The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-01-12

there won't be any Mc-Briars OF
Haveys. Wen all be mountaineers
standin' together an holdin' what God
gave us. God knows hate Nit Nc.
Briar an his tribe-hate EN- with all
the power Of hatin' that's In mean
I'm . mountain man. But Milt's PEG
pie an my people have one thing In
common. We're mountain men. an
these hills are ourn. We have the
same KILN instinct when men seek to
rob IN. We want to be let alone. an
II We light amongst ourselves II amt
nothin' to the way wen fight shoulder
TO shoulder an back TO back. against
the robbers from down below"
The man paused. and ~ Juanita
looked into his blazing eyes she shud'
dered. for It seemed that the killing
instinct Of which he spoke was burn
ing there. She thought Of nothing to
say. and he continued:
'It's war between families now--but
when your people come-come to buy
for nothin' and fatten on our starva-
ton. We men Of the mountains will
forget that, an / reckon we'll tight to-
gether like all damnation against tho
rest Thet's why I'm counselin' folks
not to sell needless"
Then you did not forbid your peo-
pie to sell to met" inquired the girl.
why. in heavens name, should !
make war on yer" he suddenly de-
manded. Does a man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills"
Possibly" she suggested with q
trace Of irony. when you learn that
I'm not 30 helpless you won't be 30
merciful."
wen wait till that time comes. !"
said the man shortly. He padsed for
q moment, then went on: Helpless!
Why, heaven knows. ma'am, I pity ye.
Can't ye see what odds ye're contend.
In againstf Can't ye see that ye're
fightin' Gods hills and sandstone an
winds an thunderf Can't 70 see ye're
tryin' ter take out Of mems veins the
fire In their blood-the fire that's been
burnin' there for two centuriesf Ye're
like q little child tryin' ter pull down
jail.house. Ye're singin' lullaby
songs to the thunder. Yes. feel right
sorry fer ye. but amt a-fightin' ye."
I'm doing none Of those things"
she answered with . defiant blaze In
her eyes. "I'm only trying to show
these people that their ignorance js
not necessary: that it's only part Of a
scheme to keep them vassals. You
talk about the wild, free spirit of the
mountain men. think that free men
will listen to that argument"
Anse laughed. g.
Change 'em!" he repeated. disre.
garding the slur OF her last speech.
why. II ye don't give 1t up and 60
back to your birds that pick at berries,
do you know what will happen to ye?
I'll tell ye. Thar will be a change. but
You'll be mountainized.
Eye can't live where the storms
come from an where the rivers are
born an not have their spirit get into
your blood. Ye may think ye're in
partners with God, but reckon yell
find the, hills are bigger than you be-
How much land do ye need?"
"Why?"
Because I aim to see ye get 1t. Ye
say I'm SCARED of ye. I aim to show
ye how much I'm SCARED. l. aim to
let ye 60 your own fool way an floun
der in your own quicksand. An II
nobody won't sell ye what ye wan,
let me know an. by Almighty God. III
make ye free gift Of a farm an III
build your school myself. Thet's how
much I'm SCARED Of ye. I've tried to
be friends with ye. an ye won't have
it Now Just 60 as fur as ye feels in
clined an see how much l mind ye.'
He turned abruptly on his heel and
went out. quietly closing the door be
hind him.