Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-30
CHAPTER xxxvI.

People in the mountains Sill talK
of how, while Anse Havey lay on a
white cot in the little hospital, young
Milt McBriar set out toward Peril. He
stopped for a moment at the house OF
Bad Anse Havey, and within twenty
minutes the hills were being raked.
Young Milt killed a horse getting to
Jeb McNash's cabin on Tribulation
and Jeb' killed another getting to
Peril. Then from Lexington came two
surgeons as fast as a special train
could bring them, and, thanks to a
logged life spark, they found Anse
Hayey still lingering on the margin.
When they removed him from the
operating table back to his cot and
he opened his eyes to consciousness,
the sun was coming through the shad-
ed window, but even before he knew
that, he saw her face bending over
him and felt cool fingers on his fore
head.
AS his eyes opened her smile greet
ed him, and she brushed his lips with
her own. Then, in a tone of com
mand, she said: "You mustn't talk.
The doctors say you may get we'll If
you obey orders and fight hard. It's
partly up to you, Anse."
Once more there lowered around
the mans lips that occasional boyish
smile.
Il reckon" he said slowly, they'll
have the hell of a time KILN me
now!" Then he added in a tone of
more grimness: Besides, there's a
score or two to settle"
The girl shook her head and smiled.
Her fingers rested ca%ressingly on the
dark hair that fell over his forehead.
mo, Anse," she told him. II settled
most Of them myself"
Even the detachment of the murder
squad that had played its part in the
woods and started for Peril before
the five turned back did not reach
their destination, but scattered into
the hillsides. When morning brought
the news Of their attempt they tried
to make their escape across the noun
tains to Virginia.
But there was a grim and relentless
system about the movement of two
posses that set out to comb the tim.
Der. Daring to approach no house for
food, the fugitives united and took up
their stand in a stanch log cabin
which had been deserted, and died
there, grimiy declining to surrender.
Of cours the railroad came up Trib'
ulation and crossed through the notch
in the mountains at the gap, but the
railroad came on terms quite different
from those which Mr.. Trevor and his
ilk had planned.
One day there rode away from the
college a gay little procession on itf
way to the McBriar domain. At its
head rode Young Milt, and on a pill
lion behind him, as mountain brides
had always ridden to their owl
houses, sat Dawn McBriar. That wa
some years ago., and at the big los
house there is a toddling, tow-headet
young person now whose Christian
name is Anse Havey, though his ia
Their insists he is to be ultimatel.
known as bad Anse" McBriar.
One autumn day, when the air wa.
as full Of sparkle as champagne, ant
the big sugar tree just outside tn,
hospital window was flaming in an &c
stasy of color, Miss Dawn Have,
opened her eyes on the world an
found it acceptable.
Jeb McNash was riding through tn
country that October seeking election
to the legislature.
He drew his horse down by tn
fence.
"Anse," he said in his slow draw,
tits a pity she's a gal now, hain't 1t?
Anse shook his head. II reckon,
he said, she's got more chance to b
like her mother. Her mother mad
these hills better for being here. an
: besides"
| He looked cautiously about an
, dropped his voice, as IL speaking of
> forbidden subject, yet into 1t crept
} note of pride, Besides, young felleI
have you got any more notches on th
!, stock of your gun than she hast"