Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-15

rate and envenom the boy with the
cumulative. force OF climax.
"Hit warnt nobody but" After q
pause he went on, but old Milt Nc
Briar's own son, Young Milt."
"Thet's ALL" said Jeb soberly; I'm
obleeged ter ye,"
He went out with the sack on his
shoulders and the rifle under his arm.
but when he had reached . place in
the woods where blind trail struck
back he deposited his sack carefully
under ledge Of overhanging rock. for
the clouds were mounting and banking
now in threat of rain and>it was not
OF It's safety.
Then he crossed the ridge until he
came to a point where the thicket
grew down close and tangled to the
road. He had seen Young Milt going
west along that road this morning and
by nightfall he would be riding back.
The gods of chance were playing into
his hands. -
So he lay down. closely husging the
earth. and cooked his rife For hours
he crouched there with unspeakable
patience, while his muscles cramped
and his feet and hands grew cold I'M
der the peltine of rain which was
strangely raw and chilling for the sea
son. The sun sank in an angry bank
Of thunder-heads and the west grew
lurid. The drenching downpour blind
ed him and trickled down his spine un
der his clothes, but at last he saw the
figure he awaited riding horse re
knew. 1t was the same roam mare that
Bad Anse had restored to Milt Nc
Briar.
When young Nit rode slowly by,
fifty yards away, wi Il his mount at a
walk and his reins hanging, he was
untroubled by any anxiety, because he
was in his own territory and was at
heart fearless. The older boy from
Tribulation felt his temples throh and
the rifle came slowly up and the one
eye which was not closed looked point
blank across immcvable sights and
along steady barrel into the placid
face of his intended victim.
He could see the white Of Mills eye
and the ragged lock of hair under the
hat-brim which looked like smudge
OF SCOT across his brow Then slowly
Jeb McNash shook his head. A spasm
of battle went through him and shook
him like a CONFUSION to the soles of
his feet. He nad but to crook his an
ger to appease his blood-lust-and
break his pledge.
II done give Anse my hand ter bide
my time 'lwell war dead sartain," ne
told himself. Il hain't quite dead sar-
tain" he told himself. Il haint quite
dead sartain yit. Ireckon I've got ter
wait spell"
He unlocked the rife and the other
boy rode on, but young Jeb folded his
arms on the wet earth ana buried his
face in them ana sobbed, and 1t was
an hour later that he stumbled to his
feet and went sroggily back. drunk
with bitterness and emotion, toward
the house of Anse Havey. Yet when
he arrived after nightfall his tongue
told nothing and his features told less.
Juanita. living in the cabin she had
built with the girl who had become her
companion and satellite. making fire.
quent hard journeys to some house
which the shadow of illness had In
vaded, found it hard to believe that
this life had been hers only few
months. Suspense seemed to stretch
weeks to years, and she awoke each
new day braced to hear the news Of
some fresh outbreak. and wondered
why she did not. A few neighborhood
children were already learning their
rudiments, and plans for more build
ings were going forward.
Sometimes Jeb came over from the
brick house to see his sister, and on
the boys face was always dark cloud
of settled resolve. II Juanita never
questioned him on the topic that she
knew was nearest his heart It was be-
cause she realized that to do SO would
be the surest way to estrange his
and confidence.
In one thing she had gained q point.
She had bought as much property as
she should need. Back somewhere be-
hind the veil of mysteries Anse Havey
had pressed button or spoken word,
and all the hindrance that had lain
across her path straightway .evaporat-
ed. Men had come to her, with no
further solicitation on her part, and
now 1t seemed that many were animal
ed by desire to turn an honest penny
by the sale of land. In every convey
ance that was drawbacks Of ninety
nine-year lease instead of sale-she,
read thrifty and careful knowledge
Of land laws and reservation of min
eral and timber rights which she
traced to the head of the clan.
As summer spent itself there was
opportunity for telling timber, and the
little sawmill down in the valley sent
up its drone and whine in proclama-
ton that her trees were being turned
into squared timbers for her buildings 4
Once, when Milf McBriar rode up to
me sawmfll, he found the girl sitting
here, her hands clasped on her. knees,
gazing -dreamily across the sawdust
and confusion Of the place. 4
"Ye'resVight smart interested in thet
.har woodpile. hain't 70. ma'am?" he
with slow. benevolent smile
His kindness Of guise invited conf.
1ence. and there was no one else with
IN earshot, 20 the girl looked up. her
Dyes . little misty and her voice I'm
pulsiye.
INF. McBriar," she said. every one