Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-05-21
CHAPTER IiI-continued.


M man would have possessed this knOwl-
edge. But q plainsman has not the
knowledge of life itself that the noun
taineer has. simply because he does
not see it in the raw. And he has not
half the intimate knowledge of death,
an absolute requisite of self-cOm-
posure. The mountaineer knows life
IN its simple phases with little tradi-
ton or convention to blur the vision.
Death is very intimate acquaintance
that may be met in any snOwdrift, on
any rocky trail; and these conditions
are very deadly to any decisions that
ne has in regard to himself. He ac-
quires an ability to see just where he
stands, and of course that means self
possession. This quality had something
to do with the remarkable record that
the mountain men, such as that mag
nificent warrior from Tennessee, made
In the late war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow
bird would do Although of a higher
order, she was a mountain creature,
# even as himself. She meant exactly
what she said. If he hadn't climbed
have shot quickly and very straight. If
he tried TO attack either of them now,
her finger would press back before he
could blink an eye, and she wouldn't
weep any hysterical tears over his
dead body. If he kept his distance,
she wouldn't shoot at all. He meant
10 keep his distance. But he did know
that he could insult her without dam
ger to himself. And by now his lips
S had acquired their old curl of scOrn.
I'm go, Snowbird," he said. "Tll
leave you with your sissy. But guess
you saw what l did to HMM two
minutes"
II saw. But you must remember
he's sick. Now 60"
IF he's sick, let him stay in bed
and have wet nurse. Maybe you can
be that"
The lids dropped halfway over her
gray eyes, and the slim finger curled
more tightly about the trigger "Oh,
I wish | could shoot you, Bertv' she
E said. She didn't whisper it, or hiss it.
or hurl it, or do any of the things most
people are supposed to do In moments
Of violent emotion She simply said
1t, and her meaning was all the
clearer.
But YOU can't. And TIL pound that
milk-sop of yours to a Jelly every time
/ see him. I'd think Snowbird, that
you'd want man."
He started up the trail; and then
M she did a strange thing. Hes more of
a man than you are, right now, Bert"
she told him. He'll prove it some
day" Then her arm went about Dams
neck and lifted his head upon her
breast; and in Cranston's plain sight.
she bent and kissed him, softly, on
the lips
Cranstons answer was an oath. 1t
M dripped from his lips. more poisonous.
more malicious than the venom of a
snake. His features seemed to tight
en-, the dark lips drew away from his
IN teeth. No words could have made
Z him such an effective answer as this
little action Of hers And as he turned
2 up the trail, ne called down to her
name-that most dreadful epithet
mat foul tongues have always used
10 women held in greatest scorn
Dan struggled in her arms. The
2 Kiss on his lips. the instant before.
mad not called him out of his half
consciousness. 1t had scarcely seemed
real. rather just an incident in a bliss
IQi dream. But the word called down
me trail shot out clear and vivid from
me silence, just as a physicians face
VIII often leap from the darkness af-
Ter the anesthesia. Something infinite
~ warm and tender was holding him,
pressing him back against holy place
mat throbbed and gave him life and
strength; but he knew that this word
"aa to be answered. And only actions,
Hot other words, could be its payment.
All the voices of his bodv called TO
nun 10 lie still, but the voices Of the
spirit those higher, nobler promptings
t.0h which no man, TO the glory of
"i- breed from which he sprung, can
EYER quite escape. were stronger yet.
~ l1geed upward. straining. But he
1'N Z even have the strength to break
S ie mold that the soft arm had abou,
his neck.
uh' If I could only pun the trig-
ger she was crying. "Tf could
only kin him"
l Le' ae," he pleaded. "Give me
me pistol III kill him"
LII 1nQ ne would. There was no finch
s 10 the gray eyes that looked up
"-F She leaned forward. as If TO
ne weapon in his hands, but at
ire" 1t back. And then a single
aasht at her throat. An instant
"ey heard Cranston's laughter
=. re vanished around the turn Of the
for long minutes TIE two of them
s.-s s'l''- The girl still held the mans
t.r +,on bzy breast The pistol had
rs- ID the pine needles. and her
,s,-. s haad plucked strangely at the
'l mountain flower. To Dams