Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-08-25
CHAPTER II-cOntInued.
10

Dan felt himself straighten; and the
color mounted somewhat higher in his
brown cheeks. But he did not try to
avenge the insult-yet. Cranston was
still fifteen feet distant, and that was
too far. A man may swing a rifle
within fifteen feet. The fact that they
were in no way physical equals did
not even occur to him. When the in
suit is great enough, such considera-
tions cannot possibly matter. Grams
ton was hard as steel, one hundred
and seventy pounds in weight. Dan did
not touch one hundred and fifty, and
a deadly disease had not yet entirely
relinqulshed its hold upon him.
81 do very we'll, Cranston," Dan an
swered in the same tone. wouldn't
you like another match? 1 believe
your pipe has gone out"
Very little can be said for the wis
dom of this remark. It was simply
human-that age-old creed to answer
blow for blow and insult for insult
OF course the inference was obvious
that Dan was accusing him, by innu
endO, of his late attempt at arson.
CranstOn glanced up quickly, and it
might be true that his fingers itched
and tingled about the barrel Of his
rifle. He knew what Dan meant. He
understood perfectly that Dan had
guessed his purpose on the mountain
side. And the curl at his lips became
more pronounced.
"What a smart little boy" he
scOrned. "Going to be a Sherlock
Holmes when he grows up" Then he
half turned and the light in his eyes
blazed up. He was not leering now.
The mountain men are too intense
TO play at insult very long. Their in
herent savagery comes to the surface,
and they want the warmth of blood
upon their fingers. His voice became
cultural. Maybe you're a spy?" he
asked. Maybe you're one of those city
rats-to come and watch us, and then
run and tell the forest service. There's
two things, Failing, that want you
20 know"
Dan puffed at his pipe, and his eyes
looked curiously bright through the
dlm of smoke. "Tm not interested in
hearing them," he said.
''It might pay you," Cranston went
on. "One of 'em is that one mans
word is good as anOther's in a court
and it wouldn't do you any good to
run down and tell tales. A man can
light his pipe on the mountain side
without the courts being interested.
The second thing is-just that don't
think you'd find it a healthy thing TO
do"
81 suppose, then, that is a threat?"
at amt just a threat" Cranston
laughed harshly-a single, grim syl-
liable that was the most terrible sound
he had yet uttered. 'Its fact. Just
try it. Failing. Just make one little
step in that direction. You couldn't
hide behind a girls skirts, then. Why,
you city sissy, I'd break you to pieces
In my handsI"
Few men can make a threat without
a muscular accompaniment Its very
utterance releases pent-up emotions,
part of which can only pour forth in
muscular expression. And anger is a
primitive thing, going down to the
most mysterious depths of a mans ma
ture. AS Cransaon spoke, his lip curled,
his dark fingers clenched on his thick
palm, and he half leaned forward.
Dan knocked out his pipe on the
log. It was the only sound in that
whole mountain realm; all the lesser
sounds were stilled. The two men
stood face to face, Dan tranquil, Grams
ton shaken by passion.
Il give you," said Dan with entire