Tombstone epitaph., 1917-02-18

to herself whom he dumbly wor- shiped.
 Look around you. Anse." she com manded. Do you see any dirt or dust anywhere? No; we are teaching cleanliness and sanitation, but there is just one place here where the spiders are welcome to come and spin their webs unmolested. It's that rack of guns. Did you ever hear of the shrine at Lourdesa"
 T reckon not" he confessed uneas- fly. Of late he had become a little ashamed of the things he did not know.
 Well. this is going to be like it. Anse, It is told that when the lame and halt and blind came to LcG-des to pray they went away straight and strong and clear of vision. There hang at the shrine there numberless crutches and canes. discarded because the men who were carried there went away needing them no more. Some day your old order of crippled things here in the mountains is going to be- come straight and strong. and these guns will be the discarded crutches." He looked at her. and if no response was elicited to her prophecy. at least he could not contemplate without stirring of enthusiasm the flushed face and glowing eye with which she spoke. It was all worth while If 1t could bring that sparkle of delight to her counte- nance
 It's right pretty. but 1t won't hardly work" he said. These men will leave them guns just so long as they don't need 'em. I'm glad to see ye pleased but l don't want to see ye disap- pointed"
 A little before Christmas old Milt McBriar went to Lexington, and there he met heavily bearded man in rough clothes who had arrived that morning from the West. They conferred in a cheap eating house which bears rag ged and unwholesome appearance and is kept by an exile from the noun tains.
 Now tell me, Milt," suggested Luke Thixton briefly, what air this thing ye wants me ter do. I'm done with these hyar old flat lands thet they talks so much erbout"
 But Milt McBriar's eyes had been vacantly watching the door. It was glass door, with its lower portion paint ed red and bearing in black letters the | name of the proprietor. Damn" he exclaimed violently. but | under his breath.
 Whats bitin' ye?" asked his com panion. as he bolted his food. T jest seed Breck Havey pass by that door" explained the chief. But you this fur back 1 don't want no word of yore comin' ter go ahead of ye."
 What is it I'm a-goin' back ter do?" insisted the exile dogsedIy. | oh" commented Milt McBriar, we've got ter talk thet over at some length Ye're a-goin' back ter git Anse Havey. but ye hain't a-goin' list yit."
 One morning as he sat over his breakfast at the kitchen table. Anse's cousin. Breck Havey. rode up in hot haste to rouse him out of apathy and remind him that he must not shirk his role as leader of the clan.
 The Havey from Peril came quickly to the point while the Havey of the backwoods listened.
 '1 was down ter Lexin'ton yesterday. an as I was passin' Jim Freeman's deadfall happened ter look in. Thar war old Milt McBriar an Luke Thix- ton, thar heads as close tergether as a pair of thieves. Luke hes come back from the West, an reckon ye kin fig. ger out what thet means"
 Anse grew suddenly rigid and his face blackened. So his destiny was crowding him!
 What air ye goin' ter do?" demand ed Breck with a tone of anxious and impotent pleading. Anse shook his head
 I don't know-quite yet" he said
 Let's see. Is the high cote in ses- sion?"
 Breck Havey nodded his head in per. plexed assent He wondered what the court had to do with this exigency.
 "All right. Tell Sidering to have the grand jury indict Luke for the Nc. Nash murder an Milt McBriar as ac. cessory-
 Good God. Anse," burst out the other Havey. Does ye realize what hell ye turns loose when ye tries ter drag Old Milt ter cote in Peril?"
 "Yes, l know that" The answer was calm. "ITi give ye list of witnesses Tell Sidering to keep these true bills secret I'll ride over and testify my self, an I'll tend to keepin' the wit nesses quiet l don't know whether we'll ever try these cases. but it's just as well to be ready along every line.
 Breck Havey stood gazing down al the hearth with a troubled fece. Al last he hazarded a remonstrance. "Anse." he said. 'I hain't never ques ! toned ye. I've always took yore coun ] sei. Ye're the head of the Haveys, but next to you I'm the man they harken,
 to most If any man has got ter dis , pute yer. I reckon yed take it mos ! willin1y from me" What is 1t. Breck? I'm plumb will