The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-11-09
AN OPEN
QUESTION
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

y
teenth century inKentucky and Tennes-
see feuds were carried on which seem
ed to be interminable. Such feud
existed between >the Boxers and the
Haywoods. Tom Haywood was the
last victim, and Hank Boxer was sus-
pected Of the killing.
Now, Hank Boxer had met Lizzie
Haywood, and the two had drifted
into a love affair. But they had not
dared to let any one know it, for such
union would be forbidden by both
families. One morning when Lizzie
was out of doors hanging up clothes
from the wash she heard a thud be.
hind her. Turning, she saw bit of
white paper tied to stone. Picking
up the paper and looking about her
furtively, she read the words, written
in pencil:
Bring somepin to eat. I'm in the ra-
vine and Starvin'.
Lizzie knew that her lover was be.
ing hunted for his life, and the mo.
ment she heard the stone drop and
saw the paper she was sure that it
was a missive from him. Fortunately
there was no one at home except her
self. Going to the larder, she took out
some corn pone and bit Of cold meat
and started for the ravine. There she
found Hank Boxer, exhausted for want
Of food
Il didn't do the last job. Lizzie" he
said.
Il know you didn't. We're tryin' to
stop the feud, and you'd be the last
man to keep 1t up by another killin'.'
They're goin' to get me; they've
got me surrounded"
The girl stood thinking and present
ly said: There's but one chance TO-
you. Come into the house, and III
hide you"
"If they found me there they'd kill
you as we'll as me-"
maybe they won't find you; any
way, they'll not look TO- yo' in the
home Of a Haywood"
There was long debate, at the end
of which Hank allowed himself to be
persuaded, and he followed her to a
point near the house. She went for
ward and, having made sure that no
one had come in the meanwhile, beck
oned him to come. The only place
where he could be hidden was under
a bed in the upper story used by the
children. Boxer sat on the bed while
Lizzie watched, and as soon as voices
were heard without he crawled un-
der it.
The bed under which Hank hid had
been made up for the day, so there
was not much probability of discov-
cry till night. and even then it was
not likely.
When evening came the men who
had been hunting the human game all
day gathered in the house and discuss
ed the matter of their failure to find
one whom they knew to have been In
the wood which they had surrounded.
While they were debating Lizzie, who
was then wiping the supper dishes,
said:
You uns are not on the right track
nohow. Hank didn't do the job"
"How do you know that?" asked her
father.
Then Lizzie took the risk of death
upon herself in an effort to save her
lover and at the same time stop the
feud.
'I'll tell you why he didn't do It,
1t was because he and are lovers,
and there's no way for us to take com
fort in each other while this bloody
business Is goin' on. Do you suppose
Hank would put himself into this yere
fix by shootin one Of our people when
he wants to marry me and settle
DOWN."
Her father, who listened to this con-
fession with knit brows, at this point
raised his hand to strike her. 1t was
caught and held by Cyrus Marks, a
young man about Lizzie's age.
"As long as Lizzie needs me to stand
between her and HARM" he said, "I'm
thar"
"She's my darter| yelled the other.
"And she's the gal l love. II she
loves some other man better than me
that's her affair, and If she says Hank
Boxer didn't do this yere job it's 50,
by gum, and while I'm alive to prevent
it she'll come to no harm!'
"Whar's Hank?' asked the. father.
lowering his hand.
Lizzie hesitated for moment, then
said: II can take you to him. If do
will you hear what he's got to say?"
Nearly every man present answered
"yes," and Cyrus Marks. pulling his
revolver forward, declared that he
would defend Hank with his life.
''This mornin',' said Lizzie, FLANK
was hidin' in the ravine. If he isn't
thar know whar to look TO him. He
was to 60 up the mountain. Come
with me-"
Boxer heard every word Of this dia.
logue, and when all had left the house
he let himself down from the window
and started up to point above the
ravine. At the latter point Lizzie call.
ed to him, and when he did not answer
she moved on, followed by the men,
{,> II,