Catoctin clarion., 1918-05-23
The Danger
Zone
~1
By Florence Lillian Henderson

"You can't see 1t my way, Nance!
81 am sorry to say | can't, Levi.
fear never WILL"
Fear sorryr scorned Levi Blair,
with dark scowl. "lts we'll enough
to be polite, but I'd speak the truth
II | were you, There's someone else,
that's what's the trouble, and Ia like
to run across him, And have dim
idea who 1t is. He's keeping close,
md he'd better, for he's wanted, and
IL he's caught the crowd will surely
settle him."
"You have said quite enough spoke
Nance Duryea with flashing eyes.
"Dont you dare to come here any
more" Slam! And Levi Blair found
the closed door between himself ana
the object of his love. He shook his
fist ut an imaginary rival and went
his way.
The Duryea house was connected by
covered passageway with the ll'tle
one-story and loft workshop where
John Duryea made boxes. He had
originally been n cooper, but there was
no demand for barrels or kegs In the
district since the moonShlnefS hld
been driven into exile. At MayNlIle,
twenty miles away, however, Il small
shoe factory had been started. Labor
was cheap and there was a local tan
merry. and the shoe people had given
Duryea a permanent and quite profit
able contract to supply them with snip
ping cases,
The value OF the contract and III"
necessity of BUSINESS expansion hnN
about influenced Mr.. Duryea to remove
to Mayvile, and Nance hailed the pros
pect with delight. There was nothing
at Crofton to attract a young girl, The
men were rough and uncouth. the W"lI'-
en- led n humdrum, slavelike life and
the town and the district was dominit-
ed by fierce, laW-defying group, IA
miiarly known as "The Killers"
They were called that because at tn"
appearance of anyone in collision with
the law the moonshner up among me
mountain ranges welcomed the reTu-
two elements were In friendly com
municaiion and stood by each other
in signal way when occasion re-
CURED
The advent ot II stranger was always
hailed with suspicion. The rough ele-
mcnt looked for nn excise ull'rer or
government spy invading their terri
tory In every newcomer, and when
Rrrt knoWlton, n young lawyer from
A distant city appeared In the interest
of II client relating to II large tract of
coal land. he was advised by the local
head Of justice rs follows:
"Get through your job quick as YOU
can and stay in nights"
"Why? What's the particular dan
ger2" inquired the seli-p"SSessed
young man rather cuolly.
you're hitting the gang, that's the
particular danger" responded tn" lav-
ern keeper "As you know, the squat
ter rights of the tract in litigation rest
with the Widener family and they're
strong and powerful with the folks
hereah"uts They'll block y"n. warn
you and If you stick too close and too
long il will be load of bucnShot some
dark night"
81 shall try to take care If myself
soid Knowltun with his hahitual com
posure, and Went on his way, unde-
TERED and unafraid.
By the mcrest chance once or twice
he had met Nance Duryea. The first
time WAS when he overlook her in
sudden rainstorm, and his umbrella,
as he escorted her home, afforded her
timely shelter. She was duly Impress
ed with this neatly grooncd cl"ar-eyed
young man, whose courtesy and htten-
tiunS made her remember him. There
had been n half understanding between
them that he was to call upon her the
evening when Levi Blair made his plea
and threat. but KnoWlton did not come,
much to the disappointment of Nance.
It was the next afternoon Just about
dusk when loud voices and general
conl,notiun in front of the house called
her to the front door She WAS start
led to observe her father with set face
and wralh-filled eyes confronting half
dozen rough-loolling men, one of
whom was holding Il bloodhound IN
leash, Levi Blair was the leader.
search my house." John Duryea
was shouting, and his honest face fair
~ bristled with indignation and resent
ment. "Why, I'll wing the first dast-
ard who crosses the Threshold
That's all right, John Duryea."
spoke Blair, "hut our dog has traced
the blood marks in this direction. We
are after that spy, Knowlton, and we're
going to get him. He wounded two
Of our men and he escaped, but with
good dose Of buCkshot In one leg"
"You coward" cried Nance, stepping
into plain view "How dare you insin-
uate that Mr.. Knowlton came here.
MY father scarcely knows him by sight
and | have not seen him for two days.
Double craven you are, to hunt down
a stranger who comes here among US
On legitimate business"
"You can go your way" spoke Mr..
Duryea. 81 have always been neutral
in your affairs, attending strictly to
my own. I'll tell you this, though:
some day you'll go too far and the po-
lice down at Mayville will come up
here and clean you out, root and
branch"
Reluctantly and with vengeful ire
Levi Blair led his crowd away. Nance
went to her own room She was agi-
tated and in tears. AnalyZing intu-
itivcly an emotions Of rare interest in
h. hunted r}an she dared not CON
',.,,' l,.r :. ., ,r'.' rrr tolI-tae face.