New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-21

yung Teller, Martin, airc against III Grays. and
you aire II Gray. Mind you what ! say"
As the days went by Molly caught glimpses. re-
mote ana lleeting of Martin dangerously far in,
on ground protected by an armed neutrality. once
they CHANGED near enough for Martin to call 10 her.
We're frienNS, Molly"
"YeS-yes, Martin, we're friends. his time"
"Thoy're done tn %surveyin'. Molly" Hannah
ltnrks explained, when she reached home. 'an tn
stranger amt satisfied. Ii don't give him Rain
bow nountaing. They're goin' ter try II over
"rgin, an they're all plumb hot, long of it. Whomst
steps on Rainbow airc to be drnpped in his tracks,
thout no warnin,. Ilowsomere. I'm deemin' to
flower tn grave whenst IN day comes"
The eve,ing before Decoration day Molly wns
p%lucklng white lilacs when the Squire came down
the path.
my daughter" he said. in the mild, slow tones
that always frightened her. ut hes come TO my
ears that III young Teller, Martin, prowls continual
on tn Rainbow. I've give in to q new surveyin'.
But we greed Z shoot whomsoever footed on
Rainbow mountaing. 1t has come To me that IT'S
tn Teller defyin' of us. He alre n comedy, proper
boy, but a monstrols fool. en- seems like they don't
know johnson Gray"
The lilacs dropped from Molly's hands. She
knew Johnson Gray. Conflicting impulses stirred
her. From the chaos one conviction came SUI
preme-she had n promise TO keep. II was not
being friends with Martin to let him unwittlngly
anger the Grays.
The young moon had long since vanished behind
the peaks. but the stars CLEANED in cloudless bril-
llancy. The peace and suhlimity of the mountains
seemed too infinite for evil design. And yet the
Squire and half n dozen Grnys were lying noise
le>sly in the brush along The dividing line. Every
mans finger was on the trigger. for some ONE had
broken the compact, some one was prowling on
the Itninhow.
Across the contested line. n hundred yards back.
" IHI I'll ,.n.-,g-. -
moon along other rifle barrels. Grohsman and his
men were equally vigilant.
Faintly Mt first. hut growing louder and louder
with each step. the scutile Of advancing feet was
heard. The wntchers-on both sides-crouched in
readiness to mete ont the deserved retribution.
Then the traitors came into view. There. going
boldly across the clcared-slope. were Molly and
Hannah IIarks. They were laden with glistcninr
clusters nf white flowers. They walked u%nafraid
along the sinuois path upward To the lone grave"
on the mountain top.
The rifles Of the Grays came 10 earth. The
Squire started forward and stopped. His face was
white and drawn. Though he could not see them.
he knew that other eyes watched the self-Same
slonr Of the Ralnhow-from the other slde-that
other fingers. just ms rcmorseless. rested on other
weapons. Would they be merciful to this. his only
one? Would they
Across the line the bushes shook audibly and
u levplcd rifle CLEANED in The moonlight a second.
hut was lowered again. No shot rang out.
The women passed on-unharmed. Their as
cpnding footsteps grew fainter and died away.
But. ere either side had opportunity 10 catch
its breath. the sound Of other footsteps. ascending
the mountain. re~ounded on the sharp night air.
A breathless wait. q tense strainirg of the eyes
through the openings in The brush along the path
way-and another traitor came into view. Martin
Grohsrnan 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
audibly and a Ieveled rifle gleamed in the moon
light. But no shot rang out.