Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-05-04

turned, and he perceived in the hard
ness of her voice how at bay she felt
in giving him the least bit of infor-
nation, whether l ought to tell you
anything at all"
Il couldn't very decently take any
unfair advantage after what you've
done, could II"
"Then-yOu are in Morgan'S gap"
she said, swiftly, as if she wanted it
off her mind.
There was no movement of surprise,
neither was there any answer. IL
supposed, when l found you here, you
knew that" she added less reSOlutely;
the darkness and silence were plainly
a strain. you are at the foot of Mu-
sic mountain, about a mile from where
l live"
you must have thought l meant to
raid your house. l didn't. l was hit.
| got mixed up in trying to get away.
You want me out of here?"
Every much"
mo more than l want to get out.
Perhaps by tomorrow l could walk a
few miles. / should have to assassi-
nate somebody to get some ammuni-
ton"
ut wouldn't be hard for you to do
that, l presume"
Her words and her tone revealed the
intensity of her dislike and the depth
of her distrust.
He was silent for a moment. Then
he said, without resentment, "You are
ashamed already of saying that, aren't
your"
mo, am not" she answered de-
family.
Eyes, you are. You know it isn't
true. If you believed it, you never
would have brought food here to save
my life
Il brought it to save some of my
own people from possible death at
your hands-to prevent another fight
to see if you hadn't manhood enough
after being helped, to 90 away, when
you were able to move. peaceably. One
cartridge might mean one life, dear
to me-"
81 know whose life you mean"
"YOu know nothing about. what
mean"
Il know better than you know your.
self. If l believed you, l shouldn't
respect you. Fear and mercy are two
different things. If l thought you
were only afraid of me, / shouldn't
think much of your aid. Listen
never took the life of any man except
to defend my own"
mo murderer that ever took any
body's life in this country ever sale
anything but that"
"Don't class me with murderers."
"You are known from one end of the
country to the other as gunman."
He answered impassively: 'Dit
these men who call me gunman evel
tell you why I'm One?" She seemed
in too hostile mood to answer. 1"
guess not" he went on. Let me tel
you now. The next time you hear IN,
called gunman you can tell them.
Il won't listen," she exclaimed, res
tive.
Eyes, you will listen" he said qui
city; ''you shall hear every word. M.
father brought sheep into the Peac
river country. The cattlemen pickle,
on him to make an example Of. IL
went out, unarmed, one night to TAX
| Of hn Nv, hao
two shots. He didn't come back. Sh
went to look for him. He was lynn
under the corral gate with a hOl
smashed through his jaw by a riff
bullet that tore his head half off. d
Spain did not raise his voice, nor di
he hasten his words. 81 was Dor
one night six months after that" h
continued. my mother died tina
J night. When neighbors wife too
me from her arm and wrapped me in
blanket, she saw / carried the fac
Of my father as my mother had see
I 1t the night he was murdered. That,
he said, "is what made me 'gunman
. Not whisky-not women-not cards
just what you've heard. And I'll te
t you something else you may tell tn
! men that call me a gunman. The ma
Y that shot down my father at his corri
gate / haven't found yet. l expect {
r find him. For ten years I've been ge
9 ting ready to find him. He is here
{ In these mountains. I don't eve
r know his name. But If live, I'll fin
him. And when do, I'll tear open hi