The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-01-17


blade held by the huge desperate lie
had come unarmed to capture. His
pride and the wonderful moral puis-
sance that ground out courageous
deeds from heart sinking apprehension
urged him forward another step. Arl-
Zona Dan laughed Il low, half sober but
chilling laugh. SO quiet it was that
the voice OF the brook sounded In tho
sheriff's ears like the derisive mockery
OF men at his poltrooncry.
For one instant Radclin Conrad
swung IN the balance. An all pervad-
ing panic seized him. and the foot he
lifted to take Il forward step weighed a
hundred pounds. The rustling OF a
branch to his right above tho path
drew from him Il swift glance, and he
looked for ten seconds into two dark
eyes that seemed to flash some strange,
exalting essence into his veins. A
weight seemed loosencd somewhere
within him. and he felt that he could
hear it fall down. down to unsounded
depths. lie looked Mt Arizona Dan and
laughed low and joyously rs child
does who has come upon long de-
sired toy.
"Wlll You Gomez said the sheriff In
tone bridegroom might have used
to his bride.
"Ill cut your heart out, Rad Con.
rad" said Arizona Dan, "lf you come
two steps nearer
Boadcea, on the ledge above, rustlcd
n little and the sheriff. without looking
mp. smiled again. Arizona Dan held his
kuifo rs one holds foil, point out
ward, with his thumb against the
guard. The sheriff crouchcd some three
inches Ike a cat and seemed to gather
himself together with his weight bal.
anrcl evenly on each foot. Arizona
Dan stood still with his knife ready.
Was Rad Conrad fool enough to attack
him With his bare hands?
The sheriff could have shouted for
Joy. Like 4 flash valor ANA audaciouS
courage had come upon him. He felt
that he would never know fear again.
Something lad passed into his blood
Ihat had made him man instead ~
the spurious being he had been. He
tv.i tie lwr dark eyes above fixed upon
him. uN: lie Sept his own upon Arizona
!Ia!.>.
N"vti,t,v" tn" >AeriN'S exploits had
been attended hy tortuitouS chance
;-Nt uruU.u; uim safely out ui titrm-a
l!.iurr tU>t as O!iud and incomprrhcn
>.tl. - that which guards the ways ~
children H..d LgunAavd>. Now lie tr't
the caution. tie .ndvmitAhl" ;utvn; T."
80 c,U;'!yi with the prudence OF tie
successful general that gives hraV Vcr.
is value. Half 4 lni"uci" had Oeen a..
compl.>Aci. Tn" other half was t. FOL
low.
1t must nav" been that Arizona Dams
ue:T.S were UusJruug by his uehaucA.
els" when Il small stone d!slodycd Is
BoaliceaS foot ratified down to the
path at his side h" would not have br.
slowed IN" advantage Of turning his
head quickly 10 look But he did ST.,
and ia the instant the sheriff had his
knife arm by the wrist and his other
arm about his waist. Then Arizona
Dan was filled with surprise to feel the
arm that held his knife slowly twisting
IN spite of all his c>i>lancc--twiStin2
outward. until tn" tcndnnS and muscles
We're cracking. Tn" >h"rin'S hand was
Ike steel clamp. and when the pain
grow unh"Hrahl" Arizona Dan dropped
the knife. When thr sheriff heard It.
ring on The rocks. Il" released the wrist
suddenly and laid his left forearm
across Dams throat. Th"y We're too
close for blows, ana there was little
struggling or shifting Of ground.
The arm across Arizona Dams throat
pushed his head back. and the other
iron band about his waist held him
close. 1t was q silent. fierce. strninin,
inr, II, 81,
mcnt and on the other to regain tie
center Of gravity. The sids for dis
placement won, and the XII t1iators
went down with n crash. small
bowldcr In the way Of .\rzc1l" Dun's
head left him lying in Il disf incrful
heap oblivious to defeat. I'ut; sheriff
knrlt upon the vanquiShrd d.s yihutrr
OF l"Adcn iargrSS. drew cords WIN his
pocket and ignnlninin'lSly bow iu him
hand and foot. Then he spran to his
feet and turned his flushed II &c and
yellow curls to the source CT J Is new
being as SunilOw"r turns to tie sun.
Boadicra slid down through tt e bush
es like young panther.
"iOu're Il jim dandy" she said, "if
there ever was one. saw IT, y
She stopped suddenly Tne sheriff
was looking straight into her eyes. She
felt for the first time n strange heat in
her checks and thought she must have
Fever Her eyes slowly dropped for
the first time before nnOthcrs. Her
tongue for the first time trlppcd and
faltercd.
'Itll be dark Soon." began the sher-
iff. and his voice sounded to her fur
away like the wind In the pines.
"lou'd better let me walk back to the
house with YOU. III bring horse back
for this chap by the time he RECEIVERS.
You are Miss Reed. think. l know
your father"
The. evening breeze r,istled airily
through the rcdwOods. a squirrel
frisked up a hickory, and the first owl
hoOt came from the shadows about the