The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-07-25
The Danger
Zone
BY Florence Lillian Henderson
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union }


copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union
"You can't see 1t my way Nance !?
81 am sorry to say / can't, Levi.
fear never will"
Fear sorry" scorned Levi Blair
with dark scowl. ITS well enough
to be polite, but I'd speak the truth
If | were you. There's someone else
that's what's the trouble, and I'd like
to run across him. And / have a dim
idea who it is. He's keeping close,
and he'd better, for he's wanted, and
If he's caught the crowd will surely
settle him."
you have said quite enough" spoke
Nance Duryea with flashing eyes.
Don't you dare to come here any
more" Slam And Levi Blair found
the closed door between himself and
the object Of his love. He shook his
fist at an imaginary rival and went
his way.
The Duryea house was connected by
a covered passageway with the little
one-story and loft workshop where
John Duryea made boxes. He had
originally been a cooper, but there was
no demand for barrels or kegs In the
district since the moonshiners had
been driven into exile. At Mayville,
twenty miles away. however, a 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 ship
ping cases.
The value of the contract and the
necessity of business expansion had
about Influenced Mr.. Duryea to remove
to Mayville, and Nance hailed the pros
pect with delight There was nothing
at Crofton to attract young girl. The
men were rough and uncouth the wom-
en- led a humdrum. slavelike life and
the town and the district was dominat-
ed by fierce, law-defying group, ia
mIliarly known as 1.-The Killers"
They were called that because at the
appearance Of anyone In collision with
the law the moonshiner up among the
mountain ranges welcomed the refu-
gee to shelter and protection. The !
two elements were in friendly COM
munication and stood by each other
In a signal way when occasion re-
quired.
The advent of a stranger was always |
hailed with suspicion. The rough ele-
ment looked for an excise officer or
government spy invading their terri
tory in every newcomer, and when
Bert Knowlton. young lawyer from
distant city appeared In the interest
of a client relating to large tract of
coal land he was advised by the local
head of justice as follows:
Get through your job quick as you
can and stay in nights"
why? What's the particular dan
ger?" inquired the self-possessed
young man rather coolly.
you're hitting the gang, that's the
particular danger" responded the tav-
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
hereahouts. They'll block you. l warn
you, and If you stick too close and too
long. it will be load of buckshot some
dark night"
81 shall try to take care Of myself"
said Knowlton with his habitual COM
posture, and went on his way, unde-
tered and unafraid.
By the merest 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
I'd with this neatly groomed, clear-eyed
young man, whose courtesy and atten-
ions made her remember him. There
had been half understanding between
hem that he was to call upon her the '.
evening when Levi Blair made his plea
md threat. but Knowlton did not come,
much to the disappointment of Nance.
1t was the next afternoon just about
iusk when loud voices and general
in front of the house called
Ter to the front door. She was start
ed to observe her father with set face
nd wrath-filled eyes confronting half
dozen rough-looking men, one OF y
whom was holding bloodhound in l
cash, Levi Blair was the leader.
Search my house." John Duryea Il
'as shouting. and his honest face fair
= bristled with indignation and resent
lent. "Why. I'll wing the first dast- <
rd who crosses the threshold"
That's all right, John Duryea,"
poke Blair, "but our dog has traced o
lie blood marks in this direction. We :.
re after that spy, Knowlton, and we're u
Ding to get him. He wounded two ~
our men and he escaped. but with
good dose of buckshot In one leg"
you coward" cried Nance, stepping