The Holly chieftain., 1909-06-11
The Barrier
BY
Rex Beach
coeva,onr.,soe. ~ nARPlR . eNoTrER.

"Have you thought of Necia? She
loves Gale. What effect will this have
on herY'
"D-n her! She's more his brat than
mine. l want John Gaylordv
At this 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 staked each other clear into
the farthest places. driven by forces
that We're older than the hills. Who
was he to stand between such pas
siOns?
The gamblers words rang In his
ears-"I want John Gaylord"-and be-
fore he knew what he was doing he
had answered, ''Very well; III give him
to you" and crossed quickly to the
door Of his bedroom and flung it open.
On the threshold he paused stockstill.
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 lieutenant'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 a
sudden reckless disregard for cOnse-
quences seized him. He felt 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 Necia and
the horrible net of evil in which this
man had ensnared them both that
CALLED him most He determined to
finish 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've decided not to take him." said
Burrell.
Decided not to take hint" shouted
the other. "Have you weakened?
Don't you intend to arrest that mani"
Nor cried the soldier "I've lis
tened to your lies long enough. Now
I'm going to stop them once for all.
You're too dangerous to have around"
They faced each other silently mo-
ment; then Stark spoke in very quiet
voice, though his eyes were glittering.
whats the meaning of this? Are
you crazy
"Gale wns here just before you came
and told me who killed your wife. I
know"
stwell?"
"It's pretty late. This place is lonely.
This IL the simplest way"
The gambler fell to studying his an
tagonist. and when he did net speak
Rurrell continued:
''Come. brace up! I'm giving you a
>hance."
But Stark shook his head
Don't be afraid insisted the neu.
tenant. "There are no witnesses II
you get me, not-dy will know. and
your word is go,d II not, it's much
simpler than the other" Then when
the gambler still made no move he in
sisted. ''You wouldn't have me kill
you like rattlesnake?"
"You couldn't said the older man.
"You're not that kind, and I'm not the
kind to be cheated either. Listen. I've
lived over forty years. and never
took less than was coming to me. l
won't begin tonight"
"You'll get your share.'
"Bah! You don't know what mean.
don't want you. It's him I'm after,
and when I'm done with lin Ill take
care of you, but won't run any risk
right now. You might PIT me away
there's the possibility. and won't lei
you or any other man-cr woman Ell
ther, not even my girl; heat me out
of GnIn Put nm WIN