Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-05-05
CHAPTER XVI.

was ike the depths OF translucent
sea in which the distant electric lights
of Mountain View avenue shone as
blurs Of phosphorescent life on one
hand, and the great dark bulk of Leb
anon doomed as the massive founda-
lions Of 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
aoysses OF dull-red incandescence for
the few seconds of its duration-a
slow lightning flash submerged and
half extingushed.
Gordon was passing the country COL
cny's church when one of the torch
ike mares 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 if
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
nostflls. and he quickened his pace.
The hour for which all other hours had
been waiting had struck. Love had
called. and religion had made it's silent
protest; but the smell In his nostrlls
II,
breath which has maddened world:
he 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 wicket
to Ine
armed man stepped from behind one of
the trees, his gunbutt drawn up to
strike. Before the blow could fall the
furnace flare blazed aloft like mighty
torch. and the man grounded his weap-
on.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Gordon; L
I took ye for somebody else" he STAN
mered; and Tom scanned his face
sharply by the light Of the burning
gases.
Whom ?A-for instance" he oueried.
why yeh-I reckon 1t don't make
any diff'rence-my telhn' you; you'd
ought to have 1t in for him, too. was
layin' for that houn' 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 a lit
tie spell ago. I couldn't think Of mare
a 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-fash came again. There
was black wrath in the mans eyes
You can tote 1t up for yourself
Tom-Jeff Gordon. Late yeste day
evenin', when me and Nan Bryerson
drove to town for your Uncle Silas 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. KILN her to make her swear
'em on to you; and l allowed I'd jest
put off goin' back West till I'd fixed his
lynn face scat no yuther woman'd
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. might nigh b1ieve he had
his suspicions, too. He let on like It
was Farley that told him on you. years
ago, when you was a boy"
HE didf Then Farley was one of
the three men who saw US up yonder
at the barrel-spring?"
Yes: and was another one Of EN-.
I was right hot at you that mornin'; I
shore was"
well. who else knows about itf-
Brother Bill Layne. and Aunt
Arandy, and Japhs PettigrasA They
all went In town to stan up with nae
and Nam"
Thsn Tom remembered the nxurs
coming swiftly across the lawns ana
the call Of the voice he loved. Had
Japhsth told her, and was she hasten
Ing to make such reparation a. she
couIdf No matter. It was too late now.
The fierce hatred of the wounded saw
age was Astir In his heart and It would
net be denied or silenced.
-Givs me that gun. and you shall
conceded.
81 make but one condition.: II You kin
him. I'll kin YOU"
1T was only allowin' to Spite his face
some, and q rock'l do for that. You
can have what's left o. him after I get
thoo-and it'n be enough to kill, I
reckon"
At the moment of weapon pa ssinR
there came sounds audible above the
sob and sigh of the blowing engines
q chatter of horses hoofs and the
grinding of carriage wheels on the
pike. Gordon signed quickly to Kin
caid and drew back carefully behind
the bole of the opposite poplar.
It was the Warwick Lodge surrey,
and 1t stopped at the gato. Two men
got out and went up the path. and an
instant later. Kincaid followed stealth
lily.
Gordon waited for the next gas-fare,
and by the light Of 1t he threw the
erssch-iooki Of The repeating rife to
make SURE the cartridge was In place.
Than he too. paused through the wick
q and wsnt to stand In the shadow Of
- .iAS-noorsd porch. rsdoisna Of