Middletown transcript., 1921-04-09

on two sets of deer horns over the fire.
place, and was entirely exhausted
from it. He had succeeded in getting
down from the couch, though wracked
by agony, but had been unable to lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention in one
glance. Lennox knew it, but he SIM
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed to mat
ter.
'Tell me where it is," Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rifle
at Lennox's wasted breast.
'Tell you where what is? My
money!"
"You know what I want-and it
isn't money. I mean those letters that
Failing found on the ridge. I'm
through fooling, Lennox. Dan learned
that long ago, and it's time you learned
it now
"Dan learned it because he was sick.
He isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much on that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scorn.
But that isn't the question. / said
I've wasted all the time I'm going to-.
You are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand in the
way of getting what l came to get.
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. I've watched, and he's had no
chance to take them into town. I'll
give you-just five seconds to tell me
where they're hidden"
"And I give you," Lennox replied,
zone second less than that-to 60 to
h-llw
Both of them breatheG hard in the
quiet room. Cranston was trembling
now, shivering just little in his arms
and shoulders. Don't get me wrong,
Lennox," he warned.
"And don't have any delusions in re-
gard to me, either" Lennox replied.
I've stood worse pain from this acci-
dent than any man can give me while
| yet live, no matter what he does. If
| you want to get on me and hammer
me in the approved Cranston way, l
can't defend myself-but you won't
| get civil answer out of me. I'm used
to pain. and l can stand it. I'm not
used to, fawning to coyote like you.
and can't stand it."
But Cranston hardly heard. An idea
had famed in his mind and cast red
| glamor over all the scene about him.
| es<iI1inn nniSn, in, hic
and madness in his blood, and it was
soaring him, like fire, in his dark
brain. Nothing seemed real. He sud
denly bent forward, tense.
'That's all right about you," he said.
"But you'd be little more polite if it
was Snowbird-and Dan-that would
have to pay"
Perhaps the color faded slightly in
Lennox's face; but his voice did not
change.
They'll see your footprints before
they come in and be ready" Lennox
replied evenly. "They always come in
by the back way. And even with a
pistol. Snowbird's match for you"
"Did you think that was what
meant?" Cranston scorned. II know a
way to destroy those letters, and I'll
do it-in the four seconds that l said
unless you tell. I'm not even sure I'm
goin' to give you a chance to tell now
It's too good a scheme. There Wont
be any witnesses then to yell around
in the courts. What if choose to sci
fire to this house?"
"It wouldn't surprise me a great
deal. It's your own trade" LennoS
shuddered once on his place on the
floor.
II wouldn't have to worry about
those letters then, would 1? They are
somewhere in the house, and they'd be
burned to ashes. But that isn't all
that would be burned. You could may
be crawl out, but you couldn't carry
the guns, and you couldn't carry the
pantry full Of food. You're nearly
eighty miles up here from the nearest
occupied house, with two pair o1
snowshoes for the, three of you and
one dinky pistol. And you can't WALL
at all. It would be a nice pickle
wouldn't it? Wouldn't you have fa'
chance of getting down to civiliza
tion?'
The voice no longer held steady. I
trembled with passion. This was NJ
idle threat. The brain had alread!
seized upon the scheme with every in
tention Of carrying it out. The viii
derness lay stark and bare, stripped O
all delusion-not only in the snow
world outside but in the hearts O.
these two men, its sons.
II have only one hope" Lennox re
piled. Il hope, unknown to me, tina
Dan has already dispatched those let
ters. The arm Of the law is long
Cranston. It's easy to forget that fac
up here. 1t will reach you in th'
end"
Cranston turned through the door
into the kitchen. He was gone lonl
time. Lennex heard him at work
the crinkle of paper and then pour
ing sound around the walls. Then h.
heard the sharp crack of match. Al
instant later the first wisp Of smok
. came curling, pungent with burnini
, oil, through the corridor.
"You crawled from your couch t
, reach that gum" Cranston told hin
! when he came in. Lets see you craw
. out now"
. Lennox's answer was a curse-th
last, dread outpouring Of an unbroke1
. will. Ee didn't look again at the gilt
tering eyes. He scarcely watche'
CranStnn'sN further preparations: tn