The Bossier banner., 1921-07-07

Va tWV SETS OF Oeef nOfnS over the Hfe-
place. and was entirely exhausted
from It. He had succeeded In getting
down from the couch. though wraeked
by agony, but had been unable to lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention in one
glance. Lenn0x knew It. but he sim
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed to mat
ter.
Tell me where it Is" Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rifle,
at Lemons wasted breast.
Tell you where what is? My
money!"
You know what | want-and It
isn't money. / mean those letters that
Failing found on the ridge. I'm
through f0oling, LennOx. Dan learned
that long ago. and it's time you learned
It now
Dan learned It because he was sick.
he isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much on that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scorn.
But that isn't the question. said
I've wasted all the time I'm going to.
You are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand in the
way OF getting what came to get.
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. I've watched. and he's had no
chance to take them into town. I'll
give you-just 1--WE seconds to tell me
where they're hidden"
"And give you," Lennox replied,
zone second less than that-to 60 to
h-llg"
Both Of them breathed hard In the
quiet room. Cranston was trembling
now, shivering just q little in his arms
and shoulders. "Don't get me wrong.
Lenn0x," he warned.
And don't have any delusions In re-
gard to me, either" Lennox replied.
"Tve stood worse pain from this acci-
dent than any man can give me while
! vet live. no matter what he does. II
you want to get on me and hammer
me In the approved Cranston way,
can't defend myself but you won't
get civil answer out Of me. I'm used
to pain. and | can stand 1t. I'm not
used to fawning to coyote like you.
and can't stand Il"
But Crapston hardly heard. An idea
had famed Ia his mind and cast red
glamor over all the scene about him.
Il was instilling poison In his nerves
and madness In his blood, and It was
soaring him, Ike fire, in his dark
brain. Nothing seemed real. He sud-
denly bent forward, tense.>
That's all right about you." he said.
.'But you'd be a little more polite II It
was Snowbirtl and Dan-that would
have to pay"
Perhaps the color faded slightly Ia
Lennox's face; but his voice did not
change.
They'll see your footprints before
they come in and be ready" Lennox
replied evenly. 'sThey-always come In
by the back way. And even with I
pistol. SnoWbird's match for you."
ibid you think that was what
meantY" Cranston scorned. Il know>a
way to destroy those letters. and I'll
do it--in the four seconds that l said.
unless you tell. I'm not even sure I'm
goin' to give you q chance to tell now
its too good scheme. There won't
be any witnesses then to yell around
in the courts. What II choose to set
IRE to this house r
III wouldn't surprise me great
deal. It's your own trade" Lennox
shuddered once on his place on the
floor.
wouldn't have to worry about
those letters then, would I? 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 here from the nearest
occupied house, with two pair Of
snowshoes for the three Of you and
one dinky pistol. And you can't waik
at all. II would be nice pickle,
wouldn't 1t? Wouldn't you have fat
chance Of getting down to civIlixa-
tiOn r
The voice no longer held steady. It
frembled with passion. This WAS no
Idle threat. The brain had already
seized upon the scheme with every in-
tention Of carrying 1t out. The will
derness lay stark and bare, stripped Of