New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-02-11
iI-Continued.

~
Dsa felt himself straighicn aud the
color mounted somewhat higher in his
brown cheeks. But he did not try to
0veHge the lnsult-yet. CranstOn was
6till fifteen feet distant, and that was
too far, A man may swing a rifle
within fifteen feet. The fact that they
~err Ia no way physical equals did
not eyen occur TO him. When the in
sui IL great enough. such c0nsidera-
fionS cannot possibly matters Grams
ton was hard rs steel, one hundred
mud seventy pounds in weight. Dan did
not touch one hundred md fifty, aud
n deadly disease had not yet entirely
~relinquished lis hold upon him.
Il do very well, CrunSton.' Dan an
severed ia the same tone. "Wouldn't
Sou Hike another match? believe
your pipe has gone out"
Very little can be said for the wis
dom Of this remark. II was simply
tunan-that age-Old creed to answer
hiow for blow and insult for insult
OF curse the Inference was obvious
that ban was accusing him. by innu.
cndo. of his late attempt at arson.
Cranston glanced M quickly, and Il
might be true that his fingers itched
and tiugled about the barrel OF his
rife. lie knew what Dan meant. He
understood perfectly that Dan had
guessed his purpose on the mountain
side, And the curl ut his lips became
more pronounced.
"What q smart little boy" he
ecorned. "Going 10 he n Sherlock
biolmes when he grows up" Then he
hsif turned and the light in his eyes
elaZed up. lie n not leering now. :
The mountain men are too intense
% play nj insult very long. Their in
hcrent Savngery ONE To the surface,
end they want the warmth Of blood
upon their fingers. His voice became
cultural. MAYBE you're n spy" he
este1 Maybe you're ono Of those city
rsts-to come and watch MS. and then
u and tell The forest service. There's
tso things. Failing. that | want you
60 know"
ban puifed at his pip and his eyes
looked crriously bright through the
Glm OF smoke. "Im not Interested Ia
hearing them" he said.
1T might pay you" Cranston went
on. zone Of en- D. that one man,
word Is good rs anoticr's in a court
sud il wouldn't do you any good to
,uu Town and tell tales. A man can
tight his pipe on th" mountain side
without the courts being interested. .
III. second thing is-iu,t that 7 don't
,hiuk you'd find IL % healthy thing to
Il sufrose. then, that is a thrcat;"
'U amt just a threat" Cran,tuu
harshiy-a single. grim syl-
able that was the most terrible sound
be- had vet uttered. "Its a fact. Just 1
Try II. Failing just make one little
step iu that direction. You couldn't .
hide behind n girls skirts, then. WHY. ,
You city sissy. I'D break you to pieces :
IN nv haudsF ,
Efw men can make q threat without I
. muscular accompaniment. It, very ,
iits rance relenscs p.nt-up emotions. 7
part of which can only pour forth in -
muscular expression. And anger j. a ,
primitive thing. going down to the
most mysterious depths Of a mans ma ,
.ure. A. Cranston spoke. his lip curied I
his dark fingers clenched on his thick a
lalm. and he half leaned forward. \
ban knocked out his pipe on the :
og. II was the only sound In that {
whole mountain realm all the le~-.r a
were stilled. The two men i
food face 10 face. Dan Tranquil. Grams 4
shaken by passion. 4
Il give you" said Dan with entire {
'sn opportunity to take that
,sck. Just about four seconds" r
tIe stood very straight as he spoke. b
nd his eyes did not waver in the a
IL would not be the truth to say h
hat his heart was not lesping like .
wild thing In bis breast. A dark C
MIST was spreading like madness over K
'is brSIn but yet he was striving TO h
icep sis thoughts clear. Stealthily. n
seeming to DO 50. he was set s.
ing his muscles for a spring. n
The only answer to his words was "
laugh roaring laugh Of scorn Il
Crsnston's dark lips. In his n
his intent. catlike vigflaa-e II
Dan $50 Q chance; feeble ri