The Spectator., 1915-12-28

est and to regard his VOW of silence as to herself whom he dumbly wor- shiped.
 Look around you, Anse," she com- manded. Do you see any dirt or dust anywhere? No; we are teaching cleanliness and sanitation, but there is just one place here where the spiders are welcome to come and spin their webs unmolested. It's that rack of guns. Did you ever hear of the shrine at Lourdes?"
 "I reckon not" he confessed uneas- fly. Of late he had become a little ashamed of the things he did not know.
 Well. this is going to be like 1t. Anse. It is told that when the lame and halt and blind came to Lourdes to pray they went away straight and strong and clear of vision. There hang at the shrine there numberless crutches and canes, discarded because the men who were carried there went away needing them no more. Some day your old order of crippled things here in the mountains is going to be- come straight and strong. and these guns will be the discarded crutches.'
 He looked at her, and if no response was elicited to her prophecy, at least he could not contemplate without a stirring of enthusiasm the flushed face and glowing eye with which she spoke. It was all worth while if it could bring that sparkle of delight to her counte- nance
 Its right pretty. but it won't hardly work" he said. These men will leave them guns just so long as they don't need 'em I'm glad to see ye pleased but I don't want to see ye disap- pointed"
 A little before Christmas old Milt McBriar went to Lexington, and there he met a heavily bearded man in rough clothes who had arrived that morning from the West. They conferred in cheap eating house which bears rag is kept by an exile from the noun tains.
 Now tell me, Milt." suggested Luko Thixton briefly, what air this thing ye wants me ter do. I'm done with these hyar old flat lands thet they talks so much erbout."
 But Milt McBriar's eyes had been vacantly watching the door. It was glass door. with its lower portion paint. ed red and bearing in black letters the name of the proprietor.
 Damn" he exclaimed violently. but under his breath.
 What's bitin' ye?" asked his com panion. as he bolted his food.
 ''I jest seed Breck Havey pass by that door" explained the chief. But I reckon he couldn't hardly recognize you this fur back. 1 don't want no word of yore comin' ter go ahead of ye."
 What is it I'm a-goin back ter do?" insisted the exile doggedly.
 Oh" commented Milt McBriar, we've got ter talk thet over at some length. Ye're a-goin' back ter git Anse Havey. but ye hain't a-goin jist yit."
 One morning as he sat over his breakfast at the kitchen table. Anse's cousin. Breck Havey. rode up in hot haste to rouse him out of apathy and remind him that he must not shirk bis role as leader of the clan.
 The Havey from Peril came quickly to the point while the Havey of the backwoods listened
 T was down ter Lexin'ton yesterday. an as l was passin' Jim Freeman's deadfall I happened ter look in. Thar war old Milt McBriar an Luke Thix- ton. thar heads as close tergether as pair of thieves, Luke hes come back from the West. an reckon ye kin fig ger out what thet means"
 Anse grew suddenly rigid and his face blackened. So his destiny was crowding him!
 What air ye goin' ter do?" demand ed Breck with tone of anxious and impotent pleading. Anse shook his head.
 'I don't know-quite yet" he said Let's see. is the high cote in ses- sion?"
 Breck Havey nodded his head in per. plexed assent. He wondered what the court had to do with this eXigency
 All right. Tell Sidering to have the grand jury indict Luke for the Nc Nash murder an Milt McBriar as ac- cessory-"
 Good God. Anse." burst out the other Havey. Does ye realize what hell ye turns loose when ye tries ter drag Old Milt ter cote in Peril?"
 Yes. know that" The answer was calm. 'Ill give ye list of witnesses. Tell Sidering to keep these true bills secret. I'll ride over and testify my. self, an I'll tend to keepin the wit. nesses quiet. l don't know whether we'll ever try these cases. but it's just as we'll to be ready along every line"
 Breck Havey stood gazing down at the hearth with troubled fpce At