Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-02-03
CHAPTER XVI.

toward the iron works. Or, rather It
was like the depths of a translucent
sea in which the distant electric lights
OF Mountain View avenue shone as
plurs OF phosphorescent life on one
hano, and the great dark bulk of Leb-
anon loomed as the massive founda-
lions of "a shadowy island on the other
FARTHER on, the recurring flare from
the tall vent of the blast-furnace light
ed the haze depths weirdly, turning the
mysterious sea bottom into fathomless
abysses of dull-red incandescence for
the few seconds of it's duration-a
slow lightning flash submerged and
half extinguished. - -
Gordon was passing the country coll
ony's church when one of the torch
like flares Redeemed on the night, and
the glow picked out the gilt cross at
the top Of the sham Norman tower.
ne nuns up d hand involunlarily, as IL
to put the emblem, and that for which
1t stood. out of his life. At the same
instant Whit of the acrid smoke from
the distant furnace fires tingled in his
nostrils, and he quickened his paca.
The hour for which all other hours had
been waiting had struck Love had
N@iSoi anu lCiISfOI uldu6 us Silent
protest; but the smell in his nostrlls
was the smoky breath of Mammon. the
breath which has maddened world:
he strobe on doggedly, thinking only OF
his triumph and how he should pres
emily compass II.
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 wicket
to pass on to the Lighthouse offices, an
armed man stepped from behind one of
the trees, his gunbutt drawn up to
strike. Before the blow could fall, the
furnace fare blazed aloft like a mighty
torch, and the man grounded his weap-
on.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Gordon; L
/ took ye for somebody else" he STAN
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 difference telln' you; you'd
ought to have 1t in for him, too. was
layin' for that houn' n'-dog at walks on
his hind legs and calls hisself Vint
Farley"
Who are your" Tom demanded.
Kincaid's my name, and I'm s'posed
to be one O. the strike guards; least
wise. that's what hired out for q 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. If your
debt is bigger than mine, you shall
have the first chance"
The gas-flash came again. There
was black wrath in the mans eyes.
You can tote 1t up for yourself,
Tom-Jeff Gordon. Late yesterday
evenin', when me and Nan Bryerson
drove to town for your Uncle SiIas to
marry us, she told me what I'd been
mistrustin' for a month back-that
Vint Farley was the daddy o. her chill
lern. He's done might nigh everything
short o. killin' her to make her swear
'em on to you; and allowed I'd Jest
put off goin' back West till I'd fixed his
lyin' face so'at no yuther womand
ever look at It."
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 built up between his
love and Ardea When he could trust
himself to speak he asked a question
who knows this, besides yourself?"
Your Uncle Silas, for one: he al
lowed he wouldn't marry us less'n she
told him. I might nigh b'lieve he had
hto <40 11% a..
was Farley that told him on you, years
ago, when you was a boy"
HE did? Then Farley was one of
the three men who saw us up yonder
at the barrel-spring?"
Yes; and l was another one of 'em
was right hot at you that mornin'; /
shore was"
well, who else knows about it?"
Brother Bill Layne, and Aunt
Mrandy, and Japhe Pettigrass. They
all went in town to stan up with me
and Nan"
Then Tom remembered the figure
coming swiftly across the lawns and
the call Of the voice he loved. Had
Japheth told her, and was she hasten
ing to make such reparation as she
could? No matter, It was too late now
The fierce hatred Of the wounded saw
age was astir in his heart and 1t would
not be denied or silenced.
Give me that gun, and you shall
have your first chance" he conceded.
II make but one condition., II you kill
him, I'll kin you"
II was only allowin' to Spite his face
some, and a rocA'n do for that You
can have what's left O. him after I get
thoo-and It'll be enough to kill, II
reckon"
At the moment Of weapon passing
there came sounds audible above the