Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-11-10

Beneath the starlight he saw the
recumbent form lying still and de-
fenseless. and with last wriggle and
leap he landed fairly upon it, the fin
gers Of one hand fastened in the
throat and his blade held high And
Ben Hadad, awaking from his slum-
Der, saw death kneeling upon his
breast. and realizing his helplessness
he writhed a little as he strove to
draw his throttled breath. Ben JO-
seph having the other completely at
his mercy loosened his clutch so that
the gripped one could breathe trihe,
for he wished to torment him for a
period before he let the blow fall.
Il have come to kill you, Ben Ha-
dad" he said coldly. The man be
meath him shook like a wind-thrum-
med reed.
why should you wish to kin me?
have never done you wrong and you
once whipped me-" he pleaded. His
captor laughed sharply.
you lie, and for lying I shall let
you feel the tooth of my knife before
/ you feel it's full bite" he returned as
/ he pricked his captive until the latter
squirmed again. "And now he went
on. you shall die as my sheep died
and be of less value afterwards than
they were For at least their skins
are worth something ana their flesh
was wholesome, while you dead will
be even more worthless than living.
Ben Hadad's eyes grew wild and his
face pale at the threat as he made a
final appeal
cat least you will let me pray to the
stars before I die" he pleaded, and
Ben Joseph smiled grimly and said
that he might spend one minute in
that useless way And as Ben Hadad.
beginning to mutter his last words,
turned his despairing gaze towards
the eastern heavens, the one who sat
upon his breast and watched him
closely in his hate, suddenly saw the
eyes below him grow great with won
der while the distorted face smoothed
and became soft as a child's. Greatly
amazed at the wonderful transforms
ton he turned his eyes upward as the
other had done, and as he did so he
gave a great gasp, his fingers loos-
eued and he sat staring up into the
, night For far to the eastward there
, shone a new star in the armament
such a star as the world had never be
fore seen; lustrOus, pure white, shin
ing with a soft brilliancy beyond com
pare. the star of Bethlehem in all its
glory as it hung over the manger OF
the new born Christ, the redeemer OF
the soul of man.
And as he gazed transfXed by this
miracle wonderful and subtitle
change came over the hard heart Of
Ben Joseph. From out of it his wratl
Ted ike a scourged evil thing; the
= Goals of hate that had burned therein
, turned to ashes and into their place
stole a softness such as he had neve
felt before. He shuddered, threw his
knife into the night and getting upol
his feet held out his hand. Arise
Ben Hadad. leave you in peace h
said gently
Full of wOnderment the released on
I arose and together the two stood star
ing at the glowing marvel. all fear ant
hate vanished Then Ben Hada
y spoke:
81 murdered your sheep because
d hated you, and in return you spare
e my life. Why did you do SOP Be
n Joseph shook his head as much pul
a zled as was the other.
II "That I do not know I only kno'
e that hate you no longer I even seer
q to care for you" Ben Hadad laid hi
VI hand upon the others shoulder.
also my heart has grown soft 70
, shall take three of my best sheep
! the place of the slain ones and W
will be friends from this night on.
" His companion nodded.
y I'VE will be as brothers throughor
our lives. I viii come for the shee
\ another day bringing you presen
u Until then peace be with you Int
" the darkness he passed, his eyes sti
2 fastened upon the eastern miracle,
song of happiness arising from hi
heart For though Ben Joseph kne
n it not. the son Of God had come
II earth and already the influence of hi
y gentle spirit was waiting like th
W night breeze throughout the lam
~ soothing the breast of man as th
p night breeze soothed his cheeks. FC
- such was the coming and spread {
e the holy spirit of the Master; til
:, spirit of peace on earth and good wi
=, to man.