The state herald., 1921-01-04

casIons, and always there had been
the snme Invisible war between them
"How do you do. Falling" Crans,on
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-
clsion. an unmistakable mockery Of
Dams own tone. In his accent he
threw tone of sicEly sweetness. and
his inference was all too plain. He
was simply calling Failing milksop
and white.liver; just as plainly as
II 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 eyes 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 were only hard
and bright.
Dan felt himself straIghten; and the
color mounted somewhat higher in his
brown cheeks. But he did not try to
avenge the insult--yet. Cranston was
still fifteen feet distant, and that was
too far. man may swing rifle
within fifteen feet. The fact that they
were in Io way physical equals did
not even occur to him. When the In
suit is great enough, such considera.
ti0ns cannot possibly matter. Grams
ton was hard as steel. one hundred
and seventy pounds In weight. Dan did
not touch one hundred and fifty. and
n deadly disease had not yet entirely
relinquished Its hold upon him.
II do very well, Cranston." Dan an
swered In the same tone. Wouldn't
you like another match? | believe
your pipe has gone out"
Very little can he said for the wis.,
dom of this remark. 1t 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 niiempt at arson.
CranstOn glanced up quickly. and II
might be true that his fingers itched
and tingled about the barrel of his
rifle. He knew what Dan meant. He
understood perfectly than Dan Ind
guessed his purpose on The munnuiii
side. And the curl nj hls llps unqme
more pronounced.
what smart little boy" he
scorned. Going TO he.a Sherlock
Holmes when he grows up." Then he
half turned and the light in his eyes
hlazed up. He was NOT leerlns now.
The mountain men are too Intense
10 play Mt Insult very long. Their In
herent savngery comes to the surface.
and they want the warmth of blood
upon their fingers. His voice became
cultural. 'Maybe you're II spy" he
asked. Maybe you're one OF those city
rats-to come and watch us. and then
run and tell the forest service. There's
two things, Failing, that ! want you
to know"
Dan puffed at his pipe, and his eyes
looked curlously bright through the
film Of smoke. "I'm not interested In
hearing them" he said.
ut might nay you" Cranston went
on. "one of 'em is that one mans
word is good as another's in court
and 1t wouldn't do you any good to
run down and tell tales. A man can
light his pipe on the mountain side
without the courts being Interested.
The second thing is-Just that don't
think you'd find It healthy thing TO
do"
u suppose. then, that is threatT
at amt Just threat" Cranston
laughed hnrshly-a single. grim syl-
liable that was the most terrible sound
he had yet uttered. "lts facr. Just
try 1t, FnIlIng. Jus, make one little
step In that direction. You couldn',
hide behind girls skirts, then. Why,
you city sissy. ia break you TO pieces
In my hnnds"
Few men con make threat without
n muscular accompaniment. Its very
utterance releases pent-up emotions,
part Of which can only pour forth In
muscular expression. And anger is n
primitive thing. going down to the
most mysterious depths OF mans ma.
turc. AS Crnnston spoke. his lip curlcd.
his dark fingers clenched on his thlcl,
palm. and he half leaned forward.
Dan knocked out his pipe on the
log. II wns the only sound In TINT
whole mountain realm /. rll the lesser