The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-11

there wOEt be any Mc-Br1arS or
Haveys Well all be mountaineers
standin' together an holdin' what God
gave US. God knows l hate Milt Nc
Briar an his tribe-hate 'em with all
the power of hatin' that's in mean
I'm mountain man. But Mills peo-
pie an my people have one thing in
common. We're mountain men, an
these hills are ourn. We have the
same KILN instinct when men seek to
rob US. We want to be let alone, an
If We fight amongst ourselves it amt
nothin' to the way well fight, shoulder
to shoulder an back to back, against
the robbers from down below"
The man paused, and as Juanita
looked into his blazing eyes she shud-
dered, for it seemed that the killing
instinct of which he spoke was burn
ing there. She thought of nothing TO
say, and he continued:
Its war between families now-but
when your people come-come to buy
for nothin' and fatten on our starva-
ton, we men of the mountains will
forget that, an reckon Well fight to-
gether like all damnation against the
not to sell needless
Then you did not forbid your peo-
pie to sell to me?" inquired the girl.
why, in heavens name, should 1
make war on ye?" he suddenly de-
manded. Does man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills
Possibly" she suggested with a
trace of irony, when you learn that
I'm not so helpless you won't be so
merciful'
We'll wait till that time comes -
said the man shortly. He paused for
a moment, then went on: Helpless!
Why, heaven knows, ma am, 1 pity We.
Can't ye see what odds ye're contend
in against? Can't ye see that we're
fghtin' Gods hills and sandstone an
winds an thunder? Can't We see ye're
! tryin' ter take out of mems veins the
| fire in their blood-the fire that's been
| burnin' there for two centuries? Ye're
like little child tryin' ter pull down
jail-house. Ye're singin' lullaby
songs to the thunder. Yes, feel right
sorry fer We, but amt a-fghtin' ye. "
I'm doing none of those things"
| she answered with a defiant blaze in
her eyes. I'm only trying to show
these people that their ignorance is
not necessary; that it's only part of a
scheme to keep them vassals. You
talk about the wild. free spirit of the
mountain men. 1 think that free men
will listen to that argument"
Anse laughed.
Change 'emi" he repeated, disre-
garding the slur of her last speech
why, if ye don't give it up and &c
back to your birds that pick at berries
do you know what will happen to yei
I'll tell We. Thar will be change, but
it won't be in US. It'll be in you
You'll be mountainized.
Eye can't live where the storms
come from an where the rivers are
born an not have their spirit get into
your blood. Ye may think ye're IL
partners with God, but I reckon vel
find the hills are bigger than you be
How much land do ye need?"
"Why?"
Because aim to see We get it. Y
say I'm SCARED of ye. I aim to show
We how much I'm SCARED. 1 aim t;
let We go your own fool way an foun
der in your own quicksand. An
nobody won't sell We what ye wan
let me know an. by Almighty God, II
make We a free gift of farm an II
build your school myself. Thet's how
much I'm SCARED of ye. I've tried t.
be friends with We. an ye won't hav
it. Now just go as fur as We feels in
, la
He turned abruptly on his heel AM
went out, quietly closing the door be
hind him.