Catoctin clarion., 1913-11-20
NEL.R KILLING Point
But the Rare Diplomacy Of a
Girl Prevented a
Duel.
By ELLIOTT WALKER.


renunciatory curse, quite audible to
the white faced girl planted squarely
with spread feet and barring arms in
the cottage doorway.
"There." he exclaimed, wrathfully,
Have your own way. Now, will you
let me out Mel Hanwood?"
Yes. on one condition.
well, rap it on. | shant put up
with any more nonsense, What is it?'
lie took a step forward
only that you'd kiss me and say
you amt mad"
Mclvinas voice held sob of relief.
mingled with reproachful tender
ness; a very different tone from the
shrill appeal of the previous minute
Augustus Sharley vented snort OF
impatient despair. He laughed grimly.
"Ol course I'm mad he snarled;
but his herce eyes softened to
milder light, and he took another
step. You women beat the devil.
Certainly we do. That's what were
for. If it wasn't for US the old NICK
would have every one of you men.
There's one hotheaded, good.fornoth-
ing / want for myself. Come here.
Gus"
Sharlay struggled in vain to tear
away rrom the clinging arms and
caressing lips. trying to maintain his
last dissipating fury OF purpose.
Don't laugh, Mel" he said, serious
ly. We've sworn to shoot on sight.
and Clews is looking for me. It'll be a
iair meeting. He won't drop me with
out warning, nor | him. Too much
has been said on both sides for any
make up business. | tell you when
old friends fall out like this, it's worse
than strangers. Every little difference
we've had for years, and kept down
because we We're friends has boiled up
to the killing point and there's no way
out. We know each other. Either
man would rather die than take back
his word What DO you think were
made of, anyway"
Iron and butter" smiled the girl,
still holding him. According to cir
cumstances. But ! wont say another
word dear. It's your fuss and Ill
back you, just as you say Dave Clews
girl is backing him. My hope has
been that you two men might cool
off"
I'VE won't. Not while our bloods
circulatin. Now, I've lstened and let
you have your way, Mel. There's my
gun. Ill go up through the woods to
Snake Spring, sit there fQI half all
hour, think it over and come back.
That's what you asked. It's Of no use,
though. The more think the uglier
| get"
Melvina HAYWOOD released him sud
denly.
Go, then" she said. turning her
face.
His hand long and sinewy like his
frame, rested Tor second on the
bright hair, then his leaving stride
crunched out among the scraggy
pines.
1T makes little time, anyhow,
sobbed the girl, and keeps EN- part.
Dave is as set as Gus. | wouldn't go
to him, even if thought he'd listen to
sense. He down at the cross roads.
probably, knowing Gus will have to
10 by to reach home. Do hear father
snoring on the porch! How mad hel
be to miss a shooting, but won tell
him No, sir. Like as not he d take
his rife, set full, bore somebody, and
hang, he is behaving now. and l
want one relation left
Iiotly the sun poured its rays on the
FRAGRANT pine chips littering the yard,
as Melvina stepped out with pan OF
scraps for the chickens. In her per-
plexily and woe she went mechanical
ly about her duties, hoping DULY tor
cyclone to sweep clean the face OF
Turpentine City, and watt its 2OO in
nabitants to that realm where the To-
cal product would be everlasting de-
laand All but herself and Gus. They
should be spared tor life OF happi-
ness ard peace. She smiled sadly at
the childish thought, gazing at a cloud
less blue over the silent trees. The
outlook was not cyclonic.
A shadow fell across the untidy
plot. lnstinctively, Melvina felt Its
substance to be Dave CleWs.
Standing transtixed, her brain regu.
tatins to a clear Intensity of wary
thought, Melylna continued, with un-
seeing eyes, to stare at the sky, a
slight, motionless, absorbing figure in
Drown Calico en.mouthed, apparent
ly uncOncerned.
"Mornin Mel. What you see UP
thar The gruff voice was amused
and hearty.
The girl wheeled slowly with a
merry, welcoming laugh.
An angel she retorted, "a six-foot.
stoutarmed angel, in slouch hat and
high boots, with a lovely, droopin'
mustache, and eyes of-er-no partic-
ular color, comm to fetch me pail
of water from the big spring because
our well-rope has gone 20 feet to the
bottom. And 10! here he is. Wait a
minute and III get the pail
Darling inside to the pantry, she
caught up big tin milk pail, and re-
turned to find Clews standing in the
doorway, his eyes fixed upon the Ia.
BILE.
Whose gun, Mel?' he inquired,
sharply. Seems to me know that
weapon"
You ought to. Dave. Gus bought 1t
of you," returned Melvina, carelessly
Il remember the time. 1t was when
you was pinned down by fallen tree
and a rattlesnake singing death song