Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-03-31


which most men lived we're forgotten
quickly In the shadows of the pines
Even as he spoke. man was hunting
man on the distant ridge where Whis-
perfoot the cougar had howled.
Bert Cra1ston.. head Of the arson
ring that operated on the Umpqua d.
vide, was not only beyond the pale In
regard to the laws OF the valleys, but
he could have learned valuable lessons
from the beasts In regard TO keeping
the laws Of the hills.iThe moon looked
down to find him waiting on a certain
trail that wound down TO the settle
ments. his rifle ionded and ready for
another kind Of game than deer or
wolf. He was waiting for Landy Hill
dreth; and the greeting he had for
him was TO destroy all chances Of the
prosecuting attorney in the valley be-
low learning certain names that he
particularly wanted to know.
There was no breath of wind. The
great pines. tall and dark past belief.
stood absolutely mOtionless, like
strange pillars of ebony. Bert Gran
ston knelt in brush covert. his rifle
loaded and ready in his lean, dark
hands.
No wolf that ran the ridges. no
cougar that waited on the deer trails
knew n wilder passion, more terrible
blood.lust than he. II showed In his
eyes. narrow and never resting from
their watch OF the trail: II was in his
posture: and II revealed Itself unmis
takahiy in the curl OF bis lips. Some
thing like hot steam was In his brain
bldrring his sight and heating hi
blond
The piro needles hung wholly mo
tloaiess above his head; but yet The
dead lrayes ON which he knelt crfnkied
and sustled under him. Only the keen
est car could have heard the sound
and possibly in his madness. Cransson
himself WIS not aware OF II. And one
wonlt hrve wondered long time rs
TO what caused It. II was simply that
he was shiverIng all over with hate
ard fury.
n twig cracked. far on the ridge
above him. He leaned forward, peer
ing. md the moonlight showed his
face IN unsparing detail. II revealed
the deep lines. the terrible. drawn
lips. the ugly hair long over the dark
ears. His strong hands frightened
upon the hreech OF the rife. His wiry
figure grew tense.
OF course Il wouldn't do 70 let his
prey come too close. Landy Hndreth
was good shot too. young as Gran.
ston. and Of equal strength; md no
sporting chance could be taken IN this
hunting. Crnnston bad no intention
Of giving his enemy even the slightest
chance 10 defend himself n Eilldreih
got down into the valley, his fcsti-
mOny would make short work Of the
arson ring. He had the goods; he had
been member ~ the dlsrepnta,,le
crowd himself
The mnn's steps were qnite distinct
by now. Crnnston heard him Fighting
his way through the brush ihlekcts
and oncc n flock ~ grouse. frightened
from their nerches hy the approaching
figure. few down the frnil IN front.
Cranston pressed back the hammer ~
his rife. The click sounded loud IN
the silence He hnt grown tense and
sim, and tie leaves no longer rustled
Ills eyes were intent on q lijtlf
clenrlnR. possibly one hundred yards
up the trail The trail Itself sent
strnight through H. And IN mn IN.
slant more. lIIldrerh pushed through
the huckhrHsh and stood revealed ia
the moonlight
II thctc Is me quality Tint means
sncccss w he mountains It IL con.
'Hii increasing seifcuDiroi Gran.
'-nighl tia' he had H. hut per.
haps he had waited too long for TIn
dreth 10 come and the strain had told
on him. He had sworn to TAKE no
false steps; that every motion be
made should be cool and sure. lie
didn't want TO attract Hlldreth'S at-
teDtion by any sudden movement. All
must be cautious and stcnlthy. But
In spite Of all these good resolutions.
Cranston's gun simply icaped 20 bis
shoulder 10 one eonyulsiye motion at
the first glimpse OF his enemy rs he
emerged into the moonlight
The end Of the barrel struck
branch Of the shrubbcry MS II went
40. Il was only a soft sound; but IN
the utter silence II Travelled far. The
gun bnrrel caught the moonlight rs Il
Ieaped, and TIlldreth saw It's CLINT In
the darkness.
He was looking for trouble. He had
dreaded this long walk 70 the settle
ments more than any experience OF
his life. He didn't know why the let.
ter he had written. asking for an
armed escort down TO the courts. had
not brought results. But II was
wholly possible that Crnnston would
have answered this question for him.
This same letter had fallen into cor
tain solled, deadly pair Of hands
which was the last place In the world
that Hildreth would have chosen, and
It had been all the evidence that was
needed. at the meeting Of the ring the
night before, 10 adjudge Hlldreth
mercIless and immediate end. Hill
dreth would have preferred to walt In
the hills and possibly to write another
letter, but a chill that kept growing
Mt his finger tips forbade It. And all
these things combined 10 stretch his
nerves almost to the breaking point
as he stole along the moonlit trail I'M
der the pines.
moment before the rush and whir
Of the grouse flock had dried the roof
Of his mouth with terror. The tall
trees appalled, him, the shadows fell
upon his spirit. And when he heard
this fnnl sound. when he Hnw the