The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-07-12
The Danger
Zone
D. rs..oe. L,l,i.n H.oasrses

III - Ftosooee Lasknn hsssoSo LAI
&seeeeeeeeossseeeeeeeeeesssssssseeeos
Copyright 1913. wsstsss Nsvs,spsr CnaoAS
you can't see II my way. Nancer
Il am sorry to say can't. Levi.
fear l never will"
Fear. sorry." scorned Levi Blair.
with a dark scowl. "It's well enough
to be polite. but I'd speak the truth
II were you. There's someone else.
that's what's the trouble. and I'd like
to run across him. And have dim
idea who It IL. Hes 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" Slaml And Levi Blair found
the closed door between himself and
the object Of his love. He shook his
nst at an imaginary rival and went
bis way.
The Duryea house was connected by
a covered passaseway with the little
one-story and loft workshop where
John Duryea made boxes. He had
originally been 4 cooper. but there was
no demand for barrels or kegs In the
district since the moonshiners had
been driven into exile. At Mayviile.
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 q young girl. The
men were rough and uncouth. the WON.
en- led q humdrum. slavelike life and
the town and the district was dominat.
ed BY q fierce. law-defying group. f.
military known a. 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 wers in friendly COM
munication and stood BY each other
In Q signal way when occasion re-
quired.
The advent Of stranger was always
hailed with suspicion. The rough els-
ment looked for an excise ofiicer or a
government spy invading their terri
tory In every newcomer, and when
Bert Knowlton, q young lawyer from
q distant city appeared In the interest
e 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-pGasessed
young man rather eoolly.
you're hitting the gang. that's the
particular danger" responded the tav-
eru 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. ! warn
you, and II you stick too close and too
long. 1t will be load Of buckshot some
dark night"
IL shall try to take care Of myself.
said Knowlton with his habitual COM
posure, and went on his way. unde-
tered and unafraid.
By the merest chance once or twice
he had met Nancs Duryea. The nrst
time was when he overlook her in q
sudden rainstorm, and his umbrella.
as he escorted her home. afforded her
timely shelter. She was duly Impress
ed with this neatly sroomed. ciear-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 the
evening when Levi Blair made his plea
and threat. but Knowlton did not come,
much to the disappointment Of Nance.
1t was the next afternoon Just about
dusk when loud voices and q general
In front Of the house called
her to the front door. She was start
led to observe her father with set face
and wrath.nlled eyes confronting half
a dozen rough-looking men. one Of
whom was holding q bloodhound In
leash, Levi Blair was the leader.
search my house." John Duryea
was shouting. and his honest face fair
" bristied 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. "but 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
4 good dose Of buckshot in one leg"
~You coward" cried Nance. stepping
into pIain view. How dare you insin-
nate that Mr.. Knowlton came here.
Ny father scarcely knows him BY sight
- = h.v> mt ao>s, him for fvo ia "a