American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-04-08


well. Cranston," he said civIlly.
The men had met on previous oc-
~casions, and always there had been
the same invisible war between them.
"How do you do, Falling" Cranston
replied. No perceptions could be so
blunt as to miss the ~premeditated In
suit in the tone. He didn't speak In
his own tongue at all, the short. gut
tural "Howdy" that is the greeting
OF the mountain men. He pronounced
all the words with an exaggerated pre-
cision. an unnistakable mockery of
Dams own tone. In his accent he
threw n tone Of sickly sweetness. and
his inference was all too plain. He
was simply calling Failing a milksop
and a white-liver; just as plainly as
If he had used the words.
The eyes of the two men met.
Cranston's lips were slightly curled in
an unmistakable leer. Dams were
very straight. And in one thing at
least, their yes looked just the same.
The pupils of both pairs had contracted
to steel points, bright in the dark gray
Of the irises. Cranston's looked some
what red and Dams we're only hard
and bright.
Dan felt himself straighten and the
color mounted somewhat higher In his
brown cheeks. But he did not try to
nvenge the Insult-yet. Cranston was
Still fifteen feet distant. and that was
40 fnr : man may swing a rifle
-,fr e"' rrni. The fact that they
49,, phvsical equals did
not even occur to him. When the in
suit is great enough, such consldera-
lions cannot possibly matter. Grams
ton was hard as steel, n hundred
and seventy pounds In weight. Dan did
not touch one hundred and fifty, and
a deadly disease had not yet entirely
~relinquished its hold upon him.
az do very we'll, Cranston," Dan an
swered in the same tone. "Wouldnt
you like another match2 | believe
your pipe has gone out"
Very little can be said for the wis
dom of this remark. II was simply
human-that age-old creed to answer
blow for blow and insult for insult
OF course the inference was obvious
that Dan was accusing him, by innu
endo, of his late attempt at arson
Cranston glanced up quickly, and l
might be true that his fingers ltcheC
and tingled about the barrel of hi
rifle. He knew what Dan meant. Fl!
understood perfectly that Dan hat
guessed his purpose on the mountain
side. And the curl at his lips becam
more pronounced.
"What q smart little boy" h
scorned. "Going TO be a Sherloc
Holmes when he grows up" Then h
half turned and the light In his eye
blazed up. He was not leering nov
The mountain men are too intens
to play at insult very long. Their II
4 herent savagery comes to the surface
y and they want the warmth Of bloc
upon their fingers. His voice becan
o cultural. Maybe you're a spy" l
I asked. Maybe you're one of those eli
rats-to come and watch US. and the
Q run and tell the forest service. There
two things. Failing. that ] want yc
e TO know"
J. Dan puffed at his pipe, and his ey'
d looked curiously bright through Il
film of smoke. I'm moi Interested
V hearing them" he said.
at might pay you" Cranston we
on. zone of EN- Is that n mar
II word is good ms another's In a court
If and II wouldn't do you any good
run down and tell tales. A man CT
light his pipe on the mountain ST
without the courts being intereste
O. The second thing is-just that ] dol
n think you'd find II a healthy thing
,r do"
IA ~ suppose. then, that is a threat
at amt just a threat" Cranst
r. laughed harshly-a single, grim S
in liable that was the most terrible sou
he had yet uttered. TITS a fact. il
,,s try It. Failing. Just make one Iii
70 step in that direction. You could
hide behind a girls skirts, then. w
you city sissy. I'd break you 10 pie'
no in my hands"
or Few men can make a threat With
lt. n muscular accompaniment. Its W
pc utterance releases pent-up emotio
10 part of which can only pour forth
m muscular expression. And anger Il
as primitive thing. going down to
or most mysterious depths Of a mans
ture. As Cranston spoke, his lip curl
No his dark fingers clenched on his th
He palm. and he half leaned forward.
a Dan knocked out his pipe on
nd log. 1t was the only sound In t
he whole mountain realm all the les
ap sounds were stilled. The two Z
ito stood face to face, Dan tranquil. Ora
.ng ton shaken by passion.
ir- 81 give you" said Dan with en-
aid coldness, ian opportunity to take I
not back. Just about four seconds"
len He stood very straight as he SD
ard and his eyes did not wave In
least. II would not be the truth TO
wn that his heart was not leaping
10. a t-nd thing In his hroaEf a