Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-12-02

thet's all I needs"
The mother had dropped back into
her stupor again, and her son stood
there, his broganed feet wide apart
and his whole body rigid and tense
with passion.
Anse Havey once more shook his
head.
mo, Jeb," he said quietly; 81 don't
know-not yet. The McBriars acted
on suspicion-an they killed the
wrong man Ye amt seekin' to do
likewise, be ye? Ye amt quite twenty
one, Jeb, an I'm the head Of the fam
lily. / reckon ye'd better take counsel
Of me, boy. l amt bent on deludin'
ye, an ye can trust me. Ye've got to
give me your hand, Jeb, that until
ye're plumb, everlastingly sartain
who got your ia, We won't raise your
gun against any man"
The boy sank down into his chair
and bowed his head in his hands,
while his fnger-nails bit into his tenn
pies. Even Juanita Holland had felt
the effect OF Havey's wonderfully
Quieting voice. Finally Jeh McNash
raised his face.
AN will ye give me yore hand
Anse Havey, tibet II ye finds hit out
afore do, yen tell me tibet mans
name?"
81 amt never turned my back on
kinsman yet, Jeb," said Anse grave
~.
The boy nodded his acquiegcence
and hurriedly left the room. Juanita
gently lifted Dawn's head from her
lap and went forward to the hearth.
She had listened In silence, out
ragged at this callous talk and this
private usurpation Of powers of life
and death Now 1t seemed to her
that to remain silent longer was al
most to become an accomplice.
Something In her grew rigid. She
saw the bent and lethargic figure of
ed body OF the feud's last victim. Be-
fore her stood the man more than
anyone else responsible for such con-
ditions.
"Mr Havey,' she said, as her voice
grew coldly purposeful with the ring
OF challenge, II have been told that
you did not mean to let me stay here;
that you did not intend to give these
poor children the chance to grow
straight and decent"
She paused, because so much was
struggling Indignantly for utterance
that she found composure very diff
cult. And as she paused she heard
him inquire in an ironically quiet
voice; 'Who told We that?"
Never mind who told me. l haven't
come here to answer your questions.
I came too these feud-cursed hills to
fight conditions for which you stand
as sponsor ard patron saint. I came
here to try to give the children re-
lease from observation-disclosures ig-
norance makes them easy tools and
dupes for murder lords-like you"
Again her tumult OF spirit halted
her and she heard Dawn sobbing with
grief and fright on the bed.
Are ye through" inquired Anse
Havey. His voice had the flinty quiet
of cruelty repressed passion, and his
face had whitened, but he had not
moved.
mo, I'm not through" she went on
with rising vehemence. Il came here
seeking to interfere with no mans af-
fairs-wishing only to give your peo-
pie, without price, what they are en-
titled to-the light that all the rest
Of the world enjoys. l found the COM
munity bound hand and foot in
slavery to two men OF a like stripe.
Ind their htrelings numbering each
other from ambush. I'm only a WON
an. but l carry the credentials Of de-
cency and civilization. You two men
have everything else-everything ex-
oept decenoy and civilization You
and Milt McBriari"
He had listened while the muscles
Of his jaws stood out in cramped ten
5ity and the veins began to cord them
selves on his temples. Now he said
In low voice, between his teeth; BY
heaven. don't Hken me to Milt Nc
Briari"
The girl laughed little Historically
and wildly, then swept on:
Il do Iiken you to MiIt McBriar.
What IN heavens name Is the differ
ence between you? He kills your vas
sails and you kill his Both OF you do
1t By the proxy OF hirelings and from
ambuscade. In this house a man hes
H6cH-dnoG for oF 10
but because OF your quarrel with Milt
EcBriar. But 1t seems that's not
enough. You must enlist the son Of
the dead man into life that will have
the same end for him. You bind him
apprentice to your merciless code OF
murder"
Her hands were cienched and her
eyes burning with her tempest of rage.
When she stopped speaking the man
inquired once again Are We through
now?" But Juanita threw both her
hands out and continued:
You have taken the boy-very
well. mean to take the girl.
shall try to undo in her and IN her
children the evil you will do her
brother. l shall try to give the fam
lily one unblighted branch. Unless
you kill me, shall stay here and fight
III fight you and your enemy Nc
Briar alike, because you are only two
sides Of the same coin. I'll try to
take the ground out from under your
feet and leave you no standing room
states prison. Dawn shall
learn the things that will. some day,
set this country free"
Mrs. McNash was looking I'D var11e.