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

There still remained the task of winning young Jeb's assent to his plan. and Anse Havey foresaw a stubborn battle there. Jeb had been reading law that winter: reading by the light of log fire through long and lonely evenings in g 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 a cheer,"
 Anse had been rehearsing his argu- ments as he rode through the sleet- dashed 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 rife that had been Fletch's; the rife 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 instinctiye forceful- Less that he could command. the boys set face relaxed. and into his eyes came glint 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 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 dled, the older man preached 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. Nick sacrifices?" he repeated T haint never knowed nothin' else but that reckon l hain't skeered of it."
 'I 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' kain't stand between me an 1 what I've got ter do. Anse," he said slowly He did not speak now with l u-;l hf,f rair Tna done took ther oath" For a while Anse Hayey did not re. ply. At last he said quietly: q reckon ye've got rid of the idea that I was simin' to deceive ye, Jeb. I told ye that when F1etch'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.
 Not 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. q want ye to help me. l want ye to be big enough to put by things that it's hard to put by"
 The boy shook his head
 "Anse," he replied slowly, "ask me ter do anything else In God Almighty's world. but don't ask me thet, cause fl ye does I've got ter deny ye."
 T ain't askin' ye to let the man gc unpunished. I'm only askin' you to lei me punish him with the law"
 Astonishment was writ large fl every feature of Jeb's face. He stood in the wavering circle of light while the shadows swallowed the corners O the cabin. and wondered if he hat heard rightly. At last his voice carried note of deep disappointment. and b, spoke as though unwilling to uttel such reasonable words.
 "I reckon. Anse." he suggested. " wouldn't hardly hev asked thing lik' thet afore"-there was a hesitatini halt before he went on-"afore a fur rin 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 l ask is that when that mai comes yell hold your hand until th' l cote hag acted"
 Does ye reckon Milt McBriar aim ter let Sidering try kin of hist" VI the next incredulous question.