The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-18

| armed in the face Of tremendous Ouds-
He was better bOrsed than any OF tne
three, and to the full as good a rloer-
! His one chance was to ride them down,
and run for it. 1t was characteristic
that the thought of turning back never
once entered his mind.
He gathered up the reins, bent his
| head, whistled softly and spurTed
straight at the line. Jack swerved his
horse the least bit. let the other get
his head well past. then, leaning light
! ly, tore the reinS from MickleJohnS
grasp and threw his horse upon Its
| launches. The force of impact swung
! his own horse around-in an instant,
both animals had fallen. The riders. at
| hard grips, writhed free OF the StruS-
! Cling beasts, Staggered. .swayed back
and forth through a. breathlesS heart
| breaking minute, then fell prone in the
rocky road
AIioklejohn stood six feet-he had
! brawny, broad shoulders and loose
] jointed, long-reaching arms. But try as
/ he might, he could not free himself.
| Jacks arms were locked about the big
chest like a steel band. mOmentarily
| tightening. Not word had been spok-
en-. None was needed. MicklejOhn knew
/ he was paying for what they had taken
| as an Insult to LaSSaphine. The knowl-
! edge was mere feeling-he neither
thought nor planned consciously. Life
meant fighting nothing more nor less
fighting an antagonist he ought to
crush with one arm, who yet seemed
likely to best him.
He shut his eyes, but opened them in
stantly. He could see nothing but rings
of red and yellow and green, melting
! into blackness. Still Jacks grip held.
vise-lil1e, agonizing. His breath went
no lower than the throat-he must
break the grip or perish. With a mighty
plunging surge he got to his knees,
| loosed one hand, clinched it and struck
/ Childers a. blow full in the face. Blood
/ followed, red blood warm and sticky.
1t came in a trickling jet, but did not
dim the fire in Jacks eyes. Still he held
/ hard, Swaying back and forth, foiling
| MicklejohnS efforts to get upon his
! feet. He saw the purple face, the star
| ing eyes-he knew the end was only a
| few minutes away.
Triumph was in his grasp. Micldejohn
| had struck him again, a feeble glanc-
| ing blow All at once a whirlwind
seemed to rage behind hin-his arms
were torn loose, ne was flung violently
! aside-LasaDhine, her eyes blazing,
/ stamped her foot and cried: Shame.
! Shamel Shame on you! After this
never call yourselves men,
You-don't-think-yOu can't-we set
I on him-three to one?' Jack gasped-
! She nodded coldly. Il can't think any
/ thing else" she said. II know well why
because he took it on himself to sass
| Sonny-and me. A preachers same as a
Woman-it amt fifteen fer him to fight,
| no matter how much strength and viii
| he may have. 1 could mighty nigh man
,age YOU. Jack, fair fist-and-skull-bu
| you wouldn't lay the weight of your
/ hand on me, no matter what might
do"
mol" Jack said, nor let anybody
elst"
WHO planned this foolishness frst?''
| she asked, still severe.
| "Au of u.s." said Haskell, laconically.
Then we drawed lOts-and Jack had
luck. That fellow had to be thraShed-
| eff he thrashed Jack, then come into
| the argument, and Doc after me-"
/ Lassaphines face relaxed a little.
| you all go on up to the house and
wait" she said. 'I-I-that is-there's
something-rve got a word to say to
Brother Micklejohn."
Pm 'fraid it's Yes, Doc said,
gloomily. as they mounted and rode
/ away. Remember haw she blushed
up at the last. Lassaphine amt like
no other woman ever L saw-but even
she's likely to be fool over a good
lookin' preacher"
Does look like it." Haskell admit
ted, with a half sarcastic sigh.
'TwouId be funny of if we'd won
the brothers case for him, instead of
runnin' him out O. the country as we
intended. Whut do you think about it,
Jack?"
"I-Oh, nothing" Jack said, as though
I coming cut of a dream In this mat
ter Lassaphine must do the thinking"
Sonny and grandpap give the trio an
uproarious welcome. which grew some
what chastened when, ten minutes later,
Lassaphine came in with Brother Mick
| leiohn in her wake. Shake handS-all
! of you" she commanded, then wash
your hands and faces and come out to
Christmas dinner"
1t was a royal dinner Glack Luce,
whose fOrbears had belonged TO the
Murravs in the days before their deca-
I dence had done her very beSt-and SON
nv had helped her. Sonny had a gour-
( NETS palate and a pretty taste in sea-
! sonfng. At Christmas neither was over
stinted, however bare the living other
days of the year. They ate leISurely
faShion-it was quite dusk when they
! arose from the table. Lassaph1ne led
the way into grandpap's room, which
was bright with leaping freight. Not
| withstanding she lit candles in two tall
! brass sticks, turned about and faced
I Mieklejohn, who throughout what ought
! to have been an ordeal, had seemed cur
iously eIate. Her face was grave, though
] a
/ Miclzlejohn," she said. YOU asked me
down in the gorge if came there be
cause [ loved somebody and L said,
Yes Did you think 1 meant you?'
L did" said Micklejohn. smiling soft
". and half extending his hand. Las
saphines hands went up. You thought
wrong" she said. Il did go for love,
though-because couldn't bear to have
Jack disgrace himself
"Hurrahr' Haskell shouted, huSging
grandpap, who stood next him. "Hur-
rah!" Grant echoed, trying to shake
Jacks hand. Delight in the minister's
downfall overbalanced personal loss
Jack stood as though dazed, his hands
hanging, his eyes fast on Lassaphine.
The cut on his forehead was throbbing
vieiously-he was spent and weak-the
food of joy overwhelmed him. He flung
his arms about Lassaphine, and laid
his head on her shoulder, with a dry.
smothered sob. Before them all, she
bent and kissed him, then laughed out
to the fleeing Mick1ejohn. IF you've
a mind, you may come back and marry
us-Old Christmas day!7
| Bamberger Coal Co.. ISL Main.