The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-08
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
There still remained the task Of
winning young jobs assent to his plan.
and Anse Havey foresaw a stubborn
battle there. Jeb had been reading
law that winter; reading by the light
OF log fire through long and lonely
evenings in a smoke-darkened cabin.
When Anse Havey called from the
stile one night. the boy laid battered
Blackstone on his thin knee and called
out: Come in Anse. and pull up a
cheerI''
Anse had been rehearsing his argu-
ments as he rode through the sleet-
dashed hills. and he was deeply trou-
bled.
The man and the boy sat on either
side Of the fireplace. Penetrating
gusts swept in at the broken chinking
and up through the warped floor until
old Beardog, lying at their feet, shiv-
cred as he slept with his forepaws
stretched on the hearth and the two
men hitched their chairs nearer to the
blaze. By the bed still stood the rife
that had been F1etch's; the rife upon
which the boys eyes always fell and
which to him was the symbol of his
duty
AS Bad Anse Havey talked of the fu-
ture with all the instructive forcefgl
Less that he could command, the boys
set face relaxed, and into his eyes
came CLINT of eagerness, because he
himself was to play no small part in
these affairs.
Into his heart crept the first burning
of ambition, the first reaching out
after career. He saw a future open
ing before him, and his grave eyes
were drinking in pictures in the live
embers.
Then, when ambition had been kin
died, the older man preached the topic
which was the crux of his plea.
1.-THE man that can do things for the
mountains must be wiIIin' to make a
heap of sacrifices, Jeb," he said.
Jeb laughed. looking about the bare
room of his cabin.
MEX sacrifces?" he repeated. 81
hain't never ,knowed nothin' else but
that l reckon 1 hain't skeered of it."
ct didn't mean that way, Jeb." Anse
spoke slowly, holding the boy with his
eyes. and something of his meaning
sank in so that the lads lean face
again hardened.
"Nothin' KANT stand between me an
what I've got ter do, Anse," he said
slowly. He did not speak now with
wild passion, but calm fnality. I've
done took Their OATH
For while Anse Havey did not re-
we've got rid of the idea that 1 was
Amin to deceive ye. Jeb. I told ye
that when FIetch's assassin came back
to the mountains I'd let ye know. I'm
goin' to keep my word
Jeb rose suddenly from his chair
and stood with the'fire lighting up his
ragged trousers and the frayed sleeves
of his coat
Air he back now?" he demanded.
Anse shook his head.
Not yet, Jeb; but he's coming" He
saw the twitch that went across the
tight-closed lips which made no COM
ment.
"Jeb," he continued. 81 want ye to
help me. 1 want ye to be big enough
to put by things that it's hard to put
by"
The boy shook his head
.Anse," he replied slowly, TASK me
ter do anything else in God Almighty's
world. but don't ask me thet, cause if
We does I've got ter deny ye."
81 amt askin' ye to Let the man go
unpublished. I'm only askin' you to let
me punish him with the law"
| IN
every feature Of jobs face. He stood
in the wavering circle of light while
the shadows swallowed the corners of
the cabin, and wondered If he had
heard rightly. At last his voice carried
a note of deep disappointment. and he
spoke as though unwilling to utter
such reasonable words.
Il reckon. Anse," he suggested. we
wouldn't hardly hev asked thing like
thet afore"-there was a hesitating
halt before he went on-"afore a fur
rim woman changed yore fashion of
Iookin' at things"
| Anse Havey felt his face redden,
and an angry retort rose to his lips.
But the charge was true.
He went on as though Jeb had not
spoken
"An / ask is that when that man
comes yen hold your hand until the
cote has acted"
Does ye reckon MiIt McBriar aims
ter let Sidering try kin of his?" was
the next incredulous question
Anse HaVey's voice broke ont of its
line is, and she is using them more all
the time. They ought to be easily &C