The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-02-04

fut DOWN yer pOpsun, ooy, an take
II easy-the blame thing mout go of.
reckon as how we all hav'n't got
nuthin' ter fight fer. hav' wei How
Their Sam Hill did yer ever git yeref"
Nov watt" broke In coldly. "You
stand just where you are. ] am not
sure whether you know me or not;
but know you. Ned Cowan-l know
what you did at Hot Springs. and how
you took me along SO as to make 9TH
ers believe | was guilty"
"Shucks. lad: twas no more than
fair fight"
1T was cold.blooded murder. Cow
AM" exclaimed Indignantly. "the cul-
mination Of feud."
Huh who told yer that?"
| stepped aside, but still held him
under the muzzle Of my revolver. The
change in posture brought the man
face to face with NSreen; saw him
lean forward and gaze a; her; then
recoil. as though he viewed i ghost.
She never moved. never spoke.
Good Lord!" he muttered. "ls that
Harwood's girl? Why. Anse's out
huntin' after her now"
He stopped. cursing fiercely to him
self. His eyes shifted their gaze from
the face of the girl to mine. They
we're narrow cat eyes. cruel and Gun.
ming.
Il reckon | amt seen OIL Harwood's
gal afore in maybe five year" he said
slowly. "but she has sure growed up
fine. Anse took after marrying her
furst list ter spite Harwood, but since
he seed her a while back he's sorteI
took notion he wants her hisself
reckon / don't blame him. Thet's
why he wouldn't wait, but set out ter
night No, ] don't reckon, young fel
Ter. it's no particular risk. Yer a sojeI
an don't Jest understand how we fight
out yere in the mountings. We jest
strike quick. an then git away. Tain
so much OF trick Anse Is a-playine
at over at Lewisburg. Sure thar's five
hundred Yanks thar; an If thar WI:
Ave thousand II wouldn't make ne
great difference the way the guard Il
sot. The Who'll blame caboodle II
camped in the courthouse yard, an
the only picket is at the main ford 0
the Green Briar. Yer never saw no
body, did yer, gittin' out yere?"
no" | admitted, realizing his init
mate knowledge. THE camp is poorl.
protected"
Il reckon It is. and Anse know
that Just as well as you do. An h
knows the gal yere had room at the
hotel. Thar is where he went. Amin
fer ter raid the shebang just befor
daylight" He laughed again mirth
lessiy. s'By God. but Anse will b
some mad when he finds out whit ha
happened. reckon he'll bout cut ye
heart out"
"He will have to get me first"
"0h, don't yer ever worry non
bout tibet, young fellar. Anse vii
sure git yer; he knows every bridl
path cross these mountings. an
wouldn't give continental dam
fer no chance you've got fer ter 81
away. He's a tiger cat on trai
Anse is--an' besides the blame foe
wants the gal. He amt no Cowan
he let's you beat him outer her."
He glanced quickly across my shou
der toward the door. Perhaps sh
moved; perhaps II was all imaglns
ton, but thought heard noise, an
wheeled partly around, my eyes TO
an instant deserving old Cowan's fact
It was his one chance, and he took 4
sensed the spring. even as Noreen'
cry of warning broke the silence, bu
not In time to escape the grip Of tn
old mans iron fingers. His bod
crashed against me with such fore
that | staggered and fell; one han
closed like a wise on my throat. tn
other gripped the stock of my n
volver, crushing my fingers lifeless
struck the edge of the table, strut
Cling vainly to keep my feet. 1t wen
over with a crash. bearing US bot
along. old Ned atop, clutching fiercel
to keep his hold, his eyes blazin
madly down into mine. AS we struc
| wrenched my hand free and pulle
the trigger. The shot seemed to blaz
across my own breast, burning lik
fire, and, the next instant, the man
knee crushed my wrist to the foo
and the revolver fell from my b,
benumbed fingers.
| seem to recall little Of what TO
lowed; only confused recollection {
desperate struggling amid the legs {
the overturned table; of oaths. blow
OF eyes glaring revengefully into min,
| seemed to lose all knowledge, a
consciousness, under the merclles
throttling of those hard fingers. The
suddenly they relaxed caught
quick, reviving breath, another. Ever
nerve In me throbbed; ! could Sc