The state herald., 1921-01-21

Then she paused and nsked him
nbout strange grnyness. like SNOW
blown by the wind. on the sky over
the ridge.
Bert Cranston waited In n clump of
exposed fhlcket on the hillside until
he saw two black dots. that he knew
were Dan and Snowblrd. leave the
I.cnnoy home. He lay very still ms
they circled up thee ridge. noticing
that except for the pistol that he
knew Snowhirl ALWAYS carried, they
wcie unnrmed. There was no par.
ticnnr renson why he should be inter.
es'ed In thnt point. II was Just the
mounrnip way always to look for
weapons. md II is rather difficult to
trace the mental processes behind this
impulse. Perhaps II can he laid to
the fact that many mountain families
are often at feud with one another,
and anything In the way Of violence
may happen before the morning.
The two passed out of his sight.
and after long time he heard the
crack of Snowblrd's pistol. He
guessed that she had either shot at
some wild creature, or else was mere
ly Mt targef pructice-rather n com
mon proceeding for the two when
they were on the hills together Thus
II Is TO be seen that Cranston knew
their habits fnirly well, And since he
had kept n close watch upon them for
several days. This was to he expected.
He had no Intention of being inter
rupicd In this work he was about TO
do. He had planned II all very well.
The elder Lcnnox was still helpless.
Crnnston had noticed that when Dan
and Snowblrd went out. they were
usually gone from two to four hours
and that gave him plenty of time for
his undertaking. The moment had
come NJ last 10 make n thorough
search of Lemons house for those In.
eliminating documents that Dan had
found near the body OF Landy Hi
liefh.
The only really dangerous part Of
his undertaking was his approach. If
by any chance Lennox were looking
cut of the window. he might be found
waiting with n rifle across his arms.
Il would he quite ill;e the Old noun.
inineer TO have hls gua beside him
and 10 shoot II quick and exceptional
ly straIsht, without asking questions,
at any stealing figure In the snow. Yet
Cranston felt fairly sure that Lennox
was still too helpless TO raise gun
to shooting position.
He had observed that the noun
iaincer spent his time either On the
lireplace divan or on his own bed.
Neither of these places was available
TO the rear windows Of the house. So,
very wisely. he made his attack from
the rear.
He caihe stealing across the snow
a musher Of the first degree. Very
silently and swiftly he slipped OF his
snOwshoes at the door. The door IL
self was unlocked. just as he had sup
posed. In an instant more he was tip
toeing. a dark. silent figure. through
the corridors Of the house. He held
his rife ready In his hands.
He peered Into Lennox's bedroom
frst. The room was unoccupled.
Then the floor Of the corridor creaked
beneath his step: and he knew moth.
Ing further wns 10 be gained by walt
Ing. II Lennox suspected his pres
ence. he might be waiting with aimed
rifle as he opened the door Of the llv-
Ing room.
He g'lded faster. He halted once
more-a moment ut the llvIng.room
door TO see II Lennox had been dis
turhed. He was lying still. however.
so Crnnston pushed through.
Lennox glanced up from his magn-
zine TO find that unmistakable thing.
the barrel Of rifle. pointed at his
breast. Cranston was one OF those
rare marksmen who shoot with both
eyes open-nnd 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