The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-27

YEARLY on abstract resolves and come |
into their embrace. But he was not
there.
In the quaint conversation of the
Widow EEerson and her sons Juanita
found so much of the amusing that she
had to school herself against too great
an appreciation of their utterly unin-
territorial humor Though she was a /
'fotched-on woman" to be taken on /
probation, it was only a matter of /
hours before the family capitulated, as /
people in general had fashion of do /
ing under the spell Of her graciOusness /
and charm. Jerry Everson, whom men !
accounted surly, for the first time in |
years brushed his shapeless hat and
remembered not to hang it on the
floor" and Sim Everson hied him into
the misty woods at dawn and brought
home squirrels for her first breakfast
in his house.
In the forenoon of her first day she
left the house and, crossing the tiny
garden where the weeds were already
growing tall and rank enough to hint
Of future ragged victory, she made her
way by a narrow trail that led to the
crest of the ridge.
Juanita was steering her course for
a patriarchal poplar that sent a
straight shaft heavenward at the rim
Of the crest, opening its veTduTe like
great flag. unfurled on a mighty para
pet She knew that up there she
could look two ways across the divide,
and that her battle-ground would be
| spread before her.
Che r. Ebo Of
| line of hills melted into the sky. She
looked to the west, and there. too, they
rose, phalanX on phalanx, to dissolve
/ in a smoky haze that effaced the hori-
zon- 1t seemed as if in a majesty Of
relentlessness they reached from sun
rise to sunset. and so, as far as the
/ locked-in life of their people went.
they might.
| She stood there a long while, and
| finally she saw, where for a space the
road ran near the brick house, IN
shielded by the woods, a struggling
little cortege. At its front rode
stoop-shOuldered man in whom. even
at that far distance. she thought she
recognized the missionary. Behind
him came a few horsemen riding in
two squads, and between the squads
crawled a "jolt-wagon" drawn by
mules. She knew that the Haveys
were bringing back to the frontier the
enemy's dead, and she shuddered at
the cold reality.
1t may have been three hours later
that Good Anse Talbot rode up to
the Widow Everson's. When the girl,
who had returned long ago from the
crest, came out to meet him at the
door she found him talking there with
MiIt McBriar, who had also ridden up.
but from the other direction.
"Anse Havey lows the preacher
was saying, that he hes done fetched
home Their body OF little Nash Watt,
an tibet Their boy was shot ter death
Iayin' in Their la'rel hundred PAGES
from the winder whar Cal Douglas was
a standin'l"
1--WE done already acknowledged
thet," declared Milt in voice into
which crept a trace of truculent sui
lenness.
The missionary nodded Il hain't
quite through yit, Milt," he went on
evenly. and the girl who stood lean
ing against the door-frame, caught for
an instant a sparkle of zealot earnest
ness in his weary eyes.
"Anse is willin' ter take yore hand
on this truce. He's wilIin' ter stand
pledge thet Their Haveys keeps faith.
But I'm a preacher of the Gawspel of
God, Milt, and 1 don't low ter be no
go-between without both of you men
does keep faith
Milt McBriar stiffened resentfuIly,
and his dark brows drew together IN
der his hat brim-
Does ye doubt thet I'll do what ]
says?" he inquired in voice too soft
for sincerity.
The missionary did not drop his
steady and compelling eyes from the
gaze direct. It was as if he were read
ing through the pupils Of the other and
searching the dark heart
Il aims ter see tibet We both starts
out fair, Milt," he said, still quietly
"An' ter thet end / aims ter admonish
ye both on Their terms of this meetin
atween ye."
For an instant Mflt McBriar's sem
blance of calm refiectiveness slipped
5 from him and his voice rose raspingly
Did Anse Havey learn We thet
: speech?"
Good Anse Talbot shook his heaC
patiently
4 NO I told Anse Their same thing
l I'm a-teliin' you Neither Anse nel
: Their four men that fetches Their bodI
I will hev any sort of weepon abou
'em when they comes acrost thet stile
e Ye've got ter give me yore hand the
e none of yore men hain't a goin' ter b
s armed. I'm a servant Of Their Mos
T High God" For an instant fire blazer
d in the preachers eyes and his voic'
e mounted with fervor. Fer years rv
; done sought ter teach his grace an hi
d hatred of murder ter Their people o
these hyar hills. When you two me-
IS shakes hands on this truce aims te
/ be standin' by with rife-gun in m
e hands, an eff l sees anything crooke
IT I'm goin' ter use hit
% The dark giant stood for a tim
y silent, then he gravely nodded hi
II head Them terms suits me- b