moan break from tho lips
of tho younger, and thon, as though
waking out of sleep, sho looked ab
sently down at a litter of berlbboned
parcels which lay about her feet. That
message which Old Milt had flung back
to his peoplo on tho lips of his son
would send tumbling to arms every
man who could carry a rlflo!
And tho Haveys were grimly waiting
for them. The Haveys woro already
there. The two girls could not rldo
across tho ridge now. Thoy could only
sit In their room nt tho wretched ho
tot and wait, too.
Juanita was glnd Dawn could cry.
Sho couldn't. Sho could only look
nhead nnd seo a- procession of hideous
possibilities.
It had been a fow minutes nfter
noon when Young Milt had rushed into
tho llvory stable and ordered his horse.
In that one instant all his collego In
fluences had dropped away from him,
and he was following tho llerco single
star of clan loyalty.
His father, who had novor beon any
man's captive, was back thero In tho
vermin-Infested llttlo jnllhouso, a pris
oner to tho Haveys. And when Young
Milt camo back, tho one Havey ho had
marked for his own was tho Havey un
dor whoso pistol muzzle ho had been
forced to give back young Job Mc
Nash. Tho stroke had taken tho McBriars
completely by surpriso. Tho boy must
reach his own territory and rally them
to their fullest numbers, oven from
tho remotest coves. This battlo was
to bo fought In tho enomy's own
stronghold nnd against a force which
was rondy to tho last noto of pre
parcdnoss. So nothing could happon until to
morrow. Nothing would happon. in
all likelihood, until tho day after that,
and moanwhllo tho two girls in tho
hotel must sit thoro thinking.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
She Couldn't Stand That.
"Why did sho throw over that young
man?"
"Seems he was an efllcloncy expert."
"Woll?"
"And ho tried to toll her sho didn't
know how to kUs."
New Use for Electricity.
A theory hns been ndvnnced by a
French scientist that eleitrlc currents
can be mado to tnko tho place of food
In sustaining life to a consldcruulc ir
grce
KtanzM ?
5SKc
PLANNING THE NEW HOUSE
Interior Arrangements Should Have
as Much Care as the Outside of
the Home.
Things ono should not do In plan
ning a homo havo been cnumorntcd
from week to week on tho Home
Builders' page of tho Sunday Herald
during tho past fow months. But
in addition to tho things that should
not bo dono thero aro many little
things that should bo done, some of
which, seemingly unimportant, are in
roallty vory Important. Following are
a few of tho "Do's," combined with
"Don'ts:"
Don't treat the piazza as an archi
tectural oxcrescco.ee; make it a real
out-of-door living room. It should com
mand a good view, havo a western,
oxposuro and bo so located as to af
ford privacy and rest to those occupy
ing it.
Don't plan for other than wide open
ings between the hall, living room aiife
dining room. Theso wido openings
givo an air of spaciousness and gra
cious hospitality.
Don't buy a building slto without
first having tho architect visit the
slto with you. You may in this way
avail yourself of many valuable aud
helpful hints.
Don't plan your house until yoir
havo selocted your building site. To
do so is about as difficult and will
result moro disastrously than buylntt
a hat without first trying It on. '
Don't forgot that a cheery entrance
hall affords to the casual visitor agree
able anticipations that a further ac
quaintance with the houso will be
equally cheery.
Don't fall to locate tho kitchen
rango out of reach of cross drafts.
Much time and fuel aro wasted, often
with disastrous results to the cook
ing, by not obtaining this condition.
Don't omit tho shower from the
bathroom. You will bo more than
repaid tn health and comfort for the
oxtra outlay. -
Don't fall to conceal, if posslblo, tho
hot-woter boiler in some convenient
closet In tho kitchen. Tho boiler Is
not a decoratlvo feature, oven with
much tlmo expended In polishing it.
This time can be spent to better ad
vantage in numerous other ways. Tho
water keeps hot longer if tho tank 1st
concealed, which is an advantage eco
nomically. Boston Herald.
TELLS OF APPROACHING CARS
Electric Signal Warns Motorists And
Pedestrians to Watch Out for"1
Possible Danger.
In order to warn motorists and oth
ers of the npproach of traction cars at
an intersection of two narrow streetB
whero tho view is obstructed by build
ings, fonccs, and tree3, an electric slg-
nal of rather novel nppearanco has
been put in use. At tho top of nn iron
post, which also carries tho street
signs, Is mounted a propoller-shaped.
membor which oscillates whenever n
car nears tho crossing. At night a
sign beneath this signal arm bearing
tho word "Danger" is illuminated in
red. Popular Mechanics.
Beauty Spot.
A gentleman from Michigan once
visiting in California, says that in one
town ho visited thero was a deep ra
vino running thrpugh tho town, into
which, seemingly, all tho rubbish of
tho town was thrown.
A young schoolteacher devised a
plan by which this might bo remedied.
Ilor pupils woro all requested to bring
all the nasturtium seeds they could
get, and when tho rainy season com
menced thoy went down Into tho
ravlno and all up and down Its sUIob
thoy planted tholr nasturtium seeds.
Tho gentleman said they woro in blos
som when ho was thero and that It
was tho prettiest sight ho saw in a.'l
California. . v
Its Merit.
"Why havo they dispensed with tho
uso of tho rod In making purJ8
bright?" w
"Why shouldn't they?"
"Well, It certainly did make dull
pupils smart."
A Transient Visitor.
"Pa, does money talk?" asked llttlo
Tommy Flubdub.
"I can't say, my son," answered Mr.
Flubdub, "I've never been ablo to
stop any of It long enough to engage
It lq conversation,"
I