The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-12-25
=Across Inc Bepono tbe Ranoe=
Bp II. "a. Stewart

is known to take a lay-off because of
some warning premOnitioD, and the
train he was to pull meets with disas-
ter, so Mccoy declined TO go with his
brigand companions, but for him it did
not mean q physical catastrophe. 81
am not leading them this time" be
thought, "but if there's a killing along
the old road from Telluride to the
mines, people will lay it at the door of
Bob MoCOy. Strange that the blood of
three men has made me guilty Of all
the murders in the fastness Of these
mountains. I know went to the bad,
but
81 entered honestly in the compauy's
employ, and for five years tOiled deep
In the mine, uncheered by Gods air
and sUnlight-aLd a sOulless master.
Can forget the Day I lay on the Dor
der line between life and death three
hours in the fatal damp of that mine;
or the digging out Of the load that had
gone out when it went of, mangling
my arms and filling the flesh Of my
face with pebbles; or when, with the
rest. 1 had to strike to keep up the old
pay schedule, having then no chance
to earn bread by the sweat Of my face?
[ could have stood it all had it not
been for that Christmas snOWslide.
The loss Of my home made me desper
ate. 1t was the climax Of all my trouble
and now at last fugutive from jus
tice, hunted and pursued by hOrrid
images of blood. My peace comes but
in moments, when I see Mary and the
Little One, and hear gUTgling laughter
and feel baby fingers dimplinR in my
cheeks.
Then love was mine; and deep sffec-
ton went along with callOUsed palms.
Yes, l was brave and tender Bob Nc
Coy; now an Outoast with a mark upon
this lofty forehead, every noise startl-
ing me to defense against some Meme
sis of nature. But the question, oh,
the question, does God still exist for
mel"
The wind shifted quietly among the
crags, aud the branches Of the trees.
/ Great nature had taken to her quiet
bosom all, save the demon striviBgs
within Mccoy. Wierd, unearthly whis-
/ peTings unsettled his iron nerves, and
/ to drown the inward storm he mum
I bled: Winter 5 got earth in his icy
clutch, and Christmas can't be far of
Y Mother said the cats and lions were al
1 ways at peace on Christmas eYe-30
/ years since, 80 years"-snd with a look
/ disconsOlste he beheld the early peep
I ing stars through mist Of tears. That
\ looks like the one she used to tell
about and would say, Follow the star,
my son, il is Gods beacon fire."
Though q western light, il penetrat-
( ed his shriveled life, and Christmas
/ Christmas swept over his soul-a tidal
wave OF meanings and memories. Mo
| Coy started from his seat as though be
had been moved by an invisible being
| @Once l was without spoS," he said
. Aand believe there's a chance for me
yet; and old heart, can you change
IyOuTself?-yoU've got to change, and
thrOb and knock against my ribs and
make me feel that you are still in my
1 breast. TO-mOrrOw's sun VIII proclaim
/ Christmas day, 1898, and Why not
start just now. can't 60 back; they'll
kill me. / must cross this range and
beyond, seek mankind where trust has
not been desecrated By knowledge OF
my past" Something seemed to pull
at his hand as Mccoy contemplated so
difficult course; something pointed
70 his mothers star and hope beyond
the range.
With gun in hand he half stepped
forward. and then back, like forces Of
good and evil In sore conflict. spirit
whittier wOuldst thou lead me?H be
asked euxiOuslE. SInto the Christmas
1 life" came like al innusndOin his soul.
'Shali man resist God in the crucial
test" he thought, and with q resolution
deep cut IN the granite Of his being
Robert Mccoy spoke within himself:
l''Westwsrd, westward, with the star; II
is Christmas time; time for birth into
the life that once was mine; time noE
to leave behind the bloody images Of
the slain, and to take with ne the an
gel faces on yonder mountain head
spirit, lead; and i Bill keep within
the shadow Of thy presence until these
fleet press the msRdoWs Of thy king
dom
And the last Bobis comrades ever
saw Of him as they were returning
kGme with plumber, vas his disappear
ing form II the deep twilight. toward
the west, oFeE and beyond the range.