The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-06-15
NOW how under heaven did It get

was nearly as black and disreputable
as any scarecrow down among the
fires. He was intently watching some
thing at the foot of second pine,
Softly Sandry moved until this object
was In his line Of vision.
Bedded high in a pile OF tlnder.dry
needles fourth candle glowed
brightly in the smoky gloom. With
utmost cunning II had been set close
against the tree where 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
upeaping flames need only to lick
that banner to rush with lightning
speed to the swaying, inhammable
! top.
/ For a long moment the Eastenee
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 strode swiftly away
among the boles. The wearying climb
had taken 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.
1--WE 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 Easternerl You lily.handed
tenderfoot!"
Sandy smiled grimly.
This is just about the blackest 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 Hampden, "oh,
you can't! Well, by God, you will be-
fore I'm 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 won! But you reck.
oned without me. I'm maxim mine,
an IT'S a hummer"
He glared savagely along the gun
into Sandry's bloodshot eyes, and at
this moment Black Bolt heaved up
through the ferns. Siletz peering eager
ly along MS 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
III"
Sandry pointed to the burning can
die at the pines foot and instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed it out
with thumb and finger.
Miss Ordway slipped down from
the foamy, steaming hips of the horse,
to stand leaning against him. her
bright eyes beginning to sparkle with
the tension Of the moment. At sight
OF her Hampdens 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 we're too
intent to hear the heightened note.
80 you come to be in at tn
DEATH" said Hampden 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
one Of this bunch yet. An but fer
tn fact that you've got them two let.
ters you stole from tho commissioner
and tn account book with the records
OF our deals an rakeoffs and so on,
I'd a had a chance to fight an win
yeti But know you. Poppy-Oh,
how damned well | know youl-an'
] know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
a fght-youre damned right ami"
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 1t all fer him! A feeble
driyelin thing from tn East! An
they say you'll marry him. Well go
to H. 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 witt anger and she
avoided his glance This was the last
thing she wanted-that Sandry should