Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-09
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
There still remained the task of
winning young jobs assent to his plan,
and Anse Havey foresaw a stubborn
battle there. Jeb had been reading
law. that winter; reading by the light
Of a log fire through long and lonely
evenings in a smoke-darkened cabin.
When Anse Havey called from the
stile one night. the boy laid o battered
Blackstone on his thin knee and called
out: Come in, Anse, and pull up a
cheer!"
Anse had been rehearsing his argu-
ments as he rode through the sleet-
lashed hills, and he was deeply trou-
bled.
The mar and the boy sat on either
side of the fireplace. Penetrating
gusts swept in at the broken thinking
and up through the warped floor until
old Beardog, lying at their feet, shiv-
cred as he slept with his forepaws
stretched on the hearth and the two
men hitched their chairs nearer to the
blaze. BY the bed still stood the rifle
that had been Fletch's; the rife upon
which the boys ayes always fell and
which to him was the symbol of his
duty.
AS Bad Anse Havey talked of the fu-
ture with all the instructive forceful-
Less that he could command, the boys
set face relaxed, and into his eyes
came a CLINT of eagerness, because he
himself was to play no small part in
these affairs.
Into his heart crept the first burning
of ambition, the first reaching out
after a career. He saw a future open
ing before him, and his grave eyes
were drinking in pictures in the live
embers.
Then, when ambition had been kin
died, the older man preached the topic
which was the cru of his plea.
"The nan that can do things for the
mountains must be willin' to make a
heap of sacrifices, Jeb," he said.
Jeb laughed, looking about the bare
room of his cabin.
MEX sacri1ces?" he repeated. II
hain't never knowed nothin' else but
that. l reckon hain't skeered Of it."
81 didn't mean that way, Jeb." Anse
spoke slowly, holding the boy with his
eyes, and something of his meaning
sank in so that the lads lean face
again hardened.
"Nothin' KANT stand between me an
what I've got ter do, Anse," he said
slowly, He did not speak now with
wild passion, but calm finality. "Tve
done took Their oath"
For a while Anse Havey did not re.
ply. At last he said quietly: 81 reckon
we've got rid of the idea that I was
amin to deceive we, Jeb. | told we
that when Fletch's assassin came back
to the mountains I'd let we know. I'm
goin' to keep my word"
Jeb rose suddenly from his chair
and stood with the fire lighting up his
ragged trousers and the frayed sleeves
of his coat
"Air he back now?" he demanded.
Anse shook his head.
"Not yet, Jeb; but he's coming" He
saw the twitch that went across the
tight-closed lips which made no com
ment.
"Jeb," he continued, Il want We tc
help me. l want We to be big enough
to put by things that it's hard to put
by"
The boy shook his head.
"Anse," he replied slowly, TASK me
ter do anything else in God Almighty
world, but don't ask me tibet, cause II
we does I've got ter deny ye."
81 amt askin' we to let the man gc
unpublished. I'm only askin' you to lei
me punish him with the law"
A~stonishment was writ large il
every feature of jobs face. He stoot
in the wavering circle of light Will,
the shadows swallowed the corners O
the cabin, and wondered IL he hat
heard rightly, At last his voice carried
a note of deep disappointment. and h,
spoke as though unwilling to uttel
such reasonable words.
II reckon, Anse," he suggested, "y'
wouldn't hardly hev asked a thing Xix
, tibet afore"-there was a hesitatinl
halt before he went on-"afore a fuI
rim woman changed yore fashion 0
, lookin' at things"
Anse Havey felt his face redder
} and an angry retort rose to his lips
But the charge was true.
He went on as though Jeb had no
spoken.
"All | ask Is that when that ma,
comes yen hold your hand until tn
| cote has acted"
( Does ye reckon Milt McBriar aim
ter let Sidering try kin Of his?' wa
the next incredulous question.
~ Anse Havey's voice broke out OF II