The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-04-13

| Rotten are we! Live clean to III
heartl"
And with lightning pass he slapped
Hampden square In the face, leaping
backward like q cat In a flash the
two groups of men had mingled and
the silent woods rang with a conflict
that was a delight to every heart in
the mixup, with the exception, perhaps
OF Hampden, who was too small and
mean Of nature to love anything for
It's own sake.
Sandry on the outskirts beheld II
with CONSERVATION.
"Men!" he shouted, jumping up on q
stump. "Hampden! Hampdenl DAILY
Hampden!"
A bare arm shot forward into a face
which crumpled and sank out OF sight
and the owner OF the arm looked up
at him.
Come or your perch, Johnny" he
cried with the insolence OF indiffer.
enco, and even in the excitement OF
the moment the thrust went home to
the young owner His Jaw frightened
and he marked the man. one Of the
fallers, for future reckoning.
How the fight would have ended
Sandry, thinking 1t over afterward,
could never decide. They we're evenly
matched in intent, the two factions.
and nearly so In numbers, though
Hampden's force was a trine the
stronger.
Blows rained fast and furious.
Blood was flowing freely aud the oaths
and laughter had given place to pant
ing silence.
you low-down cheat" he heard
Daily say as he closed with Hampden.
"We'll-settle-a few things-now."
There was the scent of heated flesh
and Of warm blood In the close, moist
air, and the clump and swish and
crunch Of heavy boots threshing the
fern. From under the trampling feet
he caught sight OF limp figure, crum-
pied on its side.
Something in its ghastly stiffness
caught at his heart and set a purpose
IN It's Mortified amaze.
He must stop this thing at any cost.
Springing down he caught up a long
blacksnake whip lying coiled beside a
stump 1t had evidently come with the
Yellow Pines outfit, for what purpose
he did not know, for there was not
such an article anywhere in camp.
Raising his arm he whirled It back
to send the long lash singing in among
the struggling mass, when q sound,
coming clearly out Of the breeding
stiffness Of the great pine woous, ar
rested him.
It was the high, silvery note Of a
flute. Shrill and clear, it cut into the
rush OF the fight like a flashing blade.
The men heard 1t, even through the
fight rage. Here and thore the furious
action halted a moment, without voli.
tion. It seemed and a man drew quick.
ly out on one side In the moments
hush that followed a whole cascade of
sparkling notes fell from the ridge
like a handful Of diamonds triclllng
down. and sweet and tender came the
strains of Lead, Kindly Light"
Daily caught his antagonist by the
throat and hurled him backward,
opening up q space in the locked and
painting swelter.
THE Preacher!" he painted. THE
Preachers cominI"
With common consent the two fac.
tions fell apart, the Yellow Pines own.
er getting to his feet blind with the un.
caring anger Of the bully.
So It was the Preacher who was com.
Ing thus with the herald of those sill.
yer notes.-the Preacher whose worn
old Bible lay in the little south room
and whose name brought the light OF
gladness into the somber face OF
Siletz.
sandry, still holding The trailing
whip waited eXpectant WHAT he be-
held, when at last the player came out
in a watery bar OF the slanting light,
astounded him beyond measure.
The stranger wore a garment OF
some coarse brown fiber, buttoned
down from the throat to the feet ard
belted at the waist with hempen rope.
He carried his flute high with a mar
tial air as II It told Of victory and
conquest, and his thin form walked
lightly and erect White and fine and
delicately lined, the face above shone
radiantly from between heavy hair
which fell in long, loose curls, white
as the winter snow. Blue eyes, under
level brows, looked out with the half
vacant innocence of the very young.
For him the world had stopped sone
time ago. AS he emerged through the
fern, Sandry saw that the brown gar.
ment was wet to the knees, the heavy
snoes upon his feet sodden with
earth.
"Ah. John, my sonl" he said in
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and small pieces OF light. triable