Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-02-05

was all IaltnIulneSS, then, IN Things q
steel and iron, and none in flesh an,
blood? He followed the trail. VIII!
stop now? The long-forgotten rancl
buildings lay across the stream ant
behind the tongue of spruce trees, I'm
less some wandering foothill fire haC
destroyed them. He forded the STREAM
without difficulty. That was where hi
had carried her out. He fell
his way slowly along the old fence
That was where she had set up bottles
for his craftsmanship. He
stopped where the struggling gate
should be and walked carefully into
the yard. That was where she had
first called him Dave. Then
he found the doorstep and sat down
to wait.
When the sun was well up he arose
and walked about. His lips were
parched; he found himself nibbling
them with his teeth, so he went to the
stream. He was thirsty, but he drank
only a mouthful; the water was fiat
and insipid. The old cabin was
in better repair than he would have
thought He sprung the door open.
1t was muSty and strung with cob
webs. He did not go in but sat down
and tried to think.
Later he walked up the canyon. He
must have walked swiftly, for the sun
was not yet at the meridian when he
found himself at the little nook in the
rock where he and Irene had sat that
afternoon when they had first laid their
hearts open to each other. Suddenly
one remark stood up in his memory
1.-THE day is coming" she had said,
'when our country will want men who
can shoot and ride" And he had said,
"Well, when it does it can call on me"
And today the country did want men
who could shoot and ride, and he had
flown into the foothills to nurse
broken heart. Broken hearts
can fight as well as whole ones. He
could be of some use yet. At any rate
there was a way out.
Some within led him through the
grove of spruce trees on his way back |
to the ranch. Here, in an open space, |
he looked about, kicking in the dry
grass. At length his toe disturbed a
few bleached bones, and he stood and
loAl .rpAwith unseeing eyes far across
the shimmering valley.
Brownie" he said at length,
Brownie" The whole scene came
back upon him-the moonlight, and
Irene's distress, and the little bleed
ing body. And he had said he didn't
know anything about the justice Of
God; all he knew was the critter that
couldn't run was the one that got
taught. And he had said that
vas life. He had said it was
)nly nature.
And then they had stood among the
rees and beneath the white moon and
pledged their faith.
Again his head went up and the ole
lght flashed in his eyes. 1.-THE first
hing is to kill the wolf" he said
loud. mo other innocent shall fall
D his fangs. Then-my country"
Darkness had again fallen before :
lave found his car threading the
treets of the city, still feverish with
s newborn excitement of war. He
eturned his car to the garage; an Il
ttendant looked up curiously-it was !,
vident from his glance that Dave had -
READY been miSsed-but no words
ere exchanged. He stood for mo-
ent in the street, collecting his
loughts and rehearsing his resolves
He was amazed to find that, even
his bitterness, the city reached
Iousand hands to him-hands Of
bit and association and customs OF
ind--all urging him back into the
d groove all saying: 1.-THE routine e.
the thing. BE spoke in the wheel
round with the rest of u.s."
"No," he reminded himself. "No, ]
mt do that. / have business on
md. First-to xii! the wolf"
He remembered that he had e1Vcr
J revolver to Irene. And suddenly
e sat with him again at the ten
BILE. Where was he? Yes
had given his revolver to Irene
ell, there was another in his rooms
In the hallway of the block in
Itch he had his bachelor apartments
we almost collided with woman,
J drew back and the light fell on
face, but hers was in the shadow,
d then he heard her voice.
oh, Dave, I'm so glad Why,
at has happened?' The last words
/ into a little treble Of pain as sho
ed his haggard face.
'You-Edith?' he managed to say
'hatever-"
;he came toward him and placed
hands on his. "I've been here q
ldred times--ever since morning
II since Bert Morrison called up to
you had disappeared-that there
5 some mystery. There isn't, is
re, Dave? You're all right, Dave.
MT you, Daver