The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-05-25

together"
He tempted her strongly, no franh
and boyish and lovable were bis glance,
and his words. But she was vaguely
afraid OF herself. and though the Ions
ride at the moment seemed bard and
dull the thought of her mother waiting
decided her action.
mo, nor she responded firmly. 1--WE
have wasted too much time already
We must ride"
He looked up at her with challenging
giance. suppose I refuse-suppose I
decide to stay hereT
Upon her as he talked a sweet hes
itation fell. a dream which held more
Of happiness than she had ever known.
ut IL long, hard ride" she thought.
"aDd another night on the trail will
not matter" And so the moments
passed on velvet feet, and still she lin
gered, reluctant 90 break the spell
Suddenly into their idyllic browse OF
content. 80 sweet, so youthful and 80
pure OF heart, broke the sound OF a
horses hurrylng. clashing steel shod
feet. and, looking up, Berrie saw q
mounted man coming down the noun
tain side with furious. reckless haste.
1T " Clinr' she cried out He's
on our trailr' And into her face came
look Of alarm. Her lips paled her
eyes widened Hes mad-he's dan
gerousl Leave him to me-" she added
There was something so sinister In
the riders disregard of stone and tree
and pace. something so menacing In
the forward thrust Of his body. that
Berrie was able TO divine his wrath
and was smitten into irresolution, all
her hardy. boyish self reliance swal-
lowed UP In the weakness of the WON
an She forgot the pistol at her belt
and awaited the assault with rigid
pose.
As Belden neared them Norcross also
perceived that the riders face was dis
torted with passion and that his glance
was not directed upon Berrie. but upon
himself. and he braced himself for the
attack.
Leaving his saddle with one Tying
leap. which the cowboy practices at
play. Belden hurled himself upon his
rival with the fury Of a panther.
The slender youth went down before
the big rancher as Though struck by a
catapult, and the force Of his fall
against the stony earth stunned him 30
that he lay beneath his enemy as help
less as a child.
Belden snarled between his teeth, 81
told you I'd kill you. and willw
But this was not to be. Berea sud.
denly recovered her native force With
a cry OF pain. Of anger. she flung her,
self on the maddened mans back. Her
hands encircled his neck like q collar
Of bronze.
let gor she commanded. with dead.
ly intensity. Let go or I'll choke the
life out OF you! Let go. sayr'
He raised hand to beat her OF. but
she was too strong. too desperate to be
driven away. She was as blind to PAIN
a. mother eagle and bent above him
% closely that he coula not bring the
full weight OF his fist TO bear With
one determind hand stil clutching his
throat. she ran the fingers of her other
hand into his hair and twisted his head
upward with a power which he could
not resist And so. looking into his
upturned ferocious eyes. she repeated
with remorselcss fury. let go. I sayr'
His swollen face grew rigid. his
mouth gaped. his tongue protruded.
and at last, releasing his hold on his
victim. he rosa ninging Berrie OF with
= nnal desperate effort I'm kill you.
toor' he gasped.
Up to this moment the girl had felt
no fear OF herself. but now she resort
ed to other weapons. Snatching her
pistol from its holster. she leveled It
at his forehead ''Stop!" she said. and
something In her voice froze him into
calm. He was not a fend; he was not
a deliberate assassin: he was only q
Jealous. despairing. insane lover. and
as he looked into the face he knew 30
well and realized that nothing but
hate and deadly resolution lit the eyes
he had 90 often kissed his heart gave
way. and, dropping his head. he said:
XIII me II you want to. I've nothing
left TO live for"
There was something unreal appall-
ing In this sudden reversion to weak
MW1< nm