Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-01-15
CHAPTER Xxx.

mere still remained the task of
| winning young jobs assent to his plan,
and Anse Havey foresaw a stubborn
battle there. Jeb had been reading
law that winter; reading by the light
or log fire through long and lonely
evenings in a smoke-darkened cabin
| When Anse Havey called from the
stile one night. the boy laid battered
Blackstone on his thin knee and called
out: Come in, Anse, and pull up
cheer,'
Anse mad been rehearsing his argu-
ments as he rode through the sIeet-
| dashed hills. and he was deeply trou-
bled
The man and the boy sat on either
side of the fireplace. Penetrating
gusts swept in at the broken thinking
and up through the warped floor until
old Beardog, lying at their feet. shiv-
cred as he slept with his forepaws
stretched on the hearth and the two
men hitched their chairs nearer to the
blaze By the bed still stood the rife
that had been Fletch's; the rifle upon
which the boys eyes always fell and
which to him was the symbol of his
duty.
AS Bad Anse Havey talked of the fu-
ture with all the instructive forceful-
Less that he could command, the boys
set face relaxed, and into his eyes
came CLINT of eagerness, because he
himself was to play no small part in
these affairs.
Into his heart crept the first burning
of ambition, the first reaching out
after a career. He saw future open
ing before him, and his grave eyes
were drinking in pictures in the live
embers.
Then. when ambition had been kim
died, the older man preached the topic
which was the crux of his plea
1.-THE man that can do things for the
mountains must be willin' to make
heap of sacrifices. Jeb.'' he said.
Jeb laughed. looking about the bare
room of his cabin.
MEX sacrifices?" he repeated. 81
hain't never knowed nothin' else hut
that. l reckon I hain't skeered of it."
81 didn't mean that way. Jeb." Anse
spoke slowly. holding the boy with his
eyes, and something of his meaning
sank in so that the lads lean face
again hardened.
t'Nothin' KANT stand between me an
what I've got ter do. Anse." he said
slowly. He did not speak now with
wild passion, but calm fnality. I've
done took Their OATH
For a while Anse Havey did not re-
ply. At last he said quietly: Il reckon
we've got rid of the idea that ] was
amin to deceive we, Jeb- l told We
that when F1etch's assassin came back
to the mountains I'd let We know I'm
goin' to keep my word"
Jeb rose suddenly from his chair
and stood with the fire lighting up his
ragged trousers and the frayed sleeves
of his coat.
Air he back now?" he demanded.
Anse shook his head.
mot yet, Jeb; but he's coming" He
saw the twitch that went across the
tight-closed lips which made no COM
ment
"Jeb," he continued II want ye to
help me. 1 want We to be big enough
to put by things that it's hard to put
by
The boy shook his head
"Anse," he replied slowly, TASK me
ter do anything else in God AImishty's
world, but don't ask me thet, cause if
We does I've got ter deny ye-'
Il amt askin' We to Let the man go
unpunished I'm only aslxin' you TO let
me punish him with the law
Astonishment was writ large in
every feature of jobs face. He stood
in the wavering circle of light while
the shadows swallowed the corners of
the cabin, and wondered If he had
heard rightly at last his voice carried
a note of deep disappointment. and he
spoke as though unwilling to utter
such reasonable words.
Il reckon. Anse." he suggested. we
wouldn't hardly hev asked thing like
tibet afore'-there was a hesftatlng
halt before he went cn-"afore a fur
rim woman changed yore fashion of
| Iookin' at things"
Anse Havey felt his face redden.
and an angry retort rose to his lips
| But the charge was true.
| He went on as though Jeb had not
! spoken
| "An / ask is that when that man
comes yen hold your hand until the
cote has acted"
Does ye reckon Milt McBriar aims
| ter let Sidering try kin of hisr was
1 the next incredulous question.
| Anee Havey's voice broke out of its