Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-05-11
FRANCIS LYNDE
CHAPTER XVI.

most the consistency OF q cloud when
Gordon leaped the wall and set his face
toward the iron works. Or rather, 1t
was like the depths of a 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-
HONS 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 its duration-a
slow lightning flash submerged and
half eXtinguished
Gordon was passing the country col
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.
He flung up a hand involuntarily, as If
to put the emblem, and that for which
1t stood. out of his life. At the same
instant a Whit of the acrid smoke from
the Ostant furnace fires tingled in his
nostrils, and he quickened his pace.
The hour for which all other hours had
been waiting had struck. Love had
called. and religion had made its silent
protest; but the smell In his nostrils
was the smoky breath of Mammon, the
breath which has maddened a world:
he strobe on doggedly, thinking only OF
his triumph and how he should pres
entity 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.
- L.
to pass on to the log house 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 q mighty
torch, and the man grounded his weap-
on.
Il beg your pardon. Mr. Gordon; I
took We for somebody else,"s 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 It don't make
any dir'rence-my tellln you; you'd
ought to have 1t In for him, too. I was
layin' for that houn'- dog 'at walks on
his hind legs and calls hisself Vint
Farley"
who are your" Tom demanded.
to be one O. the strike guards; least
wise, that's what hired out for a lit
tie spell ago. l couldn't think of mare
q better way O. settin' 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-f1ash 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 Silas to
marry US. she told me what I'd been
mistrustin' for 8 month back-that
Vint Farley was the daddy o. her chill
lsrn. He's done might nigh everything
short O. KILN her to make her swear
am on to youI and allowed I'd Jest
put of soin' back West till I'd fxed his
lyin' face scat no yuther woman'd
ever look at It."
Gordon staggered and leaned against
the fence palinEs. the red rage of muir
der boiling in his veins. Here, at last,
was the key to all the mysteriest the
source Of all the cruel gossip; the
foundation of the wall of separation
that had been built up between his
love and Ar6ea. Whom he could trust
am6ol1 TO speak ne asked question.
who knows this, besides yourself?"
Your Uncle Silas, for one: he al
loved he wouldn't marry us less'n she
tod him. might nigh b'lieve he had
his suspicious, too. He let on like it
was Farley that told him on you, years
ego. when you was . boy"
He didf Then Farley was ono of
the three mon who saw US up yonder
ut the barrel-sprinE7"
Vas; and was another one of 'em.
] WIS right hot at you that mornin'; 1
shore was"
We'll. who else knows about itf"
Brother Bill Layne, and Aunt
Mrandy, and Japhs Pettigrass. They
all went in town to stan up with me
and Nan"
Then Tom remembered the nrure
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
Qould7 No matter, 1t 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.
Il make but one condition., II you kill
him, I'll kill YOU"
II was only alloWin' to Spite his face
some, and rock'1 do for that You
can have whats left o him after get
thoo-and tn De enough to kill,
reckon"
At the memsnf of wsapon-passing