The Jasper news., 1921-03-03


It would be interesting to explain
why Dan at once recognized the older
man for the breed he was. Silas Len
nox was not dressed In a way that
would distinguish him. 1t was true
that he wore a flannel shirt, riding
trousers and rather heavy, leathern
boots. But sportsmen all over the
face Of the earth wear this costume at
sundry times. Mountain men have a
peculiar stride by which experienced
persons can occasionally recognize
them; but Silas Lennox was standing
still when Dan got his first glimpse Of
him. The case resolves itself into a
simple matter Of the things that could
be read in Lennox's fuce1
Dan dlsbelieved wholly In a book
that told how to read characters at
sight Yet at the FIRST glance Of the
lean. bronzed face his heart gave a
curious little bound. A pair of gray
eyes met his-two fine black points In
rather hard gray iris. They didn't
look pnst him, or at either side Of him.
or at his chin or his forehead. They
looked right at his own eyes. The skin
around the eyes was burned brown by
the sun, and the flesh was so lean that
the cheekbones showed plainly. The
mouth was straight; but yet It was
neither savage nor cruel. 1t was sim
ply determined.
Lennox came up with light, silent
tread and extended his hand. you're
Dan Failing's grandson, aren't your
he asked. "Tm Silas Lennox, who
used to know him when he lived on
the Divide. You are coming to spend
the summer and full on my ranch"
The immediate result of these
words. besides relief, was to set Dan
wondering how the old mountaineer
had recognized him. He wondered II
he had any physical resemblance to
his grandfather. But this hope was
shot to earth at once. His telegram
had explained about his malady, and
OF course the mountaineer had picked
him out simply because he had the
mark Of the disease on his face. As
he shook hands. he tried his best to
read the mountaineer's expression. 1t
was all too plain: an undeniable look
OF disappointment.
The truth was that even In spite Of
all the Chamber of Commerce head had
told him, Lennon had still hoped to
find some image of the elder Dan
Failing In the face and body of his
grandson. Because of the thick
glasses. "nnox could not see the
| VOunp man o avao. hut ha dtdpSk thlnlY
1t likely they were Nt all like the eyes
with which the elder Failing saw his
way through the wilderness at night.
OF course he was tall, just as the ia
nous frontiersman had been, but
while the elder weighed one hundred
and ninety pounds. hone and muscle,
this man did not touch one hundred
and thirty. Evidently the years lad
brought degeneracy TO the Failing clan.
Lennox was desolated by the thought.
He helped Dan with his bag to a lit
tie wiry automobile that waited be-
side the station. They got into the
'wo front seats, and a moment later
we're starting up the long. curved
r0ad that led to the Divide.
During the hour that they were
crossing over the foothills, on the way
10 the big timber. Silas Lennox talked
great deal about the frOntiersman
that had been Dams grandfather A
mountain man does not use prOfuse
adjectives. He talks very simply and
very straight. and often there are long
silences between his sentences Yet
he conveys his ideas with entire clear
ness.
Dan. realized at once that n he
could be, IT. Lemons eyes, one-flfth
of the man his grandfather had been
he would never have TO fear again the
look OF disappointment with which his
host had greeted him at the station
But instead OF reaching that higl
place, he had only-death. He knew
what his destiny was In these Quiel
hills. And II was true that he begar
90 have secret regrets that he haC
come. But II wasn't that he was dis
appointed In the land that was open
ing up before him. 1t fulfilled ever,
promise. His sole reason for regrets
lay in the fact that now the Who'll,
mountain world would know Of tn,
decay that had come upon his people
Perhaps 1t would have been better I,
have left them to their traditions.
, He had never dreamed that III
: fame of his grandfather had sprea
/. so far. For the first ten miles Da
r listened to stories-Iegends Of a col
= nerve that simply could not be shaken
/ Of q powerful. tireless physique, G
$ moral and physical strength that wa
; seemingly without limit Then. q