Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-15

"She liesi"
siletz had sprung to her feet. both
hands feeling wildly in her empty
blouse.
Miss ordway swung heavily toward
her.
"Hushi" she said warningly.
She slipped a hand inside her own
gown and showed a corner of the
soiled packet of proofs that Siletz had
guarded for so many days. the packet
that she knew instinctively meant
harm to Sandry. that must never go
easti
1t was then that Sandry was to be-
hold the iron in this creature of soft
ness. of faithfulness and OF service.
With cry that chilled his blood IN
| its savage wildness, the girl ieaped
| across the silent form in the shabby
habit tore Sandry's gun from his hand
and fred twice before he could seize
her and wrest the weapon from her.
Both shots went wild.
What would you do?" he cried
aghast
Siletz fought for the gun like a
wild thing. Then. as he held it high
above her reach. she fell on her knees,
clasping his limbs, her face upturned
and TRANSPORTED with the lust for
| blood.
XIII them!" she painted desper-
-toly, kill them both! Blood for
Preacher and she would ruin you!
Shoot them, Sandry. shoot them-or
/ give me the gum"
Shuddering, Sandry covered her
! savage eyes with his hand. Their
reversion sickened him But she
shook him loose. crying for death.
Kill them both, for they will ruin
you if they go freel She's got the
packet. Kill her and get the packet"
What's this?" he cried hoarsely.
Things she has written about you
a-letter to man by the name OF
Musseldorni"
Slowly Sandry's face went white
beneath its CRIME as he raised his
eyes and looked at Poppy Ordway.
She returned his gaze.
Then True" she said, that's
why | went east. cannot lose you,
Walter There was danger from that
wild creature there, though you did
not know it, and was determined to
make sure. Fair means or foul
must win. And there's no law for a
genius 1 know and you know that
| you are"
Guilty." he said, throwing up his
head.
Then Sandry dropped his eyes to
Siletz and spoke as if he obeyed
some compelling power, some urge to
| justify himself before her.
Il ans yer to the Right Law.
obeyed the ancient Right Law, little
Sletz, and have no regrets"
Il knowl" cried Siletz, Il knowi"
the smoke was so dense that the
actors in this drama could scarcely
see each others faces, but they took
no note Of it. The climbing roar had
shut them apart in a sound-maie 81
lence and they did not know it. Only
Hampden, edging sidewise, was alive
to the possibilities of the moment
He saw the gun hanging in Sandry'
hand, forgotten. He saw Siletz de
vouring his face with her blazing
eyes of passion. He saw his moment
and took it.
With one great bound he flung him
! self high in the air, leaped the space
] hatmaan ond nap,a Hourp rrri+h hfr
( great weight upon the shoulders OF
| the other man, clutching for back and
throat. drawing the one to him in a
grip of iron. pushing the other away
Sandry went down like a reed, and
| as his knees buckled under him there
was an ominous snap. The bone OF
his right leg, newly healed and fragile
1 gave way under the strain.
AS the two men fell, both guns, the
one in Sandry's hand and the one in
his trousers band. tumbled loosely
apart Siletz. clinging still to San
| dry's knees, was borne down with
them. AS they rolled over she tore
herself from under them and with
two sweeps of her outspread arms
gathered the guns. Then she sprang
up. drawing back pace. her eyes like
fire, and deliberately sought for a
chance to kill Hampden.
"Sandry," she cried, lie fat! Lie
fat"
From under Hampden's arm that
was choking the breath from his
lungs the owner saw that slim fig
ure of doom and strove to cry out Al
last he got his voice for a moment.
'Siletz!" he rasped, don't shoot
command you. don't kill" But the
bark of the gun drowned his words
She was firing around them.
With the first shot Hampden. re
membering the guns that he had
failed to get. felt his flesh rise on his
body and he loosened his hold, shook
off Sandry and got to his feet. painting
fighting mad, his eyes red and awful
With the courage of the raging bull
he made straight for Siletz, who fired
point blank at him. He took the ball
in his shoulder and spun 4alf round
The girl pulled the trigger again, go;
an empty snap, threw the weapon
away and raised the other
"Siletz!" shrleked Sandry from the
ground. "for my sake stopi"
II was a command, C cry of owner,
ship. and 1t went straight to that part
of her nature which had obeyed for
generations. She hesitated, holding
the man across the barrel.