The Elbert County tribune., 1914-04-03
cHAPrER III.-contInued.


When he'd tended the horses, Iron
set up clock upon the shelf, so
might hear the ticking as time passed.
He carried in armloads from the
sleigh, he opened cases. he spilled out
sacks. He showed me maple syrup.
try-your-strength cigars. dandy rifle
with plenty ammunition, books,
clothes. candy, a piano which plays
itself. then garden seeds. and all sorts
of things which you'd have honed for
in the long ago. The place was like
a barter store, piled to the beams
with riches wasted on me. who hadn't
a neighbor left. Why. even Iron, who
used to think for no one but himself.
had kitten for me, warm in his pock-
ct, and forgotten until a case OF hard
ware squashed out its best Sunday
scream. Who'd ever think, too, that
SO small bundle of fur and claws
should have purr to fill my whole
bed with joy. Surely. loved this
world I'd SO nearly quit. when after
supper Iron loosed a gramophone.
The Hudson's Bay man had shown
him a special record" from England,
the angel song in Chopin's "Marche,
Funebre." We had that first, the very
song she used to sing in this cabin.
times when l reckoned 1t shameful
thing for any man to cry.
1t was Kate's voice.
oh. tell God, mother, that I'm very
grateful. heard her voice filling
this place which used to be her home
Though my wife and l are parted for
all our -years--love finds a way.
A week or more had passed. and I'd
my strength again. The river had
frozen so that we could cross to the
hunting grounds beyond, and when we
came back our camp was full of meat
The truth is scarce. being winnowed
BY many preachers, and my grains
when ! try to eat them, are mostly
husks. Iron calls me a coward. But
Polly only weighs ninety-eight pounds,
and two hundred, 80 that couldn't
have managed to feel brave fighting
her. Then Iron claims it's not the
little woman l ought to fight, but the
big evil she did In bringing all our
settlers to death or ruin. A woman's
whim is light as thistle-down. but this
ties choke the pasture unless you fight
them. and Christ himself fought to
the death against the evils which grew
rank around him. / doubt I've been
cowardly sort of Christian.
I'D got SO far in thinking my morals
needed repairs, when a new thing
happened. pointing out the way.
O'F1ynn rode over burning the trail
from the Hundred. My wife is there
0'F1ynn has seen my son, he has
spoken with Father Jared, he has
come with Kate from England. and
We left her nursing at Bolt Taylor's
bedside. She is sending Surly Brown
from Soda Creek with cable, to build
q new scow, and start the ferry again.
RAnsome Pollock's to manage the
Trevor ranch. Irons to reopen the
Skyline while she makes his peace
with the owners-O'F1ynn wants to
run the packing. She is finding doc
tor to take McGee's practise. fearful
George is to buy an imported stallion.
and drift him with bunch OF East
Oregon mares to stock my empty
pastures. The dead settlement is live
again as though there had been no
Polly, to rob. ruin, and murder among
eur pioneers. And then my wife will
send young Englishmen to school
with me for training.
Stroke by stroke this Mr.. O'Flynn
comes lashing home the news into
my hide, as though were being fog
sed. He says he hated me always,
but never despised me before as he
does now. My wife and should
change clothes. only I'd be too useless
for q woman. Iron says the same, an<
In a most unohristian way thrashea
ths pair, knoclrng their heads tegets-
=. for purt1eQ Ice too much in b-s