Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-02-01

Maybe So. Some have come that
way IN time"
IL was Joe's turn to grin.
Don't reckon we've got any talk We
want 10 make afore l slit that vein In
yer neck. Joef' Tom had drawn a
knife from his pocket and was whet-
ting small blade OF II on the leather
vamp OF his shoe
NO. guess not. Tom. an il ye're de.
termined 10 do 1t that way there's no
use wastin' any more time. though 1t
amt the clean thing. Tom. an We know
IL. Amt nary a Dunston before that
died any other way than by a long
range bullet That's all Tom-all got
TO say
Old Tom chuckled and continued TO
whet the blade Of his knife. At length
he tried the point of IL with his thumb
and was apparently satisfied with its
keenness. Then he arose and went
over TO Joe. where he knelt by the lat
ter's side.
"Look around. joe" he said. "for
where We see all the sunlight now will
be midnight TO ye in few minutes.
Ye're brave man. an it's pity for
We 10 die this way. but there amt no
regulations in the feud. We know
Tom began to feel about Joe's neck
for the vein and presently pressed 1t
outward with his thumb. Joe had
thrown his head backward, and Tom
was bending low and looking upward
under his victims chin. Presently the
sting OF the knife thrust started old
Joe into madness. His head darted for
ward with the suddenness OF "A ser
pents. and his long, amber hued teeth
snapped down upon the throat OF his
captor There was gurgle in Toms
throat: then his wiDdpipc closed, and
as Joe's lifeblood, gushing from the
wound I'm his neck, dyed the young ivy
shoots and tho green grass in the bot
tom Of the gorge the death set OF his
Jaws sealed the doom Of his slayer. III
little while every CULVER OF the flesh
had ceased. and one more tragedy Of
tho cud had left its story moro plainly
rc dlhlc than words could make IL.
me midduy sum looked down into
the chasm A pheasant ureenod herself
lu narrow tra among The laurel.
while a woodcock ran up tile tall. limb
less trunk OF Il dead spruce pine ana
after shrll call that pierced the deep
silence Of The gorge sent ont the long,
low roll of bis drumming
Ruth wylie stood III tho cabin door
way watching the trail that Ted down
the rayiuc. winding from one side 10
the other as it sought the easier ascent
or descent ~ Tie projecting boNlders.
Darkness was stealing slowly MP from
the depths Of the hollow, and still no
sign OF old Tom gliding along mp the
path fla bis habitually stealthy manner
Dads uncommon late tonight. IL
pears 10 me The girl took step
down and sat upon the doorsill. Her
cheeks glowed like red ripe cherries in
the sunshine. FOR She had been bending
over the evening fire baking the corn
pone and frying the bacon for the
nights meal From the table came the
odor OF the meat. 1t floated out through
the doorway on the evening atmos-
phere and was appetizing to the sense
IF dad could smell the meat | reckon
he'd be comm home without waitin'
any longer. | wonder what he can be
dom anyhow"
A feeling OF uneasiness darted through
her as she thought OF the feud; but,
suddenly rising, as If to escape some
burden, she hurled the thought from
her. "'Tain't that; no, faint that"
she declared as she sat down again.
But the twilight deepened into dark
ness, the stars came out, the meat grew
cold on the table, and It's odor no longer
told OF Its SAVIOR. Still old Tom had
not come. Ruth peered into the dark
ness at every cracking of the twigs,
but nothing materialiZed to her long
ing IL had been years since old Tom
had spent night away from home,
not since the night when young Tom
was shot down on the side OF Little
Craggy The girl fell to counting the
stars and saying TO herself:
Before | can count hundred he
will be here.
But the hundred grew to 200. then to
800. Then she began and counted them
all over again. Hour after hour dragged
away, and the moon had climbed to n
position IN the heavens whence its
light shone down the cabin chimney
The occasional boot Of All owl or the
cry OF a catamount pierced the silence
and fell upon Ruth's ear with startling
effect. though these were but common
noises OF the night. Again aud again
same the thought OF the feud, but just
as often as Il came. shuddering. she
cast 1t from her
at can't be. IL can't be-" she invaria
bly, murmured Dads too quick for
that"
The moon slipped over the roof of the
cabin, and Ruth watched the shadow
Of the house lengthen away from ia,
} doorstep ana she counted the points OF
its serrated edge
Suddenly while thus engaged the
shrill, ear splitting shrek OF mountain
cat struck upon her ear with terrib,
. distinctncss and nearness and at the
same instant came the fash Of a long
, angular body splitting the moonlight
from the high branch Of an old chest
nut oak and terminating in a pigsty q
few yards away There followed one
answering squeak from an unfortunate
pig and Ruth, springing to her feet
ran inside the cabin aud slammed the
door shut behind her.
: Il reckon | amt myself somehow