The Spectator., 1915-11-23
q haint nuver astonished," retort.


 Very cautiously the second man looked around and then bent over and whispered a name. There was a short pause, after which the chief comment ed: Wall. l reckon I don't need ter tell yer what ter do now
 "I reckon I knows" confessed Luke with somewhat surly expression.
 But Milt McBriar was paying no attention. His face was darkening
 'I wish I could afford ter git the real man." he exclaimed abruptly. 'I wish l durst hev Anse Havey kilt"
 "Wall"-this time it was the un. derling who spoke casually-"I reck- on l thought as well die fer a sheep as lamb Shell I kill Anse Havey fer ye?"
 The chieftain looked at him during long pause, then slowly shook his head.
 No, Luke" he said quietly. 'I hain't quite ready ter die myself yit. l reckon if I he'd ye ter kill Bad Anse thet's bout what'd happen. Jest git ther lamb this trip an let ther old ram live a spell"
 So, one unspeakably sultry morning, l few days after that informal session. Good Anse Talbott arrived at the Widow Everson's house. As Juanita Holland appeared at the door to greet him he came at once to the point.
 "Fletch McNash hes done been kilt" he said Bout twilight last night, es he was a-comin' in from ther 1 barn somebody shot one shoot from 1 ther la're!. l reckon hit'd be right smart comfort ter his woman an an help tend ter ther buryin'. Kin ye start now?"
 Go' Juanita would go if 1t were 1 necessary to run a gantlet of all the combined forces of the Haveys and McBriars. Her heart ached for the widow and the boys, but for Dawn the 1 ache was as deeply poignant as it could have been for a little sister of her own. So with set face and hot in dignation Juanita mounted for the journey.
 At last they reached the McNash cabin and found gathered about it a score of figures with sullen and scowl- ing faces.
 From the barn came the screech of saw and rat-tat of hammer, where those whose knack ran into carpentry were fashioning the box which was to serve in lieu of a casket.
 There was no fire now, and the cabin was very dark In a deeply shadowed corner lay Fletch McNash. made visible by the white sheet that covered him.
 Juanita had come in silently, and for a moment thought that no one else was there. The younger children had been sent away. and the neigh bors remained outside with rough sense of consideration.
 There. in squat chair near the cold hearth, sat Mrs McNash. her back turned to the room. She was leaning forward and gazing ahead with unseeing eyes. Dawn was kneel-
 
 her mothers dropping shoulders.
 Juanita bent and impulsively kissed the withered face, but the woman only stirred little, like a halfwakened sleeper. and looked stolidly up After while she spoke in the lfeless, far away tone of utter lethargy.
 "Ef ye'd like ter see him, jest lift up ther sheet. He's a-layn' thar" Then once more she sank back into the coma of her staring at the hearth with its dead ashes
 Then the door opened, letting in two men, and in them Juanita recognized Jeb McNash and Bad Anse Havey.
 At their coming Dawn looked up. drawing away from the embrace of the older girl, and retreated silently to a corner, as though ashamed of having been discovered in tears. For few moments there was silence in the room, complete except for the rap of Jeb's pipe when he knocked out its ashes against the chimney
 Bad Anse stood with folded arms in tue uliu llSHl anu gave no sign that ne had recognized the presence of the turin" woman.
 The boy jerked his head toward the hearth and said in a strained, hard voice: Set ye a cheer. Anse," and after that no one spoke. Jeb's thin but muscular chest rose and fell to the swell of heavy breathing and his face was wrapped black in a scowl that made his eyes smolder and his lips snarl. Juanita had dropped back to one of the beds with Dawn's face buried in her lap.
 Then. as if rousing from a long dream. Mrs. McNash looked up, and for the first time appeared to realize that her son and his companion had entered the place.
 The dead blankness left her pupils. and into them leaped a hateful fire Her voice came in shrill and high. pitched questioning: Wall, Jeb. hey ye got him yit?"
 The boy only shook his head and glowered at the wall, while his moth pr's yOica rOse almost to ecraom