Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15
THE
BARRIER
By Rex Beach
Copyright, 1905. by Harper & Brothers

1dtncr we'll SNAPPED plunS nor now
farreaching they were and could bare
ly stammer:
$50! You-you know?"
"Yc8i She wears the evidence
around her neck, and If that isn't
enough l can furnish more-evidence
enough to smother you. My name
isn't Stark at all. changed 1t years
ago for certain reasons. I've changed
1t more than once, but that's my priv
ilege and my own affair. Her name Is
Merridy Bennett"
Il don't suppose you know I'm CO.
ing to marry herr" said the Kentuck-
tan irrelevantly
mo" replied the other; II wasn't
aware Of the fact"
well, I am. I'll be your son-in
law"
"Theres a lot Of things, Burrell, for
you and me to settle up first. For one
thing. want those mines Of hers.
I'm her father, and she's not Of age.
III take them anyway as her next Of
kim"
Burrell did not follow up this state
ment, for its truth was incontroverti
BILE, so he continued:
"We1l adjust that after Gale Is at
tended to. But meanwhile what do
you want me to do?"
Il want you to arrest the man who
killed my wife. If you don't take him
the miners will I've got following
in this camp, and I'll raise crowd in
fifteen minutes-enough to hang this
equaw man or batter down your bar
racks to get him. But l don't want to
do that. I want to go by the law
you've talked so much about. l want
you to do the tricI;."
At last Burrell saw the gamblers
deviltry. He knew Stark's reputation
too well to think that he feared
meeting with Gale. Stark had plan
ned his settlement coldly and with de-
liberate malice. Moreover. he was
strong enough to stand aside and LEI
another tako his place and thus deny
to Gale the hra. recourse of a hunted
beast, the desperate satisfaction that
the trader craved. He tied his enc
my's hands and deli ,ered him up With
his thirst unsatisfied-to whom? He
thrust a weapon into the hand Of his
other enemy and babe this other ene-
my use it-worse than that. forced
him to strike the man he honored.
the man he loved. Burrell never
doubted that Stark had carefully
weighed the effect Of this upon Necia
and had reasoned that n girl like her
.1vS11 ~ <1,,%
II 1t meant the blood Of n parent. If
he refused to act the gambler could
break him. while every effort he made
to protect Gale would but increase the
others satisfaction. There was no
chance of the traders escape. Stark
held him in his hand. Was It impos-
sible. the lieutenant wondered. to
move this man from his purpose:
"Have you thought OF Necia? She
loves Gale. What effect will this have
on her?'
"D-n her! She's more his brat than
mine. I want John Gaylord
At this a vicious frenzy overlook
Burrell. and he thought Of the man be-
hind yonder door, whom he had for.
gotten. Well, why not? These two
men had stalked each other clear into
the farthest places. driven by forces
that were older than the hills Who
was he to stand between such pas
sions?
The gamblers words rang in his
ears-"I want John Gay!ord"-and be-
fore he knew what he was doing he
had answered, Every we'll; Ill give him
to you" and crossed quickly TO the
door Of his bedroom and flung 1t open.
On the threshold he paused stocksti i.
The place was empty A draft sucked
through the open window, flirting with
the curtain and telling the story of the
traders exit.
IF you're looking for your coat, it's
here" he heard Stark say. Get into
1t. and we'll go for him.
The iieutenant's mind was working
fast enough now, in all conscience, and
he saw with clear and fateful eyes
whittier he was being led, at which q
sudden reckless disregard for conse
Quenccs seized him. He felt n blind
fury at being pulled and hauled and
driven by this creature and also an un
reasoning anger at Gales detection
But 1t was the thought of Nicola and
the horrible net Of evil in which this
man had ensnared them both thai
CALLED him most. He determined e
Anish this thing here and now.
Meade went to his bureau, took his
revolver from the belt where he had
hung 1t and came out into the Other
room. Stark. seeing the weapon, ex
claimed
"You don't need that. He won't re
sist you"
1--WE decided not to take him." sale
Burrell.
Decided not to take him." shouted
the other. "Have you weakened
Don't you intend to arrest that man ?
"Now cried the soldier. 1--WE lis
tened to your lies long enough. Nov
I'm going to stop them once for all
You're too dangerous to have around.
They faced each other silently n mo
ment; then Stark spoke in very quie
voice, though his eyes were glittering
whats the meaning Of this? Ar
you crazyT
scale was here inst before you cam
and told me who killed your wife.
know"
"Well2"
"It's pretty late. This place is lonely
This Is the simplest way"