The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-06-11
A Question
Of Courage

" that thar rcighhor OF our'n DO yon-
doris siill a-anoozin' like he was when
yc plugged hhn?"
.Yc can iest bet on hit, Buddy; ! low
J WIS eomr shaky. but / reckon I ain't
misolu' anything as big as man az that
thar distance"
There was a little silence, ard then
one Of them spoke again: "Whilst
we're a-wa'tiu' we're, Jcr. yc moughtEc
over what youall'a o-igurin' ON fer to.
,norrer night. } hain't got hit right
clear in my bald yet
"Jcst hol' on minute. Gimme that
thar light, till I see II the city feller',
whar he ort TO be-"
Curiosity TO know what was to be cx.
planned oyercame Ringbrnnd's desire
for vengeance, and he crouchcd in the
shadow while the mountaincer made
his investigation.
as he thar?" asked the other voice
shore; he's a-luyin' right plum whar
hc did las night Don't reckon lac ever
moved"
Then RinPbrand understood that the
dim light had mislcd them, and that the
shot had been fired the log. lie had
scarcely time to be- thankful That he
had not moved the latter during the
day, before the light disappeared from
the crcvicc and the conversation was re-
sumed.
"Now, about that thar proiec' for to-
morrer night, Buddy. ia figured hit jest
this-a-way. julie she'll light out in the
mornin' for McNairvillc ON the mar
an wen fetch the rest o. the hosses up
on the mounting by the Dunbar road
cndurin' the day. Then, long late in
the cvenin', when cyor'body's gone to
bald, we-all II jest ride over TO the
colonels, leave the hosses with jed in
that thar little patch o trees front o
the house, an then you'n nell go smoke
'em out When they shows up. you take
the young un an leave the colonel to
me. reckon ri show him chat don't
miss the same man twicet.' t't.
"lIow bout the gal2'
Needn't TO mind bout her; she'll
lool, out for herself and then the same
voice added. II reckon Jod'd1bc glad
enough TO take kcer o her, il she'd low
hit"
Even after the CONVINCING obiect-lea-
son of the attempt upon his own life,
Rlngbrand could scarcely believe the
evidence Of his senscs Could IL be
nossihln that these two. men were calm.
il discussinp n Mot which pointed 10
!, douhle murder as lis object? They
were sne,l,iun amin. and he siraincd
his ears Go catch every word
"They's only one thing about hit
that looks sort o. sAnky. JcT, that's
che mart about the gal Course /
knows veal amt Gghin' wccmin'
but hit III be tal,in' right smart mo-
cbnincce IL she pcts % sieht O. ee-alI.'
"shc bain't irvine 10. When the fires
done stnrted. youn me can hide in the
iy, Lnsbcs."
..rbot III Gv nh. nm, afterwards We
low 10 ride for AIcNniryillc?"
"t-b-bub. we can lest bout mako hit
in time for the cyars, if we put out
sort % lively"
How nhout tho bosses? Y-all sold
'cm with thc.plucc, didn't yc?"
81 did so, an the fcller can take EN-
wharsomeycr he's lucky enough to fin
en-, cayn't hep"
They were silent again. and Ring.
brand snclled tobacco smoke. He stood
motionlcss in The darkness. trying 90
thinl, OF some why n which thc cold
bloodcd plot could be frustrated; there
seemed TO be but one way, and his de.
sire for vengeance cooled little as lac
thought of it, but hc crcpt into posi-.
ton where lac coulo command theWidcsl
range OF space in the other chamber
and watched for the men 10 cross the
narrow field OF vision on thcirWay back
TO the mine. Il seemed hours before
they spoke again, and then the gruifel
voice said: ~ don't believe that than
lamps gwinc out Buddy
81 reckon hit air for shore was the
reply; "but hit don't make no diifr
encc veal can fin the way without
hit"
\ little later the light faded and ilick.
cred and then went out, leaving behind
it darkness that was almost tangible
and kingbrand's heart sank as he real
lied that one chance of saving llcsier't
father and brother was gone. IL was
only chance, he knew, for the noun
t0inccrs were two TO one, and lac wa'
not enough of marksman to be sure oil
disabling even one OF themi heVcrthe
less, he had made up his mind to FIR,
upon them when they came again ~
view, trusting 10 the shortness OF tho
range to offset his lack OF SKIN with tht
weapon
lie thought he heard them when they
left the chamber and again, after what
seemed an intcrminuhlc interval, there
was faint rustling such as might hov,
bppn nnds by tle two men climbiuo