Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-08-06
The Danger
Zone
o1
BY Florence Lillian Henderson
Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union

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Copyright, 1913. Western Newspaper Union-)
you can't see 1t my way, NanceT
81 am sorry to say l can't, Levi.
fear l never will"
Fear sorry !" scorned Levi Blair,
with dark scowl. ITS well enough
to be polite, but I'd speak the truth
II were you. There's someone else,
It's what's the trouble, and I'd like
to run across him. And have dim
idea who 1t is. He's keeping close,
and he'd better, for he's wanted, and
II 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
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, small
shoe factory had been started. Labor
was cheap and there was 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 humdrum, slavelike life and
the town and the district was dominat-
ed by a fierce, law-defying group, IA
miliarly known as "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 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 a
government spy invading their terri
tory in every newcomer, and when
Bert Knowlton, a 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
gerf" 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
hereabouts. They'll block you. l warn
you, and If you stick too close and toe
long, 1t will be a 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 frs
time was when he overlook her In {
sudden rainstorm, and his umbrella
as he escorted her home, afforded hei
timely shelter. She was duly Impress
ed with this neatly groomed, clear-eyed
young man, whose courtesy and atten
tons made her remember him. There
had been half understanding between
them that he was to call upon her tbs
evening when Levi Blair made his Piles
and threat, but KnowltOn did not come
much to the disappointment of Nance
1t was the next afternoon just abOu
dusk when loud voices and genera
commotion in front of the house called
her to the front door. She was start
led to observe her father with set fac
and wrath-filled eyes confronting hal
dozen rough-looking men, one o
; whom was holding a bloodhound il
leash, Levi Blair was the leader.
"Search my house." John Durye;
was shouting, and his honest face fair
ly bristled with indignation and resent
ment "Why, I'll wing the first dast
ard who crosses the threshold"
"Thats all right. John Duryea,
spoke Blair, but our dog has trace
: the blood marks in this direction. w
are after that spy, Knowitcn, and we'r
going to get him. He wounded tw
of our men and he escaped, but wit
/ a good dose of buckshot In one leg"
L ttxr. 4 81 tn,