Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-03-12
cspsrish.. ,oia. by Harry Irving Greene

nArrY AFVan9 SrecHHS
her better than all else and that I
would sacrifice my life for her II 1t
should come to the test Well. the
test has come and l am going to her.
come what may" He started off upon
a hopble and March. struggling to his
feet, called after him:
"Clay!"
He paused and faced about. his brow
wrinkled. staring at Alan as though
at a stranger. His tense face though
deeply drawn by fatigue and suffering
was no longer distorted as 1t had
been earlier in the day, but his eyes,.
deeply sunken and circled by rings as
dark as though made by blows from a
fist, glowed ~unnaturally. Yes" he
said after a moment. Il know you
now. You are March. What are you
doing here?" Alan, who had often
thought as he looked into the others
eyes that some latent disorder slum-
bered there, now knew that the nan
was Enthusiastically mad. Yet undoubt.
eddy some reason remained, and such
as 1t was he would try and appeal to
it.
Where are you going?" he asked
quietly.
"Going?" He passed his hand swift.
ly in front of his eyes as though to
sweep something from In front Of
them-"why, I am going to get her. Of
course. Where else should l be going
at such a timer" He turned as II to
start away again, but once more Alan
halted him.
do you know II there Is a way up?"
Most certainly. else how would l
know where to go? I scaled 1t once
three years ago when l was hunting
sheep. There is a way, an awful way,
and l nearly lost my life upon 1t. But
l climbed 1t nee and I shall again."
March watching him closely knew not
what to think. Mad as the other un-
doubtedly was. there was a calm con-
viction in his manner that left the lis
tener greatly puzzled as to whether
his d~isordered mind but imagined the
prior feat. or whether the remnant Of
his orderly intellect still remembered
1t as a fact. Be that as 1t might, he
we'll knew that Clay vas an enthusi-
astic and daring hunter who had spent
many weeks among these cliffs, and it
was not at all improbable that he was
speaking Of actualities. At any rate
1t would do no harm to accompany
him. The cliff was hopeless Of ascent
where they stood, and eve though his
companion was laboring under a delu-
sion they might stumble across some
!, place where they could drag them
| selves up. He once more nerved him
self to physical effort and stepped for
ward, but at his first pace the face OF
the other underwent a violent change.
Once more the features worked and
the mouth twitched, while his eyes
blazed like an angry wildcats.
Halt" he commanded fercely.
|, March paused. What insane fear OF
!, hatred had suddenly taken possession
, of the others twisted mind he had nc
, idea, therefore he must question him
Z quietly, ascertain, and then strive to
reason with him. He eyed him stead
, lily. well, what is it?" he demanded
, 81 am going alone. You must re
main behind"
March slowly shook his head. mo
. you must not say that. I may be oil
, assistance to you. and is this not a
i matter for both Of us as menu" The
question seemed to infuriate the other
beyond self control.
For both Of us!" he fairly yelled
mo, 1t is a matter for me alone-for
me who loves her in a way that such
as you can no more conceive than you
can conceive of pain and agony and
weeks Of ~sleepless wretchedness
passed In calling aloud to her through
the endless hours Of torturing nights
And always you stood between US
! with your silly attentions and school
boy declarations Of puppy love. Yet
: what did 1t gain you? Nothing but re
fusal upon refusal. She loves you not
at all and you shall not accompany
me up the path which I learned at the
( risk of my own life for she Is mine
a promised to me by betrothal-my af
fianced wife. II you go to her find q
! way of your own, but this way Is mine
;. and mine alone.
Clay" said March sternly as he
t took a forward step with chin thrust
5 out, his heart sinking nevertheless al
1 the others words, 81 do not believe
9 you. She never promised to marry
. YOU" In an instant the mailman had
whipped out his pistol and leveled II
at his followers head.
! Fool, for the last time stand back
Cold as death March faced him.
K you are losing, your head. II you
9 loved her as you pretend-if you were
:. engaged to her as you say, you would
8 welcome my assistance. If we rescue
I her the honor shall be yours and II
she confirms your assertion l will
never cross your paths again. But un
til then | yield not IN inch in my righ'
to go to her. II you know a way W
that cliff / am going up It also, witt
your permission II you will grant 1t
D without 1t II you deny me. The knowl
edge of certain death would not pre-
A vent me from going to the last step
a am able to take" He started forward
again with his eyes fixed steadily upor
I the one before him. seeking to get hi
hands upon him, disarm him and tall
A him into a semblance OF reason, bu'