The Ordway new era., 1917-02-09
CHAPTER Xxx.

winning young Jeb's assent to his plan.
and Anse Havey foresaw stubborn
battle there. Jeb had been reading
law that winter: reading by the light
OF log fire through long and lonely
evenings in a smoke-darkened cabin
When Anse Havey called from the
stile one night. the boy laid battered
Blackstone on his thin knee and called
out: Come in. Anse. and pull up
cheer!"
Anse had been rehearsing his argu-
ments as he rode through the sleet-
lashed hills. and he was deeply trou-
bled.
The man and the boy sat on either
side of the fireplace. Penetrating
gusts swept in at the broken chinking
and up through the warped floor until
old Beardog lying at their feet. shiv-
cred as he slept with his forepaws
stretched on the hearth and the two
men hitched their chairs nearer to the
blaze. By the bed still stood the rifle
that had been Fletch's; the rifle upon
which the boys eyes always fell and
which to him was the symbol of his
duty.
AS Bad Anse Havey talked of the fu-
ture with all the instructive forceful-
Less that he could command, the boys
set face relaxed. and into his eyes
came a CLINT of eagerness, because he
himself was to play no small part In
these affairs.
Into his heart crept the first burning
OF ambition, the first reaching out
after a career. He saw future open
ing before him, and his grave eyes
were drinking in pictures in the live
embers.
Then. when ambition had been kin
died. the older man broached the topic
which was the cruX of his plea.
THE man that can do things for the
mountains must be willin' to make a
heap of sacrifices. Jeb." he said.
Jeb laughed looking about the bare
room OF his cabin.
MEX sacritices?" he repeated. Il
hain't never knowed nothin' else but
that. / reckon | hain't skeered of it."
Il didn't mean that way. Jeb." Anse
spoke slowly. holding the boy with his
eyes. and something Of his meaning
sank in SO that the lads lean face
again hardened.
"Nothin' KANT stand between me an
what I've got ter do, Anse." he said
slowly. He did not speak now with
wild passion. but calm tinality. I've
done took ther oath"
For q. while Anse Havey did not re.
ply. At last he said quietly: 81 reckon
ye've got rid of the idea that was
simin' to deceive ye, Jeb. told ye
that when Fletch's assassin came back
to the mountains I'd let ye know. I'm
goin' to keep my word"
Jeb rose suddenly from his chair
and stood with the fire lighting up his
ragged trousers and the frayed sleeves
of his coat
Air he back now?" he demanded.
Anse shook his head.
mot yet, Jeb; but he's coming" He
saw the twitch that went across the
tight-closed lips which made no com.
ment.
"Jeb." he continued. 81 want We to
hclp lllt " ant ye " ue UlS
to put by things that it's hard to put
by"
The boy shook his head.
"Anse," he replied slowly. TASK me
ter do anything else in God Almighty's
world, but don't ask me thet, cause II
ye does I've got ter deny ye."
II amt askin' ye to let the man &c
unpublished. I'm only askin' you to lie,
me punish him with the law"
Astonishment was writ large ir
every feature of Jobs face He stood
in the wavering circle of light while
the shadows swallowed the corners o
the cabin, and wondered II he hat
heard rightly. At last his voice carried
a note Of deep disappointment. and he
spoke as though unwilling to ute,
such reasonable words.
81 reckon, Anse." he suggested. "ys
wouldn't hardly hev asked thing like
thet afore"-there was a hesitatint
halt before he went on-'afore a fur
rim woman changed yore fashion o
lookin' at things"
Anse Havey felt his face redden
and an angry retort rose to his lips
But the charge was true.
He went on as though Jeb had no
spoken.
"All ask IL that when that mai
comes yen hold your hand until th,
cote has acted"
Does ye reckon Milt McBriar aim
tef let Sidering try kin Of hist" ~
tAe next ineredulous question.
Anse Havsy's volce broke cot Of II