People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-10

SUIT, and that didn't help matters any.
We tried to open the coal vein after
wards, but it's my private opinion that
he Bynum boys destroyed the working
as fast as we developed it."
What a frightful story of lawless-
ness!"
1T is rather savage, when you come
to think of it, isn't it? And we haven't
seen the end of it yet by several lives,
I'm afraid"
But won't the law protect the
colonel in the defense of his rights?"
"It-or public indignation-would
avenge his death very promptly, but in
regard to the other, you'll remember
that you must first catch your hare;
these fellows don't go around with a
brass band announcing their inten-
TONS"
"Still, l should think it would be easy
enough to get evidence against them"
do you?-then suppose you try it
That's bright idea, Hugh; you are in
terested in the family fortunes, and
you haven't anything else on your mind
Just turn in and get evidence enough to
hang these three Bynum boys, and I'll
guarantee the colonel will give you Hes
ter out of hand"
"I?-God Forbid" replied Ringbrand,
turning pale. my gifts don't lie in
that direction"
Ludlow glanced at his friend with a
look of mingled curiosity and concern.
II was wondering if you'd changed any,
Hugh; you used to be peaceable sort
of fellow in college. l can't imagine
you in the role of fire eater"
go on and say the rest of it," said
Ringbrand, bitterly; you can't imagine
me as an adopted member of fire-ea..
ing family. Well, don't blame you;
can't do it myself"
Il shouldn't have put it in any such
unchsritable form" responded Ludlow.
refectively, but, since you've men
toned it, I'll say what's been in M
mind ever since you told me what
brought you to Tregarthen. Hester
Latimer's husband will have to do one
of two things-help fight the family
battles or refuse to have anything to
do with them. The first may cost him
his life. and the last will be very sure
to cost him his happiness. I'm no hand
20 NEEDLE, as you know, Hugh, but it's
well enough to consider these things
before it's too late"
That's the pity of it, Tom" replied
2ingbrand, quietly. I'm afraid ito
100 late now. l realized two thing
pretty clearly last night-one was that
life without Hester wouldn't be worth
living, and the other was that I'd rather
die than have her find me out for what
lam"
That's putting it rather harshlyi
you haven't any good reason for think
ing that you are"
"A coward-Aay it, Tom; l ought Il
be able to bear the truth. and that /:
the truth. l know it; I've known i
all along, only I've been trying to make
myself believe it wasn't so. That's
what was at the bottom of all thos'
little things you remember in the uni
Iersity days; you don't know how
despise myself when think of it all.
NO, l don't remember anything bu
what l said Il moment ago-that yol
were always peaceable sort of fellow.
THAT isn't it; it's one thing to b.
peaceable from principle, and quite an
other to be restrained by wholesom,
fear Of consequences. It's aIways beer
the latter with me. l can look bacl
over my life and see how I've been con
tinually lodging. When I was it'll
fellow, the fear of a whipping was tn
strongest incentive to good behavior
and the same argument has held goo
ever since. You know that, Tom, i
you'd only admit it."
no, l don't know anything o
the kind" protested Ludlow.
well, it's true. You remember tina
affair with Turnbull in the last year
when he went out of his way to insul
me. You took occasion to praise m
self-control. but / want to tell you nov
that it was the lnerest sham; wa
afraid TO resent it, and that's tn
truth"
"Nonsense!" retorted Ludlow; 'yo
did just right not to demean yourself
by fighting with a cub of an under
graduate"
I'm not arguing about that-it'sth
motive; it was cowardice, pure an
simple; there's no other name for i
What are you laughing at?"
Its amusing to hear you vilify yoal
self. But seriously, Hugh, this is
crisis that's got to be met. | take you
word for it that you're properly in loy
with Hester Latimer; if she does yO
the honor to return your affection
which, l take it, is not yet foregOr
conclusion-why, you're a lucky fe
low, and you should be thankful enoug
to fight her battles, and those of h.
father and brother if need be. 1t ma
not require such a phenomenal degr'
of physical courage, but it'll ask f
some of the moral variety; and there
always a wide possibility that it'll d
mand both in heroic proportions.
> l were in your place | should fight Il
kattle beforehand; then, if you fir
you're not going to be up to it, the no
orahla fhiuu Is IN mil ont while ~