The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19

1 ly removed the interlaced poles in the l gray dawn, slow wrath began to burn | in his bosom He did not compreh end the cause. but he realized that S. B. Bates had turned on him. He drove | home and, after caring for his horse, printed sign which read: THIS BRIDGE IS OPEN. w. STOUT. He attached 1t to his end of the bridge | and, with a feeling of satisfaction and pride in the neatly printed letters, re- turned to his shack to sleep. Refreshed by his slumbers, he started late in the afternoon to demand an eX- planation from S. B. Bates. IS. B." saw him coming and was waiting for him on the pole which marked the exact center of the bridge Stout felt himself shrink before her blazing eyes.
 This bridge is closed.'' said IS. B. Her lips were a straight line.
 This bridge is open, replied Stout, trying to force determination into his wavering voice.
 1T am armed said S. B. Bates, and from the folds of her skirt she produced formidable pair of wire clippers. Take one step forward and I shall use this weapon"
 Stout, with his foot poised in mid-air, hesitated. s. B. Bates unspoken threat to remove his flesh from his bones in plncheS rang true. lie Knew disO tndt she could do it.
 q will not fight a lady" he replied with dignity, backing off the bridge. q wouldn't advise you to- answered S. B. Bates mockingly.
 That same afternoon it chinooked. The soft, warm wind melted the snow In the mountains and gulches with incredible rapidity and a yellow stream began to rush through the dry bed of Paint river. In the morning the yellow stream was a torrent, and it looked as though the bridge might go out before night. He followed the creek down to see if the flood had taken out the wire fence he had strung across from his property to that of his neighbours. The fence was still intact, so he returned to his shack and seated himself disconsolately on the doorstep.
 Now that Stout's wrath had subsded somewhat he realized that the withdrawal of S. B. Bates friendship was more serious matter than 1t had at first seem- ed. That horse with the distemper-"S B." had thought she could cure 1t. He had talked of buying a carpet-"S. E" was going to sew 1t for him. He meant to purchase Meldons water rights on Sage creek--if IS. B." thought well of it. But he was going to miss most of her companionship; she was surely very companionable. She had been patient with him in his verdancy, and her kind ness had been unfailing. Her volcanic outburst puzzled and bewildered him. As he brooded the chatter of hoofs fell on his ear He arose and looked round the corner to see the girl fvom the Half Way house galloping dowt the road on her blue roan
 "The upper bridge has gone out" she said, pulling up at his doorstep, and l had to ride back and cross here. Is 1t safe?'
 Closed? Whats the matter?"
 stammered Stout. distinctly embarrassed.
 Closed? What's the matter"
 "W-W-Why, s. B. Bates, you see-a- a." He groped wildly for some plaus- ible explanation, and while he ioundered he saw the stout figure of SIS. B. Bates striding from the house on the hill to the bridge with an unmistakable air of de- termination In the exact center of the bridge she knelt and began to saw on the big log supporting the small cross poles which formed the structure.
 Stout was aghast. Who would have believed the woman capable of such vim dctiveness? S. B. Bates was going to saw the bridge in two and move away her half, Stout knew that approximations were useless, and he had no notion of eX posing himself to an attack with the wire clippers, He could only stand gloomily watching the strong, machine-like motion of her arm as she drove the saw through the wood while the girl from the Half Way House chattered at his side like a magpie.
 When the log was cut, and that side of the bridge sagged into the water, she be- gan with equal vigor upon the log sup