The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-17

We Ueeu trying 10 Llunk, she re-
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 / 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. II
supposed. when 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 mile from where
live"
"You must have thought l meant to
raid your house. didn't. / was hit.
got mixed up in trying to get away.
You want me out of hereT'
Every much"
''No more than want to get out.
Perhaps by tomorrow l could walk a
few miles. / should have to assassi-
nate somebody to get some ammuni-
ton"
1T wouldn't be hard for you to do
that, 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?
"No, / am not" she answered de-
family.
yes, 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 go away, when
you were able to move, peaceably. One
cartridge might mean one life, dear
to me-
II know whose life you mean"
"YOu know nothing about. what
mean"
II know better than you know your
self. If I believed you, / shouldn't
respect you. Fear and mercy are tive
different things. If I thought you
were only afraid of me, / shouldn't
l think much of your aid. Listen
never took the life Of any man excep
to defend my own"
7 mo murderer that ever took any
, body's life in this country ever salt
| anything but that"
Don't class me with murderers."
| "You are known from one end Of tn
| country to the other as gunman."
| He answered impassively: "Di
| these men who call me a gunman eve
! tell you why I'm one?" She SCENE
| in too hostile mood to answer. :
| guess not" he went on. "Let me te
i you now. The next time you hear N
| called sunman you can tell them
| II won't hsten," she exclaimed, re-
tive.
| Eyes, you will listen," he said gu
city; ''you shall hear every word. III
father brought sheep into the Peat
river country. The cattlemen pickle
| on him to make an example of. e
| went out, unarmed, one night to tai
| care of the horses. My mother hear
| two shots. He didn't come back. 81
went to look for him. He was lyir
under the corral gate with q no
smashed through his jaw by Ri
Il bullet that tore his head half off. l
Spain did not raise his voice, nor
he hasten his words. II was boz
one night six months utter that"
continued. my mother died tn
j night. When a neighbours wife to-
l. me from her arm and wrapped me in
blanket, she saw ] carried the fa
Of my father as my mother had sex
/ 1t the night he was murdered. That
he said, lis what made me 'gunmal
IN. Not whisky-not women--not cards
just what you've heard An0 III t.
Mt you something else you may tell Z
nd men that call me gunmal. The mi
ty that shot down my father at his corr
gate haven't found yet. expect
er find him. For ten years I've been q
ng ting ready to ind him. lie is here
Mt Iip these mountains. don't ev'
or ynow his name. But if live, I'll fiji
him. And when do, Ill tear open b