Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-08-20
CHAPTER vi

arrival to his friends he made sure that
hone of Bouton's gang was within
reach At his elevation the air was raw
and cold. and the young man drew near
to the flames with his hands extended
to catch the grateful heat
Though he had just passed through
danger that for many an hour after
ward would have occupied the thoughts
of an ordinary man and been repeated
for many a night in his dreams, Louis
Kyle's mind was filed with another
and to him greater subject
81 wish my mother and father could
see her, " he unused. mora, am sure,
would love her Who could help loving
her? How can / tell her my feelingsf
What reply would she make if she
knew themY'
Louis Kyle was thinking aloud, and
he was 80 absorbed that he did not hear
a soft step behind him nor know that
another was near till he heard the
words:
Better warm the blood tg riding
than by fire at such time"
Louis Kyle leaped back with his hand
TO his pistol-the rife was fastened to
his saddle-but he smiled at his OWL
alarm as he recognized the familiar fig
ure before him. 1t was tall and gaunt,
clad in skins and with a wild tangle of
red hair and beard masking the face
The eyes were black and piercing, and
heavy yellow chain, from which a
cross was suspended, hung about his
II how,
and bullet pouch were fastened to his
rawhide belt, and he carried, like a
staff, a long muzzle loading rife, such
as was once so popular with the hunters
CT the west. There was no guessing the
mans age, but the erect form, the broad
breast and the expression of the hairy,
muscular hands told that he had not
yet passed the prime of life. He was
known to many by the name which he
gave himself, Daniel the Prophet,
but very few knew him personally, and
no one but himself knew how he lived
or where was his dwelling place. There
was a tradition that Daniel the Prophet
had suffered great wrongs at the hands
of the Mormons to the south and that
he had started an opposition religion.
the chief tenet of which was that life
should be devoted to celibacy and soli-
tude. If such were his belief, he GER
tainly acted ON it, for he was but sell
dom seen, and his manner of coming and
going was so mysterious that the hunt
ers, trappers and prospectors Of that
land held him In awe If not in venera-
tiop.
"Why, Prophet, am glad to see You,
as l am surprised at your coming, said
Louis Kyle, advancing and taking the
extended hand.
Daniel-or the Prophet, as we shall
call him-always used the Biblical
manner in speaking, and there was q
dignity in his expression that precluded
the thought of burlesque. Even when his
statements were absurd, they carried
force from the earnestness with which
they were uttered
There is as yet no blood upon thy
hand that the physical eye can see
Woe be to him that wareth on his
brother" said the Prophet gloomily.
Then woe will not come to me- But
what II I should resist the brother who
raises his hand against me?" asked
Louis Kyle.
Resistance to wrong is "a right, not
q sin. But when brothers war, heaven
averts its face and heeds not the cause.
A curse has fallen upon our mountains.
The outlaw has made 1t his home and
the gold seeker stains the purity Of our
waters Tarry not, Louis Kyle, but car
ry to thy father the story that will bring
him grief Go, and will hold the path
between thee and thy pursuers. said
the Prophet, motioning back with his
extended hand
In childhood Louis Kyle had looked
ON this man with dread that manhood
did not entirely obliterate Under any
circumstances he would not have thought
Of invoking his aid But now the neces-
sites of his situation drove him to seize
upon every means that held out the
slightest prospect of help to his be-
leaguered friends It flashed upon his
mind that this man might be made
available.
Prophet, he said, you have often
told me that your heart bled for the dis
tressed and that you loved these soli-
tudes because they shut you out from
the misery you could ally"
"And told thee the truth. F"
With earnest, clear cut, Saxon phrase
Louis Kyle told his story, and then ask
ed the Prophet If he weuld go to the
mining camp to the south or to the forts
to the east to get assistance.
SOLDIERS are and ever have been the
hired murderers of despots. I cannot go
near them. Why invoke the aid of man
when the hand of Jehovah rests on the
mountains, where the weakest may
seize it2''
81 have told my story" said the
young man, biting his lip and turning
TO examine the bride and saddle girth
And 1 have heard it Go to thy ia
ther and leave me here to pray for light
before this mountain altar fire.
The Prophet waved his hand, then
dropped ON his knees and lowered his
head Without a word Louis Kyle
swung himself into the saddle, shook
the bride rein, and his rested horse
wheeled and shot into the darkness