Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-23

self and summoned strength to seize
the hand that held the weapon.
Jeb shook her roughly of and
wheeled again to face the visitor with
the precaution OF sidewise leap. He
had expected that the other boy would
use that moment Of interference to
draw his own weapon. but the young
McBriar was standing in the same at.
titude, holding his hat in one hand
while he reassured the girl.
Don't fret. Dawn; thar hain't moth
in ter worry about" he said; then,
facing the brother, he went on in a
voice Of cold and almost scornful COM
posture:
'.Thet hain't ther first time we've seed
me acrost the sights of gun, is it.
Jeb?"
what does ye mean?'' The other
boys face went brick-red and he low
cred his muzzle with sense Of sudden
shame.
"Oh, heered about how old Bob
McGreegor told 5ye passed. Of lies
about me. an how ye come acrost Their
ridge one day. reckon kin guess
the rest"
"Well, what Of hit?" Jeb stood with
his pistol now hanging at his side,
but in his eyes still glowed the fire Of
hatred.
"Jest this" young McBriar went on:
81 amt got no gun on me. amt even
got Z jackknife. lowed that We
~ p@~1,A avoop< ;~no~ooH ox
my comm hyar an come without no
weapon on purpose. Ell We hain't
skeered Of me when I'm unarmed. I
reckon ye kin put your own gun back
in Their holster"
Jeb McNash slowly followed the
suggestion, and then coming forward
until the two boys stood eye to eye,
he said in deliberate accents: II reck-
on ye don't low I'm skeered Of ye."
Il reckon no" Young Milt's tone
was almost cheerful. II reckon ye air
lest about as much skeered Of me es
am Of you-an' that amt none."
.s.What does ye want hyar?" persist
ed1eb.
II wants first to tell ye-an' hain't
never lied ter no feller yit-thet I
don't know ncthin' more about who
kilt Fetch than you does. II l did,
80 help me God Almighty. I'd tell ye.
I hain't tryin' ter shield no murder.
ers."
There was ring Of sincerity in the
lads voice that carried weight even
into the bitter skepticism Of jobs
hearts skepticism which had refused
to believe that honor or truth dwelt
east Of the ridge.
II reckon. eff that's true" sneered
the older boy. "thar's them in yore
house thet does know"
At that insult 1t was Young Milt
whose face went first red. and then
very white. 80
"Thet calls fer tight, Jeb," he said
with forced calm. 81 can't harken ter
things like thet. But first wants ter
say this: come over hyar ter tell We
thet knowed how We felt. an tibet
didn't see no reason why you an me
had ter quarrel. como over hyar ter
see. Dawn. because promised I
wouldn't try ter see her whilst she
stayed down at the school-an' be.
cause wants ter see her-an' lows
ter do hit. Now will ye lay aside yore
gun an, go out thar in Their road whar
hit hain't on yore own ground. an let
me tell 70 thet 70 lied when 70 slurred
my folksf"
Tho two boys stripped OF their
coats IN guaranty that neither had
hidden weapon. Then. while the girl
who was really no longer Girl. turned
back into the flrelit cabin and threw
herself face downward on her feather
bed, they silently crossed the stile inte
the road and Milt turned to repeat:
"Jeb. thet war Q lie 70 spoke. an
wants 70 ter tight me far, list an
skull. an when we gifts through. ct "
feels like hit, wen shake hands. You
an me amt got no cause ter quarrel
And 70 the boy In each Of them
which was the manlier part Of each
came to the surface, and into . bittel
and long.fought battle Of lists and
wrestling. in which both Of them rolled
in the dust. and each Of them obsti
nately refused to say enough" they
submitted their long-fostered hostility
to one fierce debate. At last, - thu
two lay painting and bloodied there II
the roady It was Jeb who rose and helt
out his hand. +
$50 fur 60 the two Of 10 goes, Milt,'
he said. unless thor war busts loosl
efgin, reckon We hin be friendly.