The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-05-27

yung Teller, Martin, aire against tn Grays. and
you aire Gray. Mind you what I say"
AS the days went by Molly caught glimpses, re-
mote and heeting Of Martin dangerously far in,
on ground protected by an armed neutrality. Once
they CHANGED near enough for Martin to call to her.
Were friends, Molly?"
"Yes-yes Martin, we're friends this time"
They're done tn surveyin' Molly" Hannah
Hanks explained, when she reached home, ian tn
stranger amt satisfied. It don't give him Rain
bow mOuntaing They're goin' ter try it over
ergin, an they're all plumb hot long of it. Whomst
steps On 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 lilacs when the Squire came down
the path.
my daughter" he said, in the mild slow tones
that always frightened her, sit hes come to my
that tn young Teller, Martin, prowls continual
on tn Rainbow. I've give in to q surveyin'.
But greed t shoot whomsoeEer footed ON
Rainbow mOuntaing. It has to that it's
tn Teller defyin of US He aire comely, proper
boy, but monstrous fool, seems like they don't
know Johnson Gray
The Hlacs dropped from Mollys hands. She
knew Johnson Gray. Conflicting impulses stirred
her From the chaos conviction
preme-she had a promise to keep. 1t 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 cloudeSs bril-
liancy The peace and sublimity of the mountains
seemed too infinite for evil design. And yet the
Squire and half a dozen Grays were lying noise
essly in the brush along the dividing line. Every
mans finger the trigger, for some one had
broken the compact, prowlng
the Rainbow.
Across the contested line, hundred yards back,
the dense underground hid the reflection of the
moon along other rife barrels. GrOhsman and his
men were equally vigilant.
Family at first, but growing louder and louder
with each step, the scuffle of advancing feet was
FrTI.1 18th cid
readiness to mete out the deserved retribution
Then the traitors came into view. There, going
boldly across the cleared-slOpe, were Molly and
Hannah Hanks. 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 was
white and drawn. Though he could not see them,
he knew that other eyes watched the self-same
slope of the Ranbow-from the other side-that
other fingers, just remorseless, rested on other
weapons. Would they be merciful to this, his only
one? Would they!
Across the line the bushes shook audibly and
leveled rifle cleaned in the moonlight q second,
but was lowered again No shot rang out.
The women passed on-unharmed- Their as
cending footsteps grew fainter and died away.
But ere either side had opportunity to catch
its breath the sound Of other footsteps ascending
the mountain resounded on the sharp night air.
breathless wait, tense straining Of the eyes
through the openings in the brush along the path
way-and another traitor came into view Martin
Grohsman walked boldly along, gianeing 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 a leveled rifle cleaned in the moon
light But no shot rang cut.