The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-01

stony path showed like dim thread l in the gloom, and the pattern of the 1 branches overhead stood out against the sky. But John Shil could see lit- tie else. and the wood itself was a mere wall of branches on either side of him.
 In few minutes he reached large 1 open space in the centre of the planta- tion. The path here ran by the side of large quarry, from which in the days gone by the Tankerlanes had ta- ken many thousand tons of stone tor building purposes. It had not, how ever. been worked for nearly fifty years. and the wood had been planted to conceal the ugly scar it had made on the hill. One one side 1t sloped gently up to the surface. but on the other there was a sheer drop of eighty feet to the bottom, and the edge was protected by a wooden rail.
 As the young man emerged from the darkness into the grey twilight. he heard the sound of footsteps ana a few moments later the tall figure of man came striding up the hill towards him. The two men met all most In the centre of the clearing.
 "Evening, Ben" said John Shil cSkt- ly, as the hulking form of one of the farmers on the estate came close to him He did not like the man. for Ben
 
 district, and the brutal ferocity of his temper had marked him out as a dan gerous and difficult fellow to deal with. The young agent was also aware that E the man hated him with a fierce and undying hatred. for the farmer had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Laura yane.
 The man did not reply to the salu- tation. and John Shil would have passed on without another word, but Ben Holland stopped. and his huge body blocked up the centre of the pathway On one side lay the thick undergrowth; on the other side the rail at the edge of the quarry There was scarcely room for two big men to pass, save by each others courtesy. I John Shil could have pushed by, but, as agent of the Tankerlane property, he had certain dignity to preserve. He stopped. as though he had some- thing to say to the man who had bar red his progress.
 "rd have a word with 'ee," said the man hoarsely; I'd have a word with ee, Mir Shil."
 About that arable?" replied the agent hoarsely. It's no use, Ben; Sir Robert has decided not to turn any more arable into pasture"
 Hang the pasture" the man said roughly. "r'>-spose. you thinks T. haven't a mind above t9rnups and pasture and sich Ike"
 John Shil did not answer. Ne had never studied the state of Ben Hots- lands mind. but he knew well enough what was in 1t at that moment.
 This be a narrow track" the man continued, "and there be no room for two big men like we. One of us must stand aside to let the other pass. Which be 1t, Mir Shil, you or T."
 The estate agent did not answer It was no question of precedence in a narrow path. 1t was the hand of the woman they both loved. Yet he could not trust himself to speak. His face was already white with fury, and his great body trembied with the violence of his thoughts. A single word would break through the control he had placed upon himself. He could not trust himself to speak.
 You be a great man in these parts" continued Ben Holland with a sheer, small wonder you're sich a fav'rite with the gals. There's a lot of pow CT in those white hands O your'n. be Just a farmer working for my bread. I haven't got nowt to offer; I can't give Sam Vane new fencing and barns and pasture where he want 1t, nor paint his house. nor be easy in asking for the rent. I can't do nowt of this, MT. Shil, and you've the ad- vantage of the likes of me; but as man to man. tell 'ee that I've strong pair of hands"
 "If you wish to fight" said John Shil slowly, and with ghastly attempt at a smile, "I'm afraid l can't oblige you. If you wish to force a quarrel on me. you will. I fear, be unsuccessful. Good night. The path is open to you" and he stepped aside, thrusting the thick undergrowth back with his broad shoulders. But Ben Holland did not pass.
 You be a poor thing. after all, MT. Shn." he said, with a sheer. flor all the great talk I've heard of you. may be but a farmer, but I'd let no man stand in my path, and I'd step aside for no man, either"
 The path is open to you" said John Shil T do not seek to quarrel with any man."
 No" sneered the farmer, you'll be getting your own back some other way You'll not forget tonight. and I'll feel your whip on my back one or these days. 1 shouldn't wonder If the rent of my farm isn't raised fore long You've the power to deal with better men than yourself. That's how you got the gal. She's for the highest bld- der. she Is. But there be those that can bid higher than you, MT. Shil.
 "SiIence, you scoundrel!" cried the young man, no longer able to keep guard over his tongue, you're not Tt to scrape the mud off her boots, and if you dare to
 "Ah, that touches you up, doesn't it?" the farmer interrupted with a brutal laugh; another bidder, eh? MT. William Tankerlanell bid too high for you. John Shil. You'll not want to marry the girl when you know all I know. He's bid already, you fool, and the goods have been knocked down to him. Soiled goods by now, war rant. 10 be passed off as new-ah"
 The mans words came to an end in a crv of rage and pain. John Shiis fist had shot out of the darkness and caught him on the black-bearded jaw If was a terrible blow. struck with the full strengeh of strong man stung to madness.
 Ben Holland staggered back, and be- fore he could recover himself, John Shil got in his right hand on the mans heart, and the huge body reeled over on to the fence which bordered the quarry.
 There was a crackle of splintering wood, a yell of terror, and then. mo- tionless as a statue, John Shil waited for the sound that he knew must fol- low-the crash of the heavy body on