The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-01-25
CHAPTER Xv.
sAADoWs 81 THE alIsT.

CHAPTER Nv.
SHADOWS on THE MIST.
He decision which caYanagh
made between lover duty
distinguished the officer from
the nidn. tile soldier from the
civilian; He did not hesitate to act.
ard yet he suffered mental conflict
as lie rode back toward the scene of
that inhuman sacrifice on the altar OF
greed.
IT VIII be hours before any part OF
the sherif's posse can reach the falls.
even though they take to the swiftest
motors, and then other Tong hours
must intervene before / can ride down
to her. Yes, at least day and u night
must drag their slow course before i
can ihopesto be Of service TO her. And
lie thought drew a groan of anxiety
from him. at such moments Of mental
stress the trail Is a torture and the
Mountain side an memorable barrier.
Halfway to the hills be was inter.
Iepted by IN old man who was at
work on an irrlgating ditch beside the
road. He seemed. very nervous and
very inlulsitive, and as he questioned
the ranger his eyes were like those of
dog that fears his masters hand.
Ross wondered about this afterward.
but at the moment his mind was busy
with the Significance of this patient
toiler with spade. He was a prophet.
tc figure in the most picturesque and
sterile land Of the :stoekman. Here.
within twenty miles of this peaceful
fruit grower" he said, lis the crown.
ing infuluy OF thejfreebooting cowboy
lie wondered us Ire rode an whether
the papers Gt tile state would nuke u
Jest Of this deed. .WillNt this be made
the theme for caustic comment in the
eastern press for a day and then be
forgotten?" ;ssai
AS his hot blood cooled he lost faith
In even this sacrifice Could anything
change the leopard west into the tame.
ness and serenity of the OK? NO he
decided; nothing but death will do
thnt This generation. these iisrre anu
bloody hearts, must die, Only in that
way can the tradition OF violence be
overcome aud new, state reared"
At the foot Of tile tolIsome. upward
winding trail he dismounted. aud led
his weary horse. over his head and
about halfway to the FIRST hilltop lay
a roof Of tieecy vlpor. faint purple
in color and seamless in texture
Through this he must pass. and It sym,
boli2ed to him the line Of drmarcation
between the plain and tie mountain.
between order and violence.
Slowly liz led his horse along the
mountain side. gr:sptng with eager de.
sire at every changing aspect of the
marvellous mountain scene, 1t was In
tinitely more gOrgeN:.. i;lore compel.
ling. Than his moonlight experience the
night before.
AS he led his horse out upon pro-
Iectins point Of rocky ledge.to rest his
love for the range came back upon
him With such power that tears misted
ihtS eyes and his throat ached. Where
else will and such scenes at tliisE''
lie asked himself. "W'here in All. the
lOwlands could such. splendors shine:
How can leave 9h1s high world In
which these wonders come mud so?
viii not! Her" WILL | bring my bride
and build my lnaie This is my
world"
Rut the mist grew gray. the .aureole
of fire faded. the sun went down he.
hind The bills. and the chill Of evening
dcrpcned on the trail. ana as lie re.
approached the scene of mans inhu.
manIty to man the thought Of camping
there beside those charred limbs call.
ed for heroic resolution. He was hun.
cry. too. and as the air plnchcd ne
shivered.
. AT the best the sheriff cannot reach
here before midnight" be said. and
settled down to his unsought. revolving
vigil.
His one relief :.ty in the mental com.
position Of long letter TO Lee Viz.
GINA. whose life at, that moment was
comfort to him. IF such purity,
SuSu SNeelueSS, can come from VlQ-
lcnce and vulgarity then surely new
and splendid state can rise even out
Of the ashes of these murdered men.
Perhaps this is the end Of the old"
he unused. perhaps this Is the begin
Ming of the new" and as be pondered
the last faint crimson died out OF the
west so must the hate and violence
die out Of America" he said. leaving
the clear, sweet air. Of liberty behind"
He was near 10 the poet at the mo.
nieRt, for he WIS also the lover. His
allegiance to the great republic stood
the test. His faith In democracy was
shaken. but not destroyed. II will
walt" he decided. ",rhis shall be the
sign. II this deed goes unavenged
then win ! put of my badge and my
Uniform and go back to the.land where
for a hundred years 1t least such
deeds as these have been Impossible
y. !.