The Dolores star., 1910-03-18

was hardly conscious Of u or os the
amcll Il burning wood nlling tho air.
The stirring Of the shadows In his
weak and easy going nature had 70
vealed hitherto unsupported depths
and bis whole being was coavulaively
resisting the new order Of things a.
he strode along. In few moments
he had reached the little opening In
the timber where his partners were
already At work. splitting stakes. A.
any other time he would have been
greeted by 4 volley OF rough jesta a.
his tardiness. now the men had graver
matters to consider.
"You'd better be gettin' ready 10
move out o. this" remarked JET
Strother. "Since the winds changed
the nre's bssrin' straight down on
U.S."
oliver res)oved his hat, passing his
hand over his head as II to rouse him
self. but he did not reply.
what In the thunder's the matter
with you. mani" exclaimed the other
"Any one'd think you'nd the old wo
man'd had a scrap instead o. billin'
and cooin' like turtle doves"
oliver WINGED. but ignored the in.
ferenca
The Gre does seem to be coming
this way" he replied. giancing from
the piles Of shakes to the smoke drift.
ing between the trees.
Oliver sat down on q log apparently
engaged In tightening his AZ head.
In reality he was watching Dave
Erickson whom he had caught sight Of
coming down the old disused trail
from the Fiat. His eyes rowing from
Je6 and Red" to the approaching ns-
ure and back again. suddenly dilated
and a feeling Of savage exultation
famed up. Al the rate Dave was
walking he was almost certain to ar.
rive full In the track Of the falling
tree. The men had no thought Of any
one approaching by the old trail
choked and almost obliteratcd by un.
derbrush. Il was safe--no one would
suspect him-he had only to stay bis
voice and hand. n the nre once
reached the clearing and the shakes
caught. everything would be swept
away and Dave Erickson blotted out
n though he never existed.
The great pine. . giant among it,
fellows. was tottering to It's fall; yet
% straight ami perfect was Its poiss
that JET. N chief executioner. -
vanced. mallet and wedge In haad te
give the death blow. Oliver felt his
clenched hands moisten ~ he meas.
ured with his eyes the space Dave
would have to traverse before resell
ing the fatal point. The muned stroke
OF the mallet rang out on the frosty
air and be was conscious Of nothing
but the fear that his victim would b
startled and realize his danger. Dave
walked evenly on. scarcely lifting his
eyes. Then the tree swayed. trem.
bling throughout Its entire length.
rightsd itself. and stood motionleas,
while the birds among its branches
sang on. forgetting their m0mentaFy
alarm. In that second Mat Oliver 81.
perienced . sudden revulsioa Of feel.
Ing; the blackness of the cowardly
crime he would have added TO his
treachery wss revealed 10 him and be
started forward. shouting q hoarss
warning that was taken up BY the
men. who saw only bis danger. Dave
ned back Into the forest. but n Oi.
liver turned to save himself. he seemed
to hear again. Lal's words: Il love
Dave. I'm no wife Of yours" He hes.
itated-glancing confusedly from side
to side. In that second he lost hia
chance or--gave II up. and ~ the moa.
rter plunged downward. falling with .
crash reverbersting from canyon 10
canyon. Mat Oliver disappeared IN the
chaos Of broken and twisted branches
marking It's death agony.