The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-01-05

IN than one leading thought at a
time. Ever since the desertion
and death of his daughter revenge had
order to find Gledware that he had
haunted the trail during the years of
Lahomas youth. always hoping TO dis
cover him In the new CONTRIBUTING
behind herds of cattle, listening to
scraps of talks among the cattlemen,
earning from Mizzoo the uneasy desig-
nation, the ghost"
. Thanks to the reading aloud of La
homa's letter he had learned of Gled-
wares presence In the city which he
had known years before as Westport
Landing. He went thither unbewilder-
ed by its marvellous changes. undis-
tracted by its tumultuous food of life
for his mind was full of his mission.
He could see only the blood following
the blade of his knife. heard nothing
but groan, death rattle,
Gledware's presence in the boat this
morning had been made possible only
by the interposition OF Lahoma. But for
lHtlluu 'ttD Stultu dutNliOh w
her. whom he regarded as child. the
man now smiling into Annabels pale
face would long ago have found his final
resting place II was due to the lndi-
ans singleness of thought that Laho-
mas plan had struck him as good.
Gledware. stripped of all his posses
sions. sinking us beggar from door
lnI htrt ell md
earth-that is what Red Feather had
meant
He had believed Gledware glad Of
the respite. That he should accept the
alternative seemed reasonable. There
was a choice only between death and
poverty-and Gledware wished to live
so desperately. so basely. The chief
cared little for life Still. he would
unhesitatingly have preferred the most
meagcr existence to Il knife in his
heart How much more. then. this
craven white man. But the plan had
failed because Gledware did not be-
lieve death was the other alternative.
Never in the remotest way had 1t &C.
CURED to the avenger that Gledware
could be spared should he prove false
to his oath. Red Feather was less a
man with passions than a cold. relent.
less fate. This fate would surely
overcome the helpless wretch should
he cling to his riches.
AS Red Feather skinned the water
with long sweeps of his oars, never
looking back, the voices of his passen-
gers came to his ears without meaning.
He was thinking of the last few days
and how this mornings ride was their
fitting sequel. The early sunbeams
were full Oh him as he tilted back his
head, but they showed no emotion on
his face. hard set and duly red in the
clear radiance.
Crouching near the summer house at
Gledware's place, he had overheard
Red kimbali boast to bring Gledware
the pearl ana onyx pin. Then had shot
through his darkencd mind the suSpi-
ciOn that Gledwarc meant To escape the
one condition on which his life was to
be spared. With simple cunning he
had left the pin where the outlaw must
find it, His own death would be taken
for granted. What then:
What then: This ride in the boat.
Gledware had made his choice; he had
clung to his possessions, and now
Death held the oars lie was scarcely
past middle age. He might have lived
so long. he who 50 loved to live, But.
no, lie had chosen to be rich-and to
die.
When Red Feather brought his mind
back to the present Gledware was de-
scribing to Annubel a ranch in Califor-
MIA for which he had traded the house
near Independence. He would take her
far away; he would build house thus
and thus-rOOms so. terraces here. mar
bic pillars.
Annabel listened gravely, silently,
her face all the paler for the sunlight
flashing over it, for the mimic sun on
the waves glancing up into her pensive
eyes. somehow the sunshine, the rip
pie of the water seemed to form no
part of her life, belonged, rather, to
Edgcrton Compton, rowing in solitude
against the sky. Those naked trees,
bare. brown hills and lodges Of huge
stones seemed her world boundaries,
kin to her, claiming her But there
was California and the splendid house
10 be built.
The Indian was listening now but as
he heard projected details glowingly
presented no change came in his grim,
deep lined face. He simply knew 1t
was not TO be. Let the fool plan!
Beautiful one" he heard Gledware
say. speaking in an altered tone, "all
that is In the future-but see what |
have brought you. This is for today.
It's yours. dear. Let me see il around
your neck with the sun full upon IT,"
Red Feather turned his head. curl
ously.
Gledware held outstretched a mag
ni1cent diamond necklace which shot
forth dazzling rays as it swung from