Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-03-08


tne moment the thrust went home to
tne young owner. His jaw frightened
and he marked the man, one of the
rallers, for future reckoning.
How the fight would have end ed
Sandry, thinking 1t over afterward,
could never decide. They were evenly
matched in intent, the two factions,
and nearly SO in numbers, though
Hampden's force was a tritie the
stronger.
Blows rained fast and furious.
Blood was flowing freely and the oaths
and laughter had given place to pant
ing silence.
You low-down cheat" he heard
Daily say as he closed with Hampden,
"We'll-settle-a few things-now."
There was the scent of heated flesh
and Of warm blood in the close, moist
air, and the clump and swish and
crunch of heavy boots threshing the
fern. From under the trampling feet
he caught sight of limp figure, crum-
pied on it's side.
Something in its CHASTITY stiffness
caught at his heart and set q purpose
in its Mortified amaze.
He must stop this thing at any cost
Springing down he caught up long
blacksnake whip lying coiled beside a
stump. 1t had evidently come with the
Yellow Pines outfit, for what purpose
he did not know, for there was not
such an article anywhere in camp.
Raising his arm he whirled it back
to send the long lash singing in among
the struggling mass, when sound,
coming clearly out of the brooding
stiffness of the great pine woods. ar
rested him.
1t was the high, silvery note OF a
flute. Shrill and clear, it cut into the
rush of the fight like a flashing blade.
The men heard it, even through the
fight rage. Here and there the furious
action halted moment, without voli-
ton, it seemed, and man drew quick
ly out on one side. In the moments
hush that followed whole cascade of
sparkling notes fell from the ridge
like handful of diamonds trucking
down, and sweet and tender came the
strains of Lead, Kindly Light"
Daily caught his antagonist by the
throat and hurled him backward,
opening up a space in the locked and
painting swelter.
1.-The Preacher!" he painted. "The
oorri.,'tn
With common consent the two fac
lions fell apart, the Yellow Pines own
err getting to his feet blind with the un-
caring anger Of the bully.
So it was the Preacher who was COM
ing thus with the herald of those sill
yer notes.-the Preacher whose worn
old Bible lay in the little south room
and whose name brought the light OF
gladness into the somber face of
Siletz
Sandry. still holding the trailing
whip, waited expectant. What he be-
held, when at last the player came out
in a watery bar of the slanting light,
astounded him beyond measure.
The stranger wore s. garment OF
some coarse brown fiber. buttoned
down from the throat to the feet and
belted at the waist with hempen rope.
He carried his flute high with q mar
tial air. as IL 1t told OF victory and
conquest. and his thin form walked
tightly and erect. White and fine and
delicately lined, the face above snone
radiantly from between heavy hair
which fell in long, loose curls, WHITE
as the winter snow. Blue eyes, under
,avol brows. looked out with the half
vacant innocence of the very young.
For him the world had stopped some
time ago. AS he emerged through the
fern. Sandry saw that the brown gar
ment was wet to the knees, the heavy
shoes upon his feet sodden with
earth.
"Ah, John. my son!" he said in a
voice as gentle as his eyes, 1t mas
been long since we met! l nave
wearied ON the way for the faces OF
friends!"
He held out hand, slim and shape
". vet which bore the look OF one-time
strength. The foreman took 1t. after
wiping his own swiftly on his corou-
roys.
1--WE ben waitin' for you long
time" he said, IAN we're mighty gao
you've come"
The stranger nodded and. turning 10
the shifting lumberiacks, went ROUND
among them with a word for eacn ana
that same delicate handshake. before
he reached Hampden, the owner OF tne
yellov Pines. Strengthening his DISNEY
e,ed clothes, swung out OF the group.
AS he passed Sandry he glared INTO
his face.
"I1l stop you before another twenty
four hours" he said savagely, ana
don't you forget it. Your little deed
to the East Belt an this strip happens
~ have been made by bogus owner,
,ubo soaked old Frazer for a Pile an
cleared. It's been filed on as nome
stead an sold to me, an III see you
IN hell but what I'll get tall. ! was
reenin' the belt as surprise party TOT
Won but / guess it's due right now!"
The vindictys triumph In bus Small