The Dolores star., 1917-02-23

HIS features were wizsned and his
eyes shifty. He vas . coward ana
an intriguer BY nature and inclina-
ton. II was logical enough that when
the verdict Of the directors table that
Bad Anse Havey was Q nuisance n
tered down the line the peFsons seek
ing native methods for abating the
nuisance should cone TO ClayAsG1
Hackley.
One day In August this attorney aa
law. together with Jim Fletcher and .
tricky youth who enjoyed the distino-
tion Of holding once - telegraph op-
orator at the Peril station. caucused
together In Hackley's dingy room.
In the death OF Bad Anse Havsy this
trio saw q Joint advantage. since the
abating Of such . nuisance would mot
90 unrewarded.
''Gentlemsn." said the attorney. his
wisened face working neryously. ~this
business has need to be expeditions.
Gentlemen-is requires, In ID nat1re.
to be expeditions A few more fail-
ures and We are done for"
We'll. tell M how - aims ter do
hit," growled the telegraph operator.
:.Jim Fletcher has the idea" replied
the lawyer impressiveiy. quite the
right idea. How many men can you
trust on q job like this. Jim?"
"As many N ye needs" was the CON
fident response. "A dozen or . score
IL they're WantAd" --
Enough to make II sure. bat. not
too many" urged Hackley. I'VE
should set day precisely as the court
would set . day for-er-an execu-
ton. The force you send out should
simply stay on the Job until It's done.
II Anse Havey can be got alone. 20
much the better. But above all"
The lawyer paused and spoke with
his most forceful emphasis: Don't
Just wound this man. See that the
thing is finally and definitely settled"
I'm be there myself" Jim Fletcher
assured him. Nov when is this day
goin' ter be?"
"This is Monday7" reflected the at
torney. There is NO advantage in
delay. 1t will take day or two to get
ready. Let the case be .docketed. as !
might say-for Thursday"
Anse Havey had gone to Lexington.
Never again did he mean to hold
against himself the accusation Of the
unlit lamp and the ungirt loin." He
knew that she loved him
In Lexington he had bought q ring
and at Peril he had got a marriage L.
cense. His campfollowing days were
over. He had one youth, and he knew
that II his enemies succeeded in
their designs that might at any mo-
ment be snapped short with sudden
death. It did not seem to him that one
Of its golden hours should be wasted.
As he came out Of the courthouse
with the invaluable piece Of paper in
his pocket two men, seemingly un-
armed. rose from the doorway Of the
store across the street and drifted to-
ward their hitched horses.
Young Milt McBriar had ridden over
to Peril that day with several compan-
ions. and Anse Havey went back with
them. So 1t happened that quite acci-
he made this journey under
escort. The men who rode little way
In his rear cursed their luck-and
waited. And. though they lurked in
Hiding all that afternoon near Anse
Havey's house, they saw nothing more
Of their intended victim.
Anse was keenly alive to each days
threat. and when he
the face Of Jim Fletcher in
Peril. as he came through. he had read
mischief in the eyes and recognized
that the menace had drawn closer.
So. when he was ready to cross the
ridge to the school. he oheyed an old
sense Of caution and left his horse
saddled at the front fence that it
might seem as II he were going out
but had not yet gone
He had sent messenger for GOOD
Anse Talbot. and the preacher arrived
while he was at his supper.
Brother Anse." he said, I'm goin'
to need ye some time betwixt now and
midnight. want ye to tarry here till
I come back"
whats the nature of business 70
needs me fer. Ansef" demanded the
II hadn't hardly ought
ter wait. Thar's q child ailin' up the
top fork of little fork Of Turkey-Foot
creek" ..g.su"
But Bad Anse only shook his head.
ITS the best business ye ever did,"
he confidently assured the preacher.
"But I can't tell ye yet. IL the child
In any danger?'
I reckon not: hits Jest ailin'
but"
The brown-faced man sat dubiously
shaking his head, and Anse's features
suddenly set and hardened.
Il needs ye." he said. Amt that
enough? I'm goin' to need ye bad"
That's right strong reason. Anse,
but"
For an instant the old dominating