The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-05-11
Hampden of the Yenow Pines was the


Itself into his weary brain, the other
man turned and strobe swiftly away
among the boles. The wearying climb
had taken the breath from Sandry's
lungs and he drew a pistol from his
belt and fired over Hampden's head.
Like an animal the man whirled. hand
to hip. and faced him.
I've got you at last!" Sandy pant
ed; I've got you at last!"
Hampden's heavy lips curled ven
omously from his short. strong teeth.
"You!" he breathed. "youl You
damned Easternerl You lily.handed
tenderfootl"
Sandy smiled grimly.
This is Just about the blacklist spot
In your crooked career. Hampden." he
said at last. the blackest and the big
gest blunder. can't see why you did
it,"
You can't" snarled Hampden, "oh,
you can't! Well. by God. you will be-
fore I'm done with you. You didn't
know what you was gettin' up against
you and your-your-Poppy Ord
way. You made yer fight an you
thought you'd won! But you reck
oned without me- I'm maxim mine,
an it's a hummer"
He glared savagely along the gun
into Sandry's bloodshot eyes, and at
this moment Black Rolt heaved up
through the ferns. Slletz peering eager.
ly along his stralning neck. and the
face OF Poppy Ordway at her shoulder.
The girl slia out OF the saddle and ran
to Sandyy.
What is it?" she cried. what is
IT."
Sandry pointed to the burning can
die at the pines foot and Instantly she
sprang forward and snuffed II out
with thumb and finger
Miss Ordway slipped down from
the foamy. steamins hips OF the horse,
to stand leaning against him. her
bright eyes beginning to sparkle with
the tension Of the moment At sight
OF her Hampden's face grew gray be-
meath It's CRIME. She was smiling
with that pleasure which she always
| found where men fought. or engi-
neered dramatic coups. or worked out
clever schemes, and her beauty was
never SO maddening to him In all his
knowledge OF her. His one pure dream
had, in truth, reached a sorry ending.
Sandy" said Siletz simply. II came
to you. There's danger somewhere
| don't know where or what--but
there's something In the shadows"
A vagrant wind famed up long
sheets and whistiing banners that
hurried up to leap into the moaning
canopy behind the Hog Back. The
actors in this little drama were too
intent to hear the heightened note.
so you come to be in at tn
DEATH" said Hampden at last. his
eyes on Poppy in anguirhed fury
you done me to death an you want
to see me diet Oh. tn games up and
| don't care a damn! I'm tn smartest
one of this bunch yet. An but fer
tn fact that you've got them two let
ters you stole from the commissioner
and tn account book with the records
OF our deals an rake-offs and 40 on,
I'd a had a chance to fight an win
yet! But | know you. Poppy-Oh,
how damned we'll | know you!-an'
! know I'm whipped. But I'm maxim
fight-you're damned right | ami"
He waved an eloquent arm around
at the appalled,. shrinking country
which seemed 20 crouch in its nakea-
ness under the shrouding smoke.
But tn thing that cuts is KNOWN
that you done e all fer him! A feeble
drivelin' thing from tn Eastl An
they say you'll marry himl Well. 60
to II! He'll have to move out. fer
there won't be any more Diliingworth
Lumber company In twenty hours. III
be behind bars. all right. but I've
cleaned him out"
As he finished with a reckless laugh
Sandry turned amazed eyes to Poppy.
She was pale with anger and she
avoided his glance. This was the last
thing she wanted-that Sandry should
know of her attempt to forestall him
In the getting" OF Hampden. She
saw her chance to gain his gratitude
by her gift drifting away. Also the
| VI hci 10 aWyCi . pci was
mighty blow.
"Hampden," she said unsteadily,
you're the coarse5t beast know"
"All right But amt that what t. 8
all fer? To lay me as a burnt offerin'
at his feet-a sacrifice to win his
mincin' love? Didn't you say you'd
marry him? Amt ! heard It right
an leftH"
mol" cried Poppy. red with rage
under Sandry's astounded eyes. no!
| never did"
"Yes!" cried Siletz ringingly. you
did! You said when Sandry was dy-
ing that you were his promised wife.
In the hush that followed. intensi.
fled by the dropping brands frcm the
huge pine which was now but a black
ened. pronged sLape in the thickening
smoke. there fell upon their ears a
sound as incongruous with the strained
| tnnmant q could ha I'm q 0{nod