Tombstone epitaph., 1917-02-18
CHAPTER XIX.

Once. when Anse Havey had been tramping all afternoon through the win try woods with Juanita, he had point cd out a squirrel that sat erect on a branch high above them with its tail curled up behind 1t. He had stopped her with a touch on the arm; then, with a smile Of amusement. he handed her his rife with much the same man ner that she might have handed him novel in Russian, and his eyes said banteringly: See what you can do with that"
 But to his surprise she took the gun and leveled it as one accustomed to its use. Bad Anse Havey forgot the squir- rel and saw only the slim figure in its loose sweater; only the stray wisps of curling hair and the softness of the cheek that snuggled against the rife stock Then. at the report, the squir- rel dropped.
 She turned with q matter-of-fact nod and handed back the gun.
 I'm rather sorry ! killed it." she said. but you looked so full of scorn that l had to show you. You know. they do have a few rifles outside the Cumberland mountains"
 Where did you learn to shoot?" he demanded. and she answered casually: q used to shoot rife and pistol. too, quite a good bit"
 He took the gun back, and uncon- eciously his hand caressed the spot where her cheek had laid against it's lock. He had fallen into reverie out of which her voice called him. They had crossed the ridge itself and were overlooking his place.
 Why are they clearing that space behind your house? Are you going to put 1t in corn?"
 No" be laughed shortly. Corn would be just about as bad as laurel '
 He was instantly sorry he had said that. He had not meant to tell her of the plans he was making-plans of de feuse and, if need be, of offense. He had not intended to mention his pre- cautions to prevent assassination at his own door or window.
 But the girl understood, and her voice was heavy with anxiety as she demanded: Do you think you're in danger. Anse?"
 There's never a day I'm not in danger" he replied casually. I've got pretty well used to it"
 But some day" she broke out they'll get you"
 He shrugged his shoulders. May. be-" he said.
 AS Juanita's influence grew with Bad Anse Havey. so it was growing at the echool. She had to turn away pupils who had come across the mountains on wearisome journeys because as yet she had only limited room and no teachers save herself and Dawn to care for the youngest
 Ali the front of the hall which led into the main school building was a rack with notches for rifles and pegs for pistols. She told all who entered that she made only one stipulation, and that was that whoever crossed the threshold must leave his armament al the door.
 At first some men turned awaJ again. taking their cnildren ~itn them but as time went on they grudgingly acouiesced, and at last. with a sense of great victory, she persuaded three sbaegy fathers. who were coming reg alariy with their children. to ride baci home unarmed.
 Disarmament was her idea for thu great solution, and when Bad Ass' came over-and he came every nign now-she led him with aimos preathless eagerness to the rack ant sbowed him two modern rifles and on' aptiquated squirrel gun
 ~what's the idea7" he asked witl his skepticai smile He found 1t yer! na,cult to listen always to talk spou n. scAoo; iS vhich bs felt 10 iate'