Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-08
NOW how under heaven did it get

His back was toward Sanity and he
carried in his hand three candles. He
was nearly as black and disreputabie
as any scarecrow down among the
fires. He was intently watching some
thing at the foot of a second pine.
Softly Sandry moved until this object
was in his line OF vision.
Bedded high in a pile of tinder-dry
needles a fourth candle glowed
brightly in the smoky gloom With
utmost cunning it had been set close
against the tree where a long branch
of pitch trailed down the rugged bark
from far up among the branches
When the candle burned down to the
resin-steeped needles-and a man
might travel far in the meantime-the
upleaping flames need only to lick
that banner to rush with lightning
speed to the swaying. inflammable
top.
For long moment the Fastener
stood, lost in wonder. Then the whole
thing burst upon him and he knew
Hampden of the Yellow Pines was the
power behind the holocaust!
AS this stupendous knowledge forced
itself into his weary brain. the other
man turned and strobe swiftly away
among the boles. The wearying climb
had take.: the breath from Sandry's
lungs and he drew a pistol from his
belt and fired over Hampden's head
Like an animal the man whirled. hand
to hip. and faced him.
I've got you at last" Sandy pant.
ed; I've got you at last!'
Hampden's heavy lips curled ven
omously from his short, strong teeth
"You!" he breathed, you. You
damned Fastener! You lily-handed
tenderfoot!"
Sandy smiled grimly.
This is just about the blacklist spot
in your crooked career, Hampden." he
said at last. the blacklist and the big
gest blunder ] can't see why you did
| it."
You can't" snarled Haapden. ''oh
you can't! Well. by God, you will be
fore rr1 done with you. You didn't
know what you was gettin up against
You and your--your- Poppy Ord
way. You made yer fight, an you
thought you'd wont But you reck
oned without me. I'm maxim mine
an it's a hummer"
He glared savagely along the gun
into Sandry's bloc shot eyes. and al
this moment Black Bolt heaved w
through the ferns. Siletz peering eager.
ly along his straining neck. and the
face of Poppy ordway at her shoulder
The girl slid out of the saddle and ran
to Sandry.
What is it?" she cried, what is
it?"
Sandry pointed to the burning can
die at the pines foot and instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed iit out
with thumb and finger.
Miss Ordway slipped down from
the foamy, steaming hips of the horse
to stand leaning against him. heI
bright eyes beginning to sparkle with
the tension of the moment. At sight
of her Hampden's face grew gray be
meath its CRIME. She was smiling
with that pleasure which she always
found where men fought, or engi
neered dramatic coups. or worked out
clever schemes, and her beauty was
never so maddening to him in all his
knowledge of her. His one pure dream
had, in truth, reached a sorry ending
Sandy" said Siletz simply. 81 came
to you. There's danger somewhere
don't know where or what-but
there's something in the shadows"
A vagrant wind famed up long
sheets and whistling banners that
hurried up to leap into the moaning
canopy behind the Hog Back. The
actors in this little drama were too
intent to hear the heightened note.
so you come to be in at tn
DEATH" said Hampton at last, his
eyes on Poppy in anguished fury,
you done me to death an you want
to see me die. Oh. tn games up and
don't care a damn I'm tn smartest
OilS Va THIS uuiAGn YET All Uul AEE
TIL fact that you've got them two let.
tiers you stole from the commissioner
and tn account book with the records
of our deals an rake-offs and so on,
I'd had a chance to fight an win
yeti But l know you. Poppy-Oh,
how damned well | know you,--an'
know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
fight-you're damned right i ana!
He waved an eloquent arm around
at the appalled,. shrinking country
which seemed to crouch in its naked.
ness under the shrouding smoke,
But tn thing that cuts is KNOWN
that you done it all fer him! A feeble
drivelin' thing from tn East An
they say you'll marry him. Well. go
to it! He'll have to move out. fer
there won't be any more Dillingworth
Lumber company in twenty hours. I'll
be behind bars. all right, but I've
cleaned him out"
As he finished with a reckless laugh
Sandry turned amazed eyes to Poppy.
She was pale with anger and she
avoided his glance. This was the last
thing she wanted-that Sandry should
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