Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-11-25
CHAPTER ill--Continued.

nan would have possessed this knowl-
.dge. But plainsman has not the
knowledge of life itself that the noun
aineer has, simply because he does
rot see it in the raw. And he has not
ialf the intimate knowledge Of death,
in absolute requisite of self-com-
,osure. The mountaineer knows life
its simple phases with little tradi-
ion or convention to blur the vision.
Death is a very intimate acquaintance
hat may be met in any snowdrift, on
my rocky trail; and these conditions
ire very deadly to any decisions that
ie has in regard to himself He &C
iuires an ability to see just where he
tands, and Of course that means self
possession. This quality had something
do with the remarkable record that
he mountain men, such as that mag
lificent warrior from Tennessee, made
the late war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow
,ird would do. Although Of higher
'rder. she was a mountain creature,
wen as himself. She meant exactly
What she said. II he hadn't climbed
rom Dams prone body, she would
rave shot quickly and very straight. II
he tried to attack either Of them now,
ler finger would press back before he
.Ould blink an eye, and she wouldn't
weep any hysterical tears over his
lead body. If he kept his distance,
The wouldn't shoot at all. He meant
o keep his distance. But he did know
hat he could insult her without dan
ger to himself. And by now his lips
rad acquired their old curl Of scorn.
"rll 60, Snowbird," he said. 'I1l
cave you with your sissy. But guess
rou saw what l did to HMM two
minutes"
Il saw. But you must remember
ne's sick. Now CO."
IF he's sick. let him stay in bed
and have a wet nurse. Maybe you can
sc that"
The lids dropped halfway over her
gray eyes, and the slim finger curled
more tightly about the trigger. "Oh.
wish could shoot you. Bertl" she
said. She didn't whisper 1t, or hiss 1t,
Or hurl it, or do any Of the things most
people are supposed to do in moments
: If violent emotion. She simply said
It, and her meaning was all the
clearer
"But you can't. And I'll pound that
nilk-sop of yours to jelly every time
see him. I'd think, Snowbird, that
you'd want man."
. He started up the trail; and then
she did a strange thing. Hes more Of
man than you are, right now. Bert"
she told him. Hell prove it some
lay" Then her arm went about Dams,
neck and lifted his head upon her
breast; and in Cranston's plain sight,
she bent and kissed him, softly, on
9 the lips.
Cranston's answer was an oath. It
I aripped from his lips, more poisonous,
more malicious than the venom of
snake. His features seemed to tight
IN, the dark lips drew away from his
teeth. No words could have made
hin such an effective answer as this
little action Of hers. And as he turned
1p the trail, he called down to her
name-that most dreadful epithet
hat foul tongues have always used
% women held in greatest scOrn.
Dan struggled in her arms. The
Kiss on his lips. the instant before,
had not called him out Of his half
consciousness. 1t had scarcely seemed
.eal, rather just an incident In bliss
.ul dream. But the word called down
he trail shot out clear and vivid from
he silence, Just as a physicians face
will often leap from the darkness at
.er the anesthesia Something infinite
v warm and tender was holding him,
pressing him back against holy place
hat throbbed and gave him life and
strength; but he knew that this word
lot other words, could be its payment
All the voices of his body called to
him to lie still, but the voices Of the
spirit, those higher, nobler promptlngs
rom which no man, to the glory Of
he breed from which he sprung, can
aver quite escape, were stronger yet.
he tugged upward. straining. But he
Ilun even udNc Tic SlIcusth "
he hold that the soft arm had about
lis neck.
"Oh, If could only pull the trig-
yerl" she was crying. IF I could
,nly kill him"
"Let me-" he pleaded. "Give me
he pistol. I'll kill him"
And he would. There was no finch
ng in the gray eyes that looked up
% her. She leaned forward as If to
out the weapon in his hands, but at
e once drew 1t back. And then a single
sob caught at her throat An instant
alter they heard Cranston's laughter
IS he vanished around the turn of the
rail.
For long minutes the two Of them
we're still. The girl still held the mans
lead upon her breast The pistol had
ALLEN in the pine needles, and her
nervous hand plucked strangely at the
caves of a mountain flower. To Dams
yves, there was something trancelike,
/ hint of paralysis and insensibilIty
about her posture. He had never seen