The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-05-21

yung teller Martin, are against I'll t;riiys. and
you are Gray. Mind you what say.
AS the days by Molly caught gmpses
and feeting of Martin dangerously far in,
on ground protected by armed neutrality. Once
they chanced enough for Martin to call to her.
"Were friends, Moly?'
"Yes--yes. Martin. we're friends. this time"
"They're done m surveyn'. Molly" Hannah
Hnrks explained when she reached home. "nn tn
stranger amt satisfied 1t don't give him Rain
bow mounans. They're goin ter try it over
ergin an they're all plumb hot, long of it. Whoms
steps on Rainbow are TO he drapped in his tracks,
'thOut wnrnin'. Howsomere. I'm deemin' to
flower Til grave whensi tn day comes
The evening before Decoration day Molly was
plucking white iilacs when the Squire came down
the path.
My daughter" he said. in the mild slow tones
that always frightened her. iii hes come to my
ears that III young Teller. Martin. prows continual
TIL Rainbow. I've give in to Il new surveyn'.
But greed T. shoot whonisoever footed on
Rainbow mountaing 1t has come to me that it's
tn felIer defyn of u.s. He aire comey, proper
boy but a monstrous fool, seems like they don't
know johnson Gray
The iilacs dropped from Moily's hands. She
knew johnson Gray. Conflicting impulses stirred
her From the chaos one conviction came SUI
preme-she had a promise to keep. 1t was not
being friends with Martin to let him unwttingy
anger the Grays.
The young moon had long since vanished behind
the peaks but the stars CLEANED in cloudess bril-
liancy The peace and subllmity of the mountains
seemed too infinite for evil design. And yet the
Squire and half dozen GrTvs 'rere lying noise
lessy in the brush along the : ng line. Every
mans finger was the trigger some had
broken the compact, some prowng on
the Rainbow.
Across the contested line. hundred yards back
the dense undergrov.th hid the reflection of the
moon along other rifle barrels. Grohsman and his
men were equally vigilant.
Family Mt first but growing louder and louder
with each step the scuf,le of advancing feet was
haord The watchers-on both sides-crouched I'm
readiness TO mete out the deserved retrbution
Then the traitors cnme into view. There. going
boldlv across the cleared-sope, were Molly and
Hannah Iarks They were laden with glistening
clusters of white flowers. They walked unafraid
along the sinuous path upward TO the lone grave
on the mountain top.
The rifles of the Grays came to earth. The
Squire started forward and stopped His face
white and drawn. Though he could not see them
ba knew that other eyes watched the self-same
slope of the Rninbow-from the other side-that
other fingers just remorseess, rested on other
weapons Would they be merciful to this. his only
one? Would they!
Across the line the bushes shook audibly and
n ,eyeled rifle cleaned in the moonlight second.
but was lowered again. No shot rang out
The women passed On-unharmed. Their
cending footsteps grew fainter and died away.
Rut ere either side had opportunity to catch
IFS brenth the sound of other footsteps ascending
the mountain. resounded on the sharp night air.
A hreathless wait, tense straining of the eyes
through the openings in the brush along the path
way--and another traitor came into view. Martin
C,robsman walked boldly along, glancing neither
to the one side nor the other. He, too. was laden
with white flowers.
On the Gray side of the line the bushes shook
audbly and eveed rifle cleaned in the moon
light But shot rang out