The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-06-16

rea1, ralner Jus; a.. hSsAcItt IN piss
full dream But the word called down
the trail shot out clear and vivid from
the silence, just as physicians race
will often leap from the darkness at
ter the anesthesia. Something infinite
" warm and tender was holding him.
pressing him hack against holy place
that throbbed and gave him life and
strength; but he knew that this. word
had to 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 promptmgs
from which no man. to the glory OF
the breed from which he sprung, can
ever quite escape, were stronger YET. I
He tugged upward. straining. But ne
didn't even have the strength to break
the hold that the soft arm had about,|
his neck.
"Oh, If could only pull the trig-
ger" she was crying. If could
only kill him"
LET me-" he pleaded. give me
the pistol. I'll kill him
And he would. There was no finch
ing in the gray eyes that looked up
to her. She leaned forward, as II TO
put the weapon in his hands, but at
once drew It back. And then single
sob caught at her throat. An instant
later they heard Cranston's laughter
as he vanished around the turn Of the
trail.
For long minutes the two of them
were still. The girl still held the mans
| head upon her breast. The pistol had
fallen In the pine needles. and her
nervous hand plucked strangely at the
leaves Of a mountain flower. To Dams
eyes, there was something trancelike,
hint Of paralysis and insensibility
about her posture He had never seen
her eyes like this. The light that ne
had always beheld In them had van
ished. Their utter darkness startled
him.
4 He sat up straight. and her arm that
had been about his neck felt at her
side. He took her hand firmly in his,
and their eyes met.
1--WE must go home. Snowbird," ne
told her simply. I'm not so badly
hurt but that can make IT."
She nodded; but otherwise scarcely
seemed to hear. Her eyes still flowed
with darkness. And then, before his
own eyes. their dark pupils began to
| contract. The hand he held filled and
throbbed with life, and the fingers
closed around his. She leaned toward
: him.
Listen. Dam" she said quickly
you heard-didn't you-the last thing
that he said?"
Il couldn't help but hear. Snow
IN bird"
! Her other hand sought for his
) .'Then If you heard payment must o.
made. You see what ! mean, Dan
Maybe you can't see, knowing the girl
\ that live on the plains. You were th'
Il cause Of his saying it and you mus
4 answer"
N It seemer to Dan that some ster1
I code Of the hills, unwritten except il
4 the hearts Of their children, fnexorabl
II as night. was speaking through he
VI ljps This was no personal thing. L
N some dim, misunderstood way, ]
HI went back to the basic code Of life
VI .People must fight their own fights
up here" she told him. ''The law
Of the courts that the plains peopi
i i can appeal to are all too far away
+ There's. no one that can do It. excep
! you. Not my father. My father can
y fisht your battles here. II your homo
Il is going to stand. It's up to you. Dar
VI You can't pretend that you didn't hea
II him. Such as you are, weak and sic
III to be beaten to "a pulp in two minutes
Il YOU alone will have to make him al
II swer for 1t. l came to your aid-an
N now yon must come to mine"
III Her fingers no longer clasped nj
II Strength had come back to him, an
XII his fingers closed down until the bloc
III went out of hers. but she was who'll
III unconscious of the pain. In realit
+ she was conscious Of nothing excel
the growing fame in his face. 1t hel
her eyes in passionate fascination. q
pupils were contracting to little brigl
dots In the gray trises. The Jaw WI
setting. as she had never seen It b
fore.
.sDo you think. Snowbird. that you
" even have to ask met" he demande
aDon't you think understand? Al
'er It won't be in your defense only q
own duty"
- .sBut he is SO strong-an you q
an so weak"
II won't be so weak forever. ! ne
Ter er really cared much about living I
ed fore. Til try now. and you'll see
IN. oh. Snowbird. wait and trust me-:
The understand everything. It's my Q,
It, fght-when you kissed me. and
ost cried down that word In anger a
nts jealousy. it put the whole thing on
aid No one else can make him answer;
the one else has the right. It's my hon
20 one else's. that stands or falls
hat He lifted her hand to his lips a
me kissed It again and again.
hat And for the first time he saw
tears gathering in her dark eyes. Il
hen you fought here. didn't you. DaI