The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-29

hardened and the jaw angle stiffened
and the lips drew themselves into
their old line of warlike sternness.
She looked again into the face of the
mountaineer, the feudist, of the Eiid
creature turning to stand at bay.
For a moment they remained mo-
tfonless, and her fingers rested on
his arms and felt the strain on his
tautened biceps
Cod" he muttered almost in
audibly.
What is ft?" she whispered, but
ne replied only with a warning shake
of the head.
Once more he stood listening, then
was between her and the outside
world. He thrust her back into the
/ open door and followed her inside.
What is it, Anse? What did you
hear out there?" Her face had gone
pallid and she chung to his arms with
a grip that indicated no intention of
release.
"Nothin' much Just the crackin' of
a twig or two; just some steps in the
bush that was too cautious to sound
honest little noises that wouldn't
mean much if didn't know what they
! do mean. They weren't friendly
sounds. They're after me-
Who? What do you mean?"
Her voice came in low panic of
| whispering, and even as she spoke the
man was listening with his head bent
toward the closed door
He laughed mirthlessly under his
breath
4 don't know who they've picked
out to get me- It don't matter much,
does it? But 1 Know they've picked
tonight: I've been lookin' for it, but
it seems they might have let me have
tonight" His lips smiled, and for
an instant his eyes softened again %
tenderness. This was my night
our night
Suddenly he wheeled and caught
/ her fercely in his arms holding her
very close, and now her heart was
beating more wildly than before-beat-
| ing with sudden and sickening ter
ror
He bent low and covered her tenn
pies and cheeks and lips and eyes
with kisses
God knows, when I came here to-
night he declared. talking fast and
passionately, 4 didn't aim to ever go
away again without We. Now I've got
to go. but if come through, an there's
a breath or a drop of blood left in
me, I'll be back. I'm a comm back,
dearest, if live"
| Her answer was low moan.
He released her at last and went
over to the gun-rack.
Standing before her shrine of guns,
in her temple of disarmament, ne
said slowly: Dearest, / was about
the last man to leave my rifle here,
an l reckon I've got to be the first
to take it out again. I'm sorry VIII
| you give it to me IT must / take it
without permission?"
She came slowly over, conscious
that her knees were trembling. and
| that ice-water seemed to have taken
the place of hot blood in her veins
IF you need it, she faltered, take
it, dear-nothing else matters Which
enc shall 1 give your
| My owni" His voice was for the
instant imperious. It was almost as
if someone had asked Ulysses what
| bow he would draw in battle. Il
reckon my own guns good enough for
me. 1t has been till today
| She withdrew the rifle from the
rack herself, and he took it from her
trembling hands, but when he had
accepted it she threw her arms about
him again and chung to him wildly.
her eyes wide with silent suffering
| and dread.
The crushing grasp of his arms hurt
her and she felt wild joy in the
pain. Then she resoluteIy whispered:
| Go, dearest, go! Time is precious
now. God keep you!"
I "Juanita," he said slowly, 81 have
refused to talk to you IN good speech.
l have chung to the rough phrases and
the rough manners Of the hills, bat
l want you to know always. most
dear one. that / have loved you not
only fiercely. but gently too. No ten
derer worship lives in your own world.
! If 1 don't come back. think of that.
God knows l love you"
Don't, Ansei" she cried with a
| smothered sob. Don't talk like a soft
| muscled lowlanderi Talk to me IN
your own speech. 1t rings of strength
and God knows"-her voice broke, and
she added with fierce tenderness. God
knows. dear. eagle-heart, you need all
the strength of wing and talon to-
night
Then she opened the back door very
cautiously on the shadows that crept
into inky blackness, and saw him slip
away and melt instantly into the
murk.
CHAPTER XIV.
Out there the moon was setting.