The Meridian times., 1920-05-21

yung feller, Martin, aire against tn Grays, and
you aire Gray. Mind you what l say"
AS the days went by Molly caught glimpses, re-
mote and feeting of Martin dangerously far IN,
on ground protected by an armed neutrality once
they CHANGED enough for Martin to call to her.
Were friends, Molly?'
"Yes-yes, Martin, we're friends, this time"
They're done til surveyin', Molly" Hannah
Harks explained, when she reached home, IAN tn
stranger amt satisfied 1t don't give him RAIN
bow mountaing They're gOin' ter try 1t over
ergin, an they're all plumb hot, long of 1t. Whomst
steps Rainbow aire to be drapped in his tracks,
'thout no warnin. Howsomere, I'm deemin' to
flower tn grave whenst tn day comes"
The evening before Decoration day Molly was
plucking white liIacs when the Squire came down
the path.
my daughter" he said, in the mild, slow tones
that always frightened her, 'ft hes come to my
ears that tn young feller, Martin, prows continual
on tn Rainbow. I've give in to new surveyn'.
But we greed t. shoot whOmsoever footed on
Rainbow mountaing. 1t has come to me that it's
th Teller defyin of u.s. He aire comely, proper
boy but monstrous fool, en- seems like they don't
know Johnson Gray"
The lilacs dropped from MoIly's hands. She
knew Johnson Gray. Conflicting impulses stirred
her. From the chaos one conviction SUI
preme-she had a promise to keep. 1t was not
being friends with Martin to let him unwittingly
anger the Grays.
The Young moon had long since vanished behind
the peaks but the stars cleaned in coudless bril-
uancy. The peace and submity of the mountains
seemed too infinite for evil design. And yet the
snuire and half a dozen Grays were lying noise
Iesslv in the brush along the di' ding line Every
mans finger was on the trigger, for some one had
broken the compact some one was proWling on
the Rainbow.
Across the contested line, hundred yards back,
the dense underground hid the reflection of the
moon along other rifle barrels. Grohsman and his,
men were equally vgtlant
Fointly at first, but growing louder and louder
nth each step, the scufie Of advancing feet was
hoard The watchers--on both sdes-crouched In
readiness to mete out the deserved retribution.
Than the traitors came into view. Ihere, gong
ho1d1v across the cleared-slope, were Molly and
Hannah Harks. They were laden win gilstenlng
cInstprs of white flowers They walked unafraid
along the sinuous PAIN up""lu " 'h0 s saw
on the mountain top
THE rifles of the Grays came TO earth Ihe
sou,re started forward and stopped. HIS race was
white and drawn. Though he could not see them,
ba knew that other eyes watched the self-same
sIono of the- Rainbow~-from the other side-that
o+her fingers lust as remorseless, rested on other
oonors Would they be merciful to this, his only
one? Would they!
Across the line the bushes shook aua'Dly anu
, IaJ,o1ed rifle cleaned in the moonlight second,
~ was lowered again. No shot rang out
The women passed on-unharmed Their as
,o,dins footsteps grew fainter and died away.
Bnt ere either side had opportunity to catch
,ts breath the sound of other footsteps ascending
the mountain resounded on the sharp nlght alr.
hrootbless wait, q tense straining of the eyes
,.o,,gb +he openings in the brush along the path
,yav-rand another traitor came into view' Martin
SsS,sn,ar walked boldly along, gancing neither
- tho one side nor the other. He, too, was laden
with white flowers 49,. ,.a,. u,.,.
On the Gray side Of the line the nusnss ~ mes SHOOK
autibly and leyeled rlnle sieh'eu III st'e Aio0n
light. But no shot rang out.