Western Kansas world., 1915-12-25

You call me an outiaw-wel1. I've done
made laws an I've done broke them
an I've seen just about as mucn
crookedness an lawlessness at one
end of the game as at the other
But schools?" demanded Juanita-
-.why wouldn't they help your dream
toward fulfillment2"
Il amt against no school that can
begin at the right end I'm against
every school that can only onsettie
an teach dissatisfaction with humble
livin' where folks has got to live
humble"
He paused and paced the room He
was no longer the man who had
seemed the immovable stole His eyes
were far away. looking beyond the
horizon into the future
It's took your people two centuries
to get where they're standin today,
he broke out abruptly. an fer them
two hundred years we've been stand
in still or goin' back. Now We coioe
down here an seeks to jerk my people
up to where We stands in the blinkfu
of an eye. Ye comes lookin' down on
'em an pityin' 'em because they won't
eat outen your hand. They'd rather lie
eagles than song-birds in cage, even
if eagles are wild an lawiess. Ye
comes here an straightway tells 'eIn
that their leaders are infamous. Do
ye offer 'em better leaders? re
refuses the aid of men that know EN-
men of their blood-an' go your own
ignorant way. Do ye see any reason
why l should countenance ye? Don't
ye see ye're just a-scatterin' my sheep
before they knows how to herd them
selves?"
Pm afraid" said the girl very slow
ly and humbly, that I've been FOOL
"Ye says the boy Jeb wears my
trademark in the hate that's on his
face" continued Anse Havey passion
ately. Hes been here with me con-
sortin with them fellers in Plutarch
and Shakespeare. If l can curb him
an keep him out of mischief he's goin
down to Frankfort some day an learn
his lessons in the legislature. He amt
goin' to no college. because | aims to
fit him for his work right here.
seek to have fellers like him guide
these folks forward. l don't aim to
have them civilized by bein' wiped out
an trod to DEATH
He paused, and Juanita Holland re-
peated helplessly, I've been a fool!"
Il reckon ye don't know that young
Fletch, an that one day he laid out in
the la'rel to kill little Milt,'' Bad Anse
pursued. I've don't know that the only
reason he stayed his hand was that
I'd got his promise ter bide his time.
But l reckon ye do know that if Milt
was killed by a Havey all that's tram
spired in ten years wouldn't make a
patch on the hell-raisin' that'd go on
hereabouts in week. Do We think it's
strange thet Jeb don't want his sister
consortin' with the boy that he thinks
murdered his father?"
Juanita rose from her chair, feeling
like pert and cocksure interloper
who had been d'fsdainfully looking
down on one with vision immeasur-
ably wider and sureT than her own,
At last she found herself asking: But
surely Young Milt didn't kill Fetch
Surely you don't believe that?"
mo, l know he didn't; but there's
just one way l can persuade young
Jeb to believe tan that's to tell
him who did"
His eyes met hers and for a moment
lighted with irony. IF aid that.
reckon Jeb would be willin to let ye
keep Dawn an Jesse-an'. CT course,
he'd kill the other man. Do ye want
me to do it ?'
He moved to the closed door and
paused with his hand on the knob.
mo. stopi" she almost screamed
1T would mean murder. 7lerciful
God. it's SO hard to decide some
thingsI"
Anse Havey turned back to the
room
Il just thought I'd let ye see that
for yourself" he said quietly Ye
amt hardly been able ter see why it's
hard for US people to decide en-
Suddenly a new thought stru1k her.
and it brought from her sudden
question. But you know who the
murderer is. and you have spared
him %
The man laughed.
Don't fret yourself. ma ANA The
man that killed Fletch has left the
mountains. an right now he's out or
reach But he'll be back some day.
an when he comes l reckon the first
news yen hear of him will be that
he's dead" Once more it was the inn
placable avenger that spoke
The girl could only murmur in per-
plexity: yet you have kept Jeb in
ignorance. I don't understand"
I've got other plans fer Jeh." said
Ep~~.1 a b1kxru 80 Irae