Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-17


and when they climbed up the bank
to 1t they found the snow drifted
high under tho window and against
the door.
Hes gone-Pierre, / mean" said
neBar over HIS shoulder as he kick
ed the snow away. "He hasn't
come back from New Years at
Fort Smith"
The door had no lock or bolt, and
they entered. 1t was yet too dark
for them to see distinctly, and DeBar
struck a match. On the table was
a tin oil lamp, which he lighted, 1t
revealed neatly kept interior about
a dozen feet square. with two hunks,
several chairs, a table, and sheet
iron stove behind which was piled
a supply of wood DeBar pointed
to shelf on which we're a number
of tin boxes, their covers weighted
down by chunks of wood.
Grub" he said
And Philip, pointing to the wood
added, "Fire-fre and grub"
There was something in his voice
which the other could not fall to
understand, and there was an un-
comfortable silence as Philip put
fuel into the stove and DeBar
searched among the food cans.
Here's hammock and cooked meat
frozen" he said, land beans"
He placed tins of each on the
stove and then sat down beside the
roaring fire, which was already be.
ginning to diffuse heat He held
out his twisted and knotted hands
blue and shaking with cold, and
looked up at Philip, who stood op
posite him.
He spoke no words, and yet there
was something in his eyes which
made the latter cry out softly, and
with feeling which he tried tc
| hide:
"DeBar I wish to God it was
overt"
80 do t. said DeBar.
He rubbed his hands and twisted
| them until the knuckles cracked.
| Ill uOI dlIdlu dlN hlc" IiAH
| you're not, Phil" he went on, witt
eyes on the top of the stove, "bu
I wish 1t was over, just the same
Somehow I'd Almost rather stay VI
here another year or two than
kill you"
kill mel" exclaimed Philip, the
old fire leaping back into his veins
DeBar's quiet voice, his extra
ordinary self-confidence. sent fusf
! of anger into Philips face.
You're talking to me again al
IL were a child, DeBar. My in
structions were to bring you back
dead or alive-and I'm going to-"
I'VE won't quarrel about it, Phil
replied the outlaw as quietly as be
fore. "Only l wish it wasn't yo'
I'm going to fight. I'd rather xii
half-a-dozen like the others thai
you"
81 see," said Phili, with per
ceptible sneer in his voice. Your
trying to work upon my sympath
so that I will follow YOUR sugges
tion-and go back. Eh?"
You'd be a coward II you di
that" retorted DeBar quickly. "Hoy
are we going to settle 1t, Phil?"
Philip drew his frozen revolve
from it's holster and held 1t over TIL
stove.
'If I wasn't crack shot, an
couldn't center a two-iNch bulls
eye three times out of four at thirt
PAGES, I'd say pistols"
st can't do that" said DeBa
unhesitatingly, but I have hit
wolf twice out of five shots. IT.
be a quick, easy way, and We
settle it with our revolvers. Coin
to shoot to kill?"
mo, II l can help 1t. In the e,
citement a shot may kill, but
want to take you back alive. so T.
wing you once or twice first"
81 always shoot to KILL" reptile
DeBar, without lifting his hea,
ANY word you'd like to have ser
home, Phil?"
In the others silence DeBar lool
ed up.
81 mean It," he said, in a To-
earnest voice. Even from you
point of view 1t might happen, Phi
and you've got friends somewher
If anything should happen to m
you'll find letter in my pocket
want you to write TOTO her-al
tell her died in-an acciden
viii your
} Yes" replied Philip. "As for m
you'll find addresses in my pocke
too Let's shake," mt
} over the stove they gripped hand
"My eyes hurt" said DeBar. "It
} the snow and wind. I guess. I
} you mind a little sleep-after v
eat? haven't slept wink in thr,
, days and nights"
"Sleep until you re ready" urge
Philip. "I don't want to fight bt
eyes"
They ate. mostly in silence. Al