Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-06-09

Tn going 20 carry n rife. too. inst ne
I>ennox has always He's rot nnlv a
hesh-wound. You saw. what you d,d
with two cartridges-got In one faesh-
wound. Three Of EN- against pack
wouldn't be great deal OF sid. I
don't mean to say you can't shoot bus
jumping. lively wolf In worse fhau
bird In the air. We've gone over
three miles: and he'd lead ms ted miles
fnr;hrr-cvon 10 no didn't 20 \, the
pack. Let's go back"
IF you say 80. But I don't think
there's the least BIT Of danger. We
can always climb q tree"
And have 'em make n beausaful
circle under I'll They've got more "a.
dence than we haye--and we'd have
TO come down some time. Your father
can't come TO our help. you know. IT'S
the sign Of the tenderfoot not TO think
there's any danger-and I'm not going
to think that way any more
They turned back and mushed .iu
silence long time.
Il suppose youTl think I'm n COW.
0A1g 41n 1HhGu ncE uuI0ONE.
only prudent, Dam" she answered,
smiling. Whether she meant II he did
not know. I'm just beginning TO un-
derstand that you-living here only a
few months-really know and under
stand all this better than I do" She
stretched her arms wide to the wilder
ness. Il guess it's your instinct"
"And do understand" he told her
earnestly. II sensed danger hack
there just as sure as I Gun see your
face. That packard it's O big one
is close; and It's terribly .hHnrSn And
you know-you can't help but W
that the wolves are not to Be led
ct know IT only too WE'LL" fe said.
Then she paused and asbed him
about a strange grayness, IKE snow
blown by the wind. on the sky over
the ridge.
Bert Cranston waited In a clump of
expos,rl thicket on the hillside until
he saw two black dots. that he knew
were Dan and Snowbird. leaye the
Lennox home. He lay very stiI as
they circled up the ridge, noticing
that except for the pistol that he
knew Snowbird always carried, they
were unarmed. There was no mar
ticular reason why he should be liter
ested In that point. II was jusd the
mountain way always TO iookl for
weapons. and It Is rather difficult 10
trace the mental processes behind this
Impulse. Perhaps Il can be IadI To
the fact that many mountain families
are often at feud with one another.
and anything In the way OF viollnce
may happen before the morning.
The two passed out Of his sight.
and after q long time he heard the
crack Of Snowbird's pistol. He
guessed that she had either shot nj
some wild creature. or else was mere
Iy at target pructlce-rather a COM
mon proceeding for the two when
they were on the hills together. Thus
II Is to be seen that Cranston knew
their habits fairly well. And since he
had kept close watch upon them for
several days. this was to be expected.
He had no intention Of being inter-
rupted In this work he was about TO
do. lie had planned It all very well.
The elder Lennox was still helpless.
Cranston had noticed that when Dan
and SnowbIrd went out, they vera
usually gone from two to four hours !
aud that gave him plenty OF time for
his undertaking. The moment hnh
come ut last to make a-ahHHAkr
search Of Lennox's house for thoseN,
eliminating documents that Dan lad
found near the body OF Landy HIIl-
dIeth.
The only really dangerous part Of
his undertaking was his approach. n
by any chance Lennon were looking
out Of the window, he might be found
waiting with a rife across his arma.
II would be quite like the old noun
taineer to have his gun beside him.
and to shoot it quick and exceptional
BY straight, without asking questions,
at any stealing figure in the snow. Yet
Cranston felt fairly sure that Lennox
was still too helpless to raise q gun
to q shooting position.
he had observed that the noun
taineer spent his time either on the
fireplace divan or on his own bed.
Neither Of these places wns available
to the rear windows Of the house $50,
very wisely, he made his attack ftom
the rear.
He came stealing across the snok-
a musher Of the first degree. Vbry
silently and swiftly he slipped OF Ibis
snowshoes at the door. The doot e.
self was unlocked. Just as he had Dup
posed. In an instant more he was hip
toelng. q DARK, silent figure. throbgh
the corridors OF the house. He Held
his rifle ready In his hands.
He poered into Lemons bedroom
first. The room was unoccurted.
Then the door Of the corridor creabxed
beneath his step; and he knew moth
Ing further was to be gained by wait
Ing. II Lennox suspected his pres
ence. he might be waiting with aimed
rifle a. he opened the door Of the liy.
ing room.
He giided faster. He halted lonce
more-a moment at the livingkoom
door to see'if Lennon had beenldis-
turbed. He was lying still, how'd yer.
SO Cranston pushed through. q
Lennon glanced mp from his d ga-
zine 30 find that unmistalrabis f4;eg.
the barrel Of a rifle. pointed at his
breast. Cranston was one Of those
rare marksmen who shoot with both
eyes open-and that meant that he
kept his full visual powers to the last
instant before the hammer fell.
Il can't raise my arms" Lennox
said simply. zone OF 'em won't work