The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-01-27
CHAPTER xxll-continued.

and timber. made a Journey through
the hills that spring. and was every.
where received as home folks" For
him there were no bars of distrust
and he was able for that reason to buy
land right and left. Though he had
paid for It a price above the average
II was a price far below the value of
the coal and timber It contained
and Jim had picked his land.
Anse Havey and his associates knew
that Jim Fletcher had been subsidized;
that the money he spent so lavishly
was not his own money; and that he
came as a stalking.horse but they did
not know that he had been to Louis
vile and had conferred there with Mr.
Trevor. Neither did they know at
once that he had visited the cabins OF
every malcontent among both the for
mer factions. and that he was a mis-
chiefmaker adroitly laying here in the
hills the foundations for a new feud
Jim had a bland tongue and a per
ssasive manner, and he talked to the
mountain men in their own speech,
but he was none the less the advance
agent of the new enemy from down
below: the personal fulhllment Of
Juanita's prophecy to Roger Malcolm.
Juanita did not realize how much
she was leaning on the strength OF
Anse Hayey. how she depended on
him for counsel and encouragement,
which he gave not in behalf of the
school, but because he was the school
teachers slave. She saw the little
hospital rise on the hill and thought
of what it would do. and she believed
that Anse Havey must be. in his heart
converted, even though his mouRtain
obstinacy would not let him say so.
Then, while the hillsides were joy
GUS with spring, came a squad of lads
with transit and chain, who began
running tentative line through the
land that Jim Fletcher had bought.
Anse Havey watched them grimly
with folded arms. but said no word
until they reached the boundary of his
own place.
There he met them at the border.
Boys he said, ''ye mustn't cross
that fence. This is my land. an for
bids ye."
Their foreman argued.
I'VE only want to take the measure
ments necessary to complete our line
Mr.. Havey We won't work any in
Jury"
Anse shook his head
Come in, boys, an eat with me an
make yourselves at home," he told
them, but leave your tools outside"
Men from the house patrolled the
boundary with rifles and the young
men were forced to turn back.
But later they drew near the house
of old Bob McGreegor, and he. steal
ing down to the place in the thicket o
rhododendron, saw them perilously
near the trickling stream which ever
then bore on its surface little kernels
cf yellow corn. Deeply and violently
old Bob swore as he drank from hi
little blue keg. and when one day h
saw them again he asked counsel o
no man. He went down and crep
close through the laurel. and when hi
old rifle spoke a schoolboy from thu
baub 1TdbS ltli ucdu dlhohb tho ioShi
of the water course.
After that death, the first murder o
an innocent outsider. the war whicl
Anse Havey had so long foreseeI
broke furlously and brought the or
ders OF upland and lowland to tn
grip of bitter animosity.
Old McGreegor's victim had beel
young Roy Calvin, the son OF Judg
Calvin of Lexington. and the name o
Calvin In central Kentucky was on
associated with the states best ira
ditions.
IL had run in strong, bright threa'
through the pattern of Kentucky
achievements, and when news OF tn
wanton assassination came home. tn
state awoke to a shock Of horror. Tn
infamy of the hills was screamed u
echo to the mourning, and the nam
of Bad Anse Havey was once NOR
printed in large type.
The men whose capital sought I
wrest profit from the hills, and who's
employee had been slain, were quic
to take advantage of this hue and or
of calumny.
They hurled themselves into tn
fight for gaining possession OF coyete
land and were not particular as
methods.
linn Fletcher came and went col
ssantly between the lowlands an
highlands. He was all things to a
men, and in the hills he cursed th
lowlander, but in the lowland b
cursed the hills. Milt and Jeb an
Anse rode constantly from cabin
cabin in their efforts to clrcumver
the adroit schemes OF the mountai
Judas who had sold his soul to th
lowland syndicate.
Fletcher sought foothold for CAP
tai to pierce fields acquired at th
price of undeveloped land and the
to take the profit of development
Anse sought to hold title until tt
sales could be on a fairer basis an