Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-09-21
cHAprER xxv1.

most the consistency OF a cloud when
Gordon leaped the wall and set his face
toward the iron works. Or. rather, I,
was like the depths OF translucent
sea in which the distant electric lights
OF Mountain View avenue shone rs
biurs of phosphorescent life on one
hand and the great dark bulk Of Leb-
anon loomed as the massive founda-
tons OF shadowy island on the other.
FARTHER on. the recurring flare from
the tall vent of the blast-furnace light
cd the haze depths weirdly. turning the
mysterious sea bottom into fathomless
aoysses of .dull-red incandescence for
the few seconds Of its duration-a
SLOW lightning flash submerged and
half extinguished.
Gordon was passing the country col
ony's church when one of the torch
ike flares Redeemed on the night, and
the glow picked out the gilt cross at
the top of the sham Norman tower
He flung up hand involuntarily. as II
to put the emblem. and that for which
II stood. out of his life. At the same
instant Whit OF the acrid smoke from
the distant furnace fires tingled in his
nostrtls, and he quickened his pace
The hour for which all other hours had
Z $500 WoAeAAA8 AAdu 6ITuCk. 1xOVG IaO
called. and religion had made Its silent
protest; but the smell In his nostrils
was the smoky breath of Mammon, the
breath which has maddened world:
ne strobe on doggedly. thinking only OF
his triumph and how he should pres
emily compass 1t.
The two great poplar trees, sentinel
Ing what had once been the gate of the
old Gordon homestead. had been spared
through all the Industrial changes
When he would have opened the wicke,
to pass on to the Lighthouse offices, an
armed man stepped from behind one OF
the trees. his gunbutt drawn up ia
strike. Before the blow could fall, the
furnace flare blazed aloft like a mighty
torch. and the man grounded his weap-
on.
beg your pardon. Mr.. Gordon; +
took ye for somebody else" he stam-
mered; and Tom scanned his face
sharply by the light OF the burning
gases.
Whom?-for instance" he queried
Why-e-yeh-I reckon 1t don't make
any din'rence-my telLn' you; you'd
ought to have It in for him, too. / was
layin' for that houn'-dog at walks on
his hind legs and calls hisself Vim,
Farley"
Who are you?" Tom demanded.
Kincaid's my name. and I'm s'posed
to be one o. the strike guards: least
wise. that's what l hired out for lit
tie spell ago. I couldn't think of mare
better way O. gettin' at"
Gordon interrupted bruskly. "Tell
me what you owe Vint Farley. II your
debt is bigger than mine. you shall
have the first chance"
The gas fash came again. There
was black wrath in the mans eyes.
"You can tote 1t up for yourself
Tom-Jen Gordon. Late yeste-da
evenin'. when me and Nan Bryerson
drove to town for your Uncle Silas tc
marry us. she told me what I'd beer
mistrustin' for month back-tha,
vint Farley was the daddy o. her, chill.
lern. He's done might nigh everything
short o. killin' her to make her swea,
'em on to you: and I allowed I'd jes,
put OF goin' back West till I'd fixed hi.
lynn face scat no yuther woman'd
ever look at 1t"
Gordon staggered and leaned against
the fence palings. the red rage of muir
der boiling In his veins. Here, at last
was the key to all the mysteries; the
source Of all the cruel gossip: the
foundation of the wall of separation
that had been ouilt up between his
love and Ardea. When he could trust
himself to speak he asked question
"Who knows this. besides yourself o.
Your Uncle Silas. for one: he al
lowed he wouldn't marry Us less'n she
told him. might nigh b'lieve he had
his suspicious. too. He let on like II
was Farley that told him on you. years
ago, when you was boy"
HE did? Then Farley was one OF
the three men who saw US up yonde.
at the barrel-spring?"
Yes; and l was another one Of 'em
I was right hot at you that mornin.:
shore was"
well. who else knows about it?"
Brother Bill Layne. and Aun,
M'randy. and Japhe Pettigrass They
all went in town to stan up with mr.
and Nan"
Then Tom remembered the figure
coming swiftly across the lawns AM
the call, of the voice he loved. Had
Japheth told her. and was she hasten
ing to make such reparation as shs
could? No matter. 1t was too late now
The fierce hatred OF the wounded saw
age was ast!r In his heart and 1t would
not be denied or silenced
Give me that gun, and you shall
have your first chance" he conceded
~ make but one condition: II you Kan
him. I'll kill you"
81 was only allowin' to Spite his fack
some, and rock'll do for that. Yn,
can have what's left o. him after / eet
thoo-and it'll be enough to kill.
reckon"
At the moment of weapon passing
there came sounds audible above the
sob and sigh of the blowing ensines-
clatter of horses hoofs and the
grinding of carriage wheels on the
pike. Gordon signed quickly to Kim
caid and drew back carefully behind
the bole Of the opposite poplar.
1t was the Warwick Lodge surrey
and it stopped at the gate Two men
got out and went up the path. and an
instant later. Kincaid followed stealth
lily.
Gordon waited for the next gas flare
and by the light of 1t he threw the
breech-lock of the repeating rife Ia
make sure the cartridge was in place
Then he. too. passed through the wick
ct and went to stand In the shadow OF
the slab loored porch. redolent OF
memories. He had forgotten the les
ser vengeance in the thirst for the
greater-that he had come to fiina
their misfortunes into the faces of the
father and the son. and to tell them
that the work was his. He heard only
the voice CT the savage In his heart
and that was whispering. xiii! kill"
1t was close on midnight when the
door giving on the porch opened and
the two men stood on the threshold
The younger of the two was speaking
TITS quieter than usual tonight
That was good move--getting Lud.
low and the two Helgersons Jailed. ]
was in hopes we could snafIic old Ca
leb with the others. He pretends to be
peacemaking. but as long as he is loose
these fools will hang to the idea tina,
they're fighting his battle against u.s."
TT is already fought" said the older
man. dejectedly. my luck has gone
When Henniker puts US to the wall
we shall be beggars."
The young mans rejoinder was an
exclamation of contempt
you've lost your nerve. What you
need most Is to go to bed and sleep