Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-01-08

was never unarmed.
Don't, Jebi" she screamed in q
transport of alarm. as she braced her
self and summoned strength to seize
the hand that held the weapon.
Jeb shook her roughly OF and
wheeled again to face the visitor with
the precaution of sidewise leap He
had expected that the other boy would
use that moment of Interference to
draw his own weapon. but the young
McBriar was standing in the same at
titude. holding his hat in one hand
while he treasured the girl
Don't fret. Dawn; thar hain't moth
in ter worry about" he said: then,
facing the brother. he went on in a
voice of cold and almost scornful COM
posture:
Tibet hain't Their first time we've seed
me acrost the sights of a gun, is it.
Jeb?"
What does We mean?" The other
boys face went brick-red and he low
cred his muzzle with sense of sudden
shame.
"Oh. heered about how old Bob
McGreegor told We a passed. of lies
about me. an how We come acrost Their
ridge one day. l reckon l kin guess
the rest"
well. what of hit?" Jeb stood with
his pistol now hanging at his side,
but in his eyes still glowed the fire of
hatred
Jest this" young McBriar went on:
81 amt got no gun on me. amt even
got a jackknife. 1 lowed that ye
mought be right smart incensed at
my comm hyar an come without no
weapon on purpose. Eff We hain't
skeered of me when I'm unarmed,
reckon We kin put your own gun back
in Their holster
Jeb McNash slowly followed the
suggestion, and then coming forward
until the two boys stood eye to eye,
he said in deliberate accents: 81 reck-
on We don't low I'm skeered of ye."
81 reckon not" Young Milt's tone
was almost cheerful 81 reckon We air
jest about as much skeered of me es
l am of you-an' that amt none"
What does We want hyar?" persist
ed Jeb
81 wants first to tell ye-an' hain't
never lied ter no Teller yit-thet
don't know nothin' more about who
kilt Fetch than you does. If | did,
so help me God Almighty. I'd tell ye
1 hain't tryin' ter shield no murder
ers.''
There was a ring of sincerity in the
lads voice that carried weight even
into the bitter skepticism of Jebs
heart-a skepticism which had refused
to believe that honor or truth dwelt
east of the ridge.
81 reckon. eff that's true" sneered
the older boy, "thar's them in yore
house tibet does know"
At that insult it was Young Milt
whose face went first red and then
very white.
'Thet calls fer a fight, Jeb." he said
with forced calm. 81 can't harken ter
things like tibet. But first wants ter
say this: ] come over hyar ter tell we
tibet l knowed how we felt, an tibet 1
didn't see no reason why you an me
had ter quarrel. / come over hyar ter
see Dawn, because / promised
wouldn't try ter see her whilst she
stayed down at the school-an' be-
cause ! wants ter see her-an' lows
ter do hit. Now will We lay aside yore
gun an go out thar in Their road whar
hit hain't on yore own ground, an let
me tell We tibet we lied when we slurred
my folks?'
The two boys stripped off their
coats in guaranty that neither had
hidden a weapon. Then, while the girl.
who was really no longer a girl, turned
back into the firelit cabin and threw
herself face downward on her feather
bed, they silently crossed the stile into
the road and Milt turned to repeat.
"Jeb. tibet war a lie We spoke, an J.
wants We ter fight me far, fist an
skull. an when we gifts through, eff ye
feels like hit. we'll shake hands. You
an me amt got no cause ter quarrel.
And SO the boy in each of them.
which was the manlier part of each.
came to the surface, and into a bitter
and long-fought battle of fists and
wrestling, in which both of them rolled
in the dust. and each of them obsti-
nately refused to say enough" they
to one fierce debate At last, as the
two lay painting and bloodied there in
the road. it was Jeb who rose and held
out his hand.
$50 fur es the two of US goes. Milt,"
he said. unless Their war busts loose
ergin, l reckon we kin be friendly
Together they rose and recrossed
the stile and washed their grimed
faces. Dawn looked from one to the
other, and Jeb said: .-AIilt. set yore-
self cheer. l reckon ye'd better stay
all night It's most too fur ter ride
back"
And so, though they did not realize
it, the two youths who were to stand
1890 5.y poar fho hcadS IF tho two