The Ordway new era., 1917-01-19


blood spillin' T'd giaaiy 30 out an on
nyself as a sacrifice TO bring II aooss.
Won call me an outlaw-well. I've eAns
made laws an I've done broke tnsm.
an. I'VE seen just about as mucn
crookedness an lawlessness AZ "ne
end OF the game as at the other
"But schools?" demanded Juanita-
"Wby wouldn't they help your dream
toward fulhllment2"
Il amt against no school that can
begin at the right Ad. I'm against
every school that can only onsettie
rn' teach dissatisfaction with humois
Twin where folks has got to i've
humble"
He paused and paced the room. he
was no longer the man VINO mao
seemed the immovable stole. His eyes
were far away. looking beyond the
horizon into the future.
It's took your people two centuries
to get where they're standin' today.
he broke out abruptly. an Ter them
two hundred years we've been staho'
in still or goin' back. Now ye come
down here an seeks to jerk my peop1o
up to where ye stands In the blinkin
of an eve. Ye comes lookin' down on
'em an pityin' 'em because they won't
cat outen your hand. They'd rather Do
eagles than song-birds in cage. even
II eagles are wild an lawless. re
comes here an straightway tells EN-
that their leaders are infamous. DO
We offer 'em better leaders? re
refuses the aid of men that know EN-
men of their blood-an' go your own
ignorant way. Do ye see any reason
why l should countenance ye? Don't
ye see ye're Just a-scatterin' my sheep
before they knows how to herd them
selves?"
I'm afraid" said the girl very slow
ly and humbly. that Eye been fool"
"Ye says the boy Jeb wears my
trademark in the hate that's on his
face" continued Anse Havey passion
ately. He's been here with me con-
sortin' with them fellers in Plutarch
and Shakespeare. II | can curb him
an keep him out OF mischief he's goin'
down to Frankfort some day an learn
his lessons in the legislature. He amt
goin' to no college. because | aims to
fit him for his work right here. !
seek to have fellers like him guide
these folks forward. | don't aim to
have them civilized by bein' wiped out
an trod to death"
He paused. and Juanita Holland re-
peated helplessly. I've been fool!"
Il reckon ye don't know that young
Jeb McNash thinks little Milt kilt
Fletch, an that one day he laid out in
the larel to kill little Milt," Bad Anse
pursued. "Ye don't know that the only
reason he stayed his hand was that
I'd got his promise ter bide his time.
But reckon ye do know that II Milt
was killed by a Havey all that's tran
spired in ten years wouldn't make a
patch on the hell-raisin' that'd go on
hereabouts in a week. Do ye think it's
strange thet Jeb don't want his sister
murdered his father?"
Juanita rose from her chair, feeling
like a pert and cocksure interloper
who had been disdainfully looking
| down on one with vision immeasuI
ably wider and surer than her own
| At last she found herself asking: But
surely Young Milt didn't kill Fletch.
Surely you don't believe that?'
NO. ! know he didn't; but there's
| Just one way can persuade young
Jeb to believe tan that's to tell
him who did"
His eyes met hers and for a moment
| lighted with irony. III | did that. I
reckon Jeb would be willin' to let ye
keep Dawn an Jesse-an, Of course.
he'd kill the other man. Do ye want
me to do it"
He moved to the closed door and
paused with his hand on the knob
No. stop!" she almost screamed.
1T would mean murder Merciful
God. it's SO hard to decide some
things!"
Anse Havey turned back to the
room.
Il just thought I'd let ye see that
for yourself" he said quietly. "Ye
amt hardly been able ter see why it's
hard for us people to decide EN-"
Suddenly new thought struck her,
and 1t brought from her a sudden
question. But you know who the
murderer is. and you have spared
| him?"
The man laughed.
Don't fret yourself. maam. The
man that killed Fletch has left the
mountains, an right now he's out OF
reach. But he'll be back some day,
an when he comes l reckon the first
news yell hear of him will be that
hes dead Once more 1t was the i'm.
placable avenger that spoke.
The girl could only murmur in per.
piexity: yet you have kept Jeb in