Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-12-29

Daists hung splendiGly to the ridges
ana the sunset famed at his back
Juanlta never knew what details If
ne incident came 20 Old Milt's ears
Dut when next the head of the hons
passed her on the road he spoke with
a diminished cordially, and when she
stopped him he commented: 81 hear
we're a-runnin' Havey school over
tnar now. Little Milt tells me We
warned him often yore place"
She tried to explain. and thouqb he
pretended to accept all she said in
good humor, she knew in her heart
she had made a powerful and bitter
enemy.
one afternoon Anse Havey, wander
ing through the timber on his own
side OF the ridge, came upon a lone
hunter, and when he drew near it
proved to be young MiIt McBriar.
Mornln, Milt," said Havey. 81 didn't
know We ever went huntin' over here. .
Inc boy, who in feud etiquette was a
trespasser, met the scrutiny with a
level glance.
was a-gunnin' for boomers" he
SAID, using the local phrase for red
squirrels of the hills. 81 reckon I
haln't hardly got no license ter go gun
MN on yore land
Anse Havey sat down on log and
looked up at TIE boy steadily. At last
he said gravely:
Hunt as much as We like, Milt, only
De heedful not to start no fires"
Mllt nodded and turned to go, but
the older man called him back.
want to have a word with We,
Mill" he said soberly. 81 amt never
heard that neither the McBriars nor
the Haveys countenanced settin' fire
to dwellin'-houses, have your
Il don't know what we means" re-
sponded the boy, and the gaze that
passed between them was that of two
men who can look direct into any eye.
i lowed it would astonish ye," went
on Anse. Back of the new school
house that's still full of shavin's an
loose timber there's little stretch of
dry woods that comes right down to
the back door. Somebody has done
laid trail of shavin's an leaves in
the brush there an soaked 'em with
coal-oil. Some Teller aims to burn
down that schoolhouse tonight"
Did We tell Miss Holland?" demand
ed Milt in voice of deep anxiety.
No, l amt named it to her." Bad
Anse said with seeming Indifference
in his face, at which the lads blood
boiled
Does ye aim ter set hyar an let her
place git burnt up?" he snapped out
wrathfully Because If ye does,
don't"
Anse Havey laughed
well, no" he replied; 81 didn't aim
to do that"
Suddenly he rose.
What l did aim to do, Milt, was
this: aimed to go down there tonight
with enough fellers to handle either
the fire or whoever starts it. I aimed
to see who was dom a trick like that.
VIII you go with me?"
"Me?" echoed Milt in establishment
This idea of the two factions acting in
consort was decided innovation. 1t
might be trap. Suddenly the boy de-
manded: why don't We ask pap?"
Il don't ask your pap nothing" In
Havey's reply was a quick and trucu-
lent snap that rarely came into his
voice Pm askin' you, an you can
take my proposition or leave it. That
house-burner is goin' to die. If he's one
of my people 1 want to know it. If he's
one of your people you ought to feel
the same way. Will you go with me?"
The boy considered the proposal for
a time in silence. Dawn would be in
danger! At last he said gravely:
"Hit sounds like fair proposition.
I'll go along with ye, an meantime I'll
keep my own counsel"