Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-01-01


other men, waiting at their separated
posts, were equally Invisible and noise
less. but some intangible premonition
had come to the shadow which had
lost itself in the impenetrable black
ness and began its retreat with its OBJ
ject unaccomplished-
Young Milt went back to his house
in the cold mists of dawn. No shot had
Havey and the McBriar both knew
that the school had been saved by
their joint vigilance
Some days later the news of that
night watch leaked through to Jerry
Everson, who bore the tidings to Juan
ita, and she wrote a note to Anse Ha-
vey asking him to come over and let
her express her thanks in person.
The mail rider brought her brief
reply penned in a hand of copybook
care
don't take any credit. only did what
any other man would do. and young Milt
McBriar did as much as 1 did Thank
him if you want to- 1t would only be
awkward for me to come over there.
Respectfully. ANSE HAVEY.
Old Milt McBriar heard of his sons
part in the watching of the school and
brooded blackly as he gnawed at the
stem of his pipe. but he said nothing.
The boy had been sent away to college
and had had every advantage Now
he had unwittingly but none the less
surely, turned his rifle on one of his
fathers hirelings bent on his fathers
work, for the oil-soaked kindling had
been laid at Old Mills command.
The thing did not tend to make the
L.
innovations from down below.
One day. when Juanita went down to
the post office, which nestled anob-
trusively behind the single counter of
the shack store at the gap. she found
a letter directed in hand which set
her heart beating and revived many
old memories.
She climbed to the crest, sat down
under the poplar, and began to read
the letter from the man she had sent
away.
He said that he had made a sincere
effort to reconcile himself to her deci-
sion which exiled him. The effort had
failed. He had been to the Mediter-
ranean and the East. His letter con-
cluded:
Can you not find it in your heart to be
ness. but peace dwelIs where you are.
and am coming to you.
Do not forbid me. for 1 coming any
way 1 am coming because 1 must; be-
cause love you.
She sat for long time gazing off at
the distances and shivered a little in
the bite of the raw air. Then she
looked up and saw a figure at her side.
1t was Bad Anse Havey.
He bowed and stripped off his coat.
which, without asking permission, he
threw around her shivering shoulders.
Il didn't aim to intrude on ye." he
said slowly. Il didn't know We was up
here. Do We come often?"
Very often" she answered, folding
the letter and putting it back into its
envelope. When 1 first came to the
Widow Everson's 1 discovered this
tree. and it seemed to beckon to me to
come up. Looki" She rose and point
ed off with a gauntleted hand. Il can
stand here and see the Notifications of
my two enemies. There is your place
and there is Milt McBriar's.'
She smiled with unconscious arch
ness. But I'm not going to let you be
my enemy any more" she went on.
i've decided that you have got to be
my friend. whether you want to be or
not-and what decide upon must be-"
Bad Anse Havey stood looking into
her eyes with the disconcerting steadi-
ness of gaze that she always found it
difficult to sustain, but his only re-
Spouse was a sober I'm obleeged to
ye."
Perhaps that letter. with it's old re-
minders had brought back a little of
the old self's innocent coquetry She
stood with her gloved hands in the
deep pockets of her sweater jacket
with his coat hanging from her shout
ders. About her deep-violet eyes and
sensitive lips lurked a subtle appeal
for friendship-pe perhaps. though she
did not know it-for love.
ct have behaved abominably to you,
Mr. Havey," she confessed Its nat
ural that you should refuse me forgive
ness" For a moment her eyes danced
and she looked up, challengingly, into
his face. But it's natural, too. that /
should refuse to let you refuse. We
are going to be friends. l am going to
smash your old feud to sp1inters and
I'm going to beat you, and just the
same we are going to be friends"
Again his reply was brief.
I'm obleeged to We"
You have been very good to me-"
she went on. and the note of banter
left her voice; land you refused to let
me thank you"
For a moment he was silent, then he