Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-04-14


He whirled. recognized Dan, and for
one long instant 10 which the world
seemed 10 have time III plenty 70 make
complete revolution, he stood per-
fectly motonless. The match flared In
his dark fingers, ilis eyes--fuIl Of sin
guIar conjecturing crested on Dams
face. No instant Of the Iatter's life
had ever been fraught with greater
peril. He understood perfectly what
was going on In Cranston's mind. The
fire-fiend was calmly deciding whether
to shoot or whether to blur II out.
One required no more moral courage
than the other. II really didn't make
great deal OF difference to Cranston.
But he decided that the killing was
not worth the cartridge. The other
course was too easy. He did not even
dream that Dan had been shadowing
him and had seen his intention. He
would have laughed at the Idea that a
stenderfoot" could thus walk behind
him, unheard. Without concern. be
scattered with his foot the little heap
Of kindling. and slipping his pipe into
his mouth. he touched the fiaring
match to II. II was a wholly admir-
able little piece Of acting. and would
have Deceived any one who had not
seen his previous preparations Then
he walked on down the trail toward
Dan.
Dan stopped and lighted his own
| N.Qs.a xnsam <.4,~fOt.. NfttIs. 49,. ~.
And then he leaned back against the
great gray trunk OF fallen tree
sWell, Cranston,v he said civIliy.
The men had met on previous oc-
casions, and always there had been
the same invisible war between them.
"fIow do you do. Falling" Cranston
replied. No perceptions could be so
blunt as TO miss the premedItated In
snlt In the tone He didn't speak IN
his own tongue at all. the short, gut
turai "Howdy" that Is the greeting
OF the mountain. men. lie pronounced
all the words with an exaggerated pre-
cision, an unmistakabIe mockery OF
Dams own tone. In his accent he
threw tone OF sickiy sweetness. and
his inference WIS alI too plain. He
was simply calling Failing n milksop
and white-lIver; just as plainly as
n he had used the words
Tho eyes OF the two men met.
Cranst0n's lips were slightly curied In
on unmistakabie lecr. Dams were
very straIght. And In one thing al
least. their eyes looked Just the same,
The pupils Of both pairs had contracted
to steel points. bright IN the dark grny
OF the irises. Crnnason's looked some
what red: and Dams were only hard
and bright.
Dan felt himself straIghfen; and tbs
color mounted somewhat higher IN hts
brown cheeks But he DID not Try Il
avcnge the insuit--yet. CrnnSton was
stifl fifteen feet distant. and That was
too far. A man may swing rin,
within iifteen feet. The fact that they
were IN no way physical cqunls az
not even occur to him. when The IN
suit IL great enough. such eonsIdera
tI0na cannot possibly matter. Grams
ton was hard as steel. ooe hundred
and seventy pounds IN weight Dan DID
NOT touch one hundred and fifty. and
deadly disease had not yet entirely
relinquished ita hold upon him.
= do very well. Crnuston." DAN an
swercd ~ the same tone ~woaidni
you Hike another mntch7 believe
your plpr has gone out"
Very iitllo cAn Dc said for the Wis
dom OF thia remark. Il was slmpi,
hunan-thnt nEe-old creed 10 answer
blow for blow and insult for insult
or course the inference was obYiom
--that Dan was accusing bin, b. innu
endo. Of his late attempt &C arson
Crauston glanced up quickly. and 4
might be true that his fingers ifches
and flngled about the barrel Of hi
rife. He know what Dan meant III
understood perfectly that Dan bat
guessed hla purpose on the mountair
side. And tho curl at his lips becaini
more pronounced.
Il what smart little boy b.
scorned. "6oinR 10 Dc a gherioci
Holmes when he grows mp" Then h
half turned and the light IN his eye
blazed up. He was not leeFing now
The mountain men are too intens
70 play ut insult very long Their IA
herent snvagcry comes 10 the surface
and they want the warmth OF bl0oi
upon their fingers Hts voice becam
cultural Maybe you're a BpyT h
asked. Maybe you're onr Of those cit
rats--to come md watch an. and the
run and tell the forest service. There
two things. Failing. thns want yol
! 10 know"
Dan puffeh af his PIPE. and his eye
looked eurlonsly bright through IN
fiim OF smoke. -rm not interested Il
hearing them be said.
IL might pay sou" Cranston wen
on. "One OF en- Ia that one man
word Is good rs anoiher's 10 court
and II wouldn't DO you any good I
run down and tell tales. man en-
light his pipe go the mountain sid
without the courts being interested
The second thing Just that don
think you'd end it healthy thing I
do
T suppose. then, that 10 thrcati
at amt Just threat" Cransto
iaugied hnrshly--a single, grim 81
liable that was the most terrible SCUM
he had yet uttered. TITS q fact. Ju,
try II Failing. Just make one it'll
step in TINT direction. You couidn
hide behind d girls skirts. then. WI.
yon city sissy. ia break you 10 piece
In my hnndslr
Few men cafi mike threat withor
muscular accompaniment Its yer
uttomnce releases pent-up emotion
part Of which can only pour forth