New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-04-08

va " S'iS vi httl lipillS oNtl llt nv
place, and IA entirely exhausted
from il. He had succeeded in getting
down from the couch, though wracked
by agony, but had been unable TO lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention in n
glance. LennoX knew it, but he sim
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed to mat
Ter.
Tell me where il is" Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rifle
AT Lennox's wasted breast.
Tell you where what is? My
money!"
You know what | want-and 1t
isn't money. | mean those letters that
Failing found on the ridge. I'm
through fooling, Lennon, Dan learned
that long ago. and its time you learned
II now.
Dan learned ii because he was sick,
He isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much IN that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scorn.
But that isn't the question. said
Eve wasted all the time I'm going 10.
You are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand in the
way of getting what | came 10 get.
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. Eve watched, and he's had no
chance To take them into town. I'll
give you-just five seconds TO tell me
where they're hidden"
And | give YOU" LennoX replied,
zone second less than that-to 80 to
h-llI"
Both Of them breatheG hard in the
quiet room. Cranston was trembling
now, Shiyering just II little in his arms
and shoulders. Don't get me wrong,
Lennon" he warned.
And don't have any decisions in re-
gard to me, either" LennoX replied.
i've stood worse pain from this acct
dent than any nan can give me while
! yet live, no matter what he does. If
you want 10 get on me and hammer
me in the approved Cranston way, |
can't defend myself-but you won't
get n civil answer out of me. I'm used
to pain. and | can stand 1t. I'm not
used 10 fawning TO Il coyote like you,
and | cant stand IT,"
But Cranston hardly heard. An idea
had famed in his mind and cast n red
glamor over all the scene about him.
II was Installing II poison In his nerves
and "A madness in his blood, and it was
soaring him, like fire, in his dark
brain. Nothing seemed real. lie sud
denly bent forward, tense.
That's all right about YOU" he said.
"But you'd be n little more polite if II
was Snowblrd-and Dan-that would
have to pay"
Perhaps the color faded slightly In
T%ennox's face; but his voice did not
change.
They'll see your footprints before
they come in and be ready" Lennox
replied evenly. They always come in
by the back way. And even with a
pistol, Snowbird's a match for you"
Did you think that was what |
meantP" Cranston scOrned. II know n
way to destroy those letters. and I'll
do tin the four seconds that | said,
unless you tell. I'm not even sure I'm
goln' To give you a chance to tell now:
it's too good a scheme. There won't
be any Witnesses then TO yell around
in the courts. What if | choose TO set
fire TO this houseF"
at wouldn't surprise me n great
deal. It's your own trade LennoX
s%huddcred once on his place on the
floor.
II wouldn't have TO worry about
those letters then, would II They are
somewhere in the house, and they'd be
burned to ashes. But that isn't all
that would be burned. You could may.
be- crawl out, but you couldn't carry
the guns. and you couldn't carry the
pantry full of food. You're nearly
eighty miles up hcre from TIE nearest
occupied house. with two pair of
s~nowShoes for the three of YOU and
one dinky pistol. And you can't walk
mt all. II would be IA nice pickle.
wouldn't il? Wouldn't you have a fat
chance Of getting down TO civilian
tiun?"
The voice no longer held steady. II
trcmblcd with passion. This was no
idle threat. The brain had already
seized upon the scheme with every in
tention Of carrying it out. The will
dcrneSS lay stark and bare, stripped of
all delusion-not only in the snow
world outside but in the hearts of
these two men, its sons.
Il have only one hope" LennOx re-
piled. Il hope. unknown to me. that
Dan has already dispatched those let
tiers. The arm of the law is long.
Cranston. Its easy to forget hat fact
up here. 1t will reach you in the
end"
Cranston turned through the door.
into the kitchen. He was gone a long
time. Lennox heard him at work
the crinkle of paper and then a pour
ing sound around the walls. Then he
heard the sharp crack of a match. An
instant later the first wisp Of smoke
came curling. pungent with burning
oil. through the corridor.
you crawled from your couch to
reach that gum" Cranston told him
when he came in. Lets see you crawl
out now"
Lennox's answer was a curse-the
last, dread o%utpouring of an unbroken
will. He didn't look again at the gilt
tering eyes,. He scarcely watched