The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-05-12
CHAPTER Ill Continued.

@&NNe 0RN ~
knowledge of life itself that the moun
talneer has. simply because he does
not see II 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 n very intimate acquaintance
that may be met in IN snowdrift, on
n rocky trail and these conditions
are very deadly to any decisions that
he 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
n%lficent warrior from Tennessee, made
IN the late war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow
bird would do. Although of IA higher
order. she was a melntain creature,
even as himself. She meant exactly
what she said. If he hadn't climbed
from Dams prone body, she would
have shot quickly and very straight. II
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
TO keep his distance. But he did know
that he could insult her without dan
ger to himself. And by now his lips
lad acquired their old curl of scorn.
"Ill go, S%powbird."' he said. "I1l
leave you with your Sissy. But | guess
you saw what did to- HMM two
minutes"
II saw. But you must remember
he's sick. Now GO"
IF he's sick, let him stay I'm bed
and have a wet nurse. Maybe you can
be that"
The lids dropped halfway we her
graz eyes, and the slim finger curled
more tightly about the trigger "Oh.
! wish / could shoot you, Bertl' she
said, She didn't whisper 1t, or hiss 1t,
or hurl 1t, or do any of the things most
people are supposed to do in moments
of violent emotion. She simply said
It, and her meaning was ell the
clearer.
bat you can't. And I'll pound that
milk-sop of yours to a jelly every time
i see him. I'd think. Snowbird, that
you'd want a man.
He started up the trail: and then
she did q strange thing. Hes more of
a man fnan you are, right now, Bert"
she told him. "He'l prove II 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.
Cranston's answer was an oath. 1t
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
teeth. No words could have made
him such an effective answer as this
little action of hers. And as he turned
up the trail, he called down 10 her
a name-that most dreadful epithet
that foul tongues have always used
TO women held In greatest SCORE.
Dan struggled In her arms. The
kiss on his lips, the instant before,
had not called him out OF his half
consciousness. 1t had scarcely seemed
real. rather just an incident in a bliss
full dream. But the word called down
the trail shot out clear and vivid from
the silence, just as a physicians face
will often leap from the darkness af-
ter the anesthesIa. Something Infinite
ly warm and tender was holding him,
pressing him back against a holy place
that throbbed and gave him life and
strength; but he knew that this word
had 10 be answered. And only actions,
not other words. could be its payment.
All the voices of his body called TO
him to lie still. but the voices of the
spirit, those higher, nobler p~romptings
from which no man. TO the glory OF
he breed from which he sprung. a
ever quite escape, were stronger yet.
He tugged upward. straining. But he
didn't even have the strength to break
he hold ttst the soft arm had about
his neck.
"Oh. III I could only pull the trig-
I" SIZE was crying. IF could
only kill him-
aIet me-" he pleaded "Give me
the pistol. I'll XIII him
Ana he would. There was no finch
Inc II the gray eyes that looked up
- her. Sha leaned forward. as II to
mt fhe weapon in ais hands, but at
srce drew il back. And then a single
An cancht al her throat. An instant
,ater they heard Cranston's laughter
= III vanished around the turn Of the
For long minutes the two Of them
1890 sti1. me girl stu held the mans
scad mon her breast. The pistol had
ss,len a the pine needles. and her
cervo,,s hoyTd pIucked strangely q me
1Ssves 81 I uountaIn t!ower. 70 Dams
cvre there was something tsnncei.ke'
h,nf 81 paralysis and ~inscnsipiI'ty
~n<,,f her posture. He had never seer
M eyes like thin. The light fnaI e