Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-05-21
CHAPTER discontinued.


man would have possessed this knowl-
edge But q plainsman has not the
III knowledge of life itself that the noun
taineer 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-
81 posure. The mountaineer knows life
81 10 its simple phases with little tradi-
ton or convention to blur the vision.
- Death is a very intimate acquaintance
that may be met in any sncwdrift, on
any rocky trail; and these conditions
are very deadly to any delusions that
he has in regard to himself He ac-
Z luires 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
M niicent warrior from Tennessee, made
In the late war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow
@ bird would do. Although of a higher
order. she was a mountain creature,
even as himself She meant exactly
from Dams prone body, she would
have shot quickly and very straight. If
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
~ had acquired their old curl of scorn.
"Pn go, Snowbird," he said. "I'n
leave you with your sissy. But guess
you saw what l did to HMM two
minutes"
II saw. But you must remember
he's sick. Now go"
IF he's sick, let him stay In bed
@ and have a wet nurse. Maybe you can
be that"
The lids dropped halfway over her
gray eyes. and the slim finger curled
more tightly about the trigger. "Oh,
l wish | could shoot you, Bertp' she
said. She didn't whisper it, or hiss it,
people are supposed to do in moments
Of violent emotion. She simply said
1t, and her meaning was all the
clearer.
but you can't. And Til pound that
milk-sop of yours to jelly every time
! see him. I'd think, Snowbird, that
you'd want a man."
He started up the trail; and then
she did a strange thing. Hes more of
a man than you are, right now, Bert"
she told him. Hell prove it some
day" Then her arm went about Dams
neck and lifted his head upon her
breast; and in Cranstons plain sight
she bent and kissed him. softly, on
the lips.
Cranston's answer was an OATH 1t
drpped 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 to her
name-that most dreadful eplthet
that foul tongues have always used
TO women held in greatest scorn.
Dan struggled in her arms. The
@ Kiss on his lips, the instant before.
mad not called him out of his half
consciousness. It had scarcely seemed
real rather just an incident in bliss
Iui dream. But the word called down
NE trail shot out clear and vivid from
me silence, just as a physicians face
wiz often leap from the darkness af-
Yer the anesthesia. Something infinite
y warm and tender was holding him,
pressing him back against a holy place
mat throbhed and gave him life and
strength; but he knew that this word
Aad to be answered. And only actions,
not other words. could be its payment.
an the voices of his body called to
MN TO lie still, but the voices Of the
spirit those higher, nobler promptings
l.0n which no man, TO the glory Of
'Aa breed from which he sprung. can
yer quite escape. were stronger yet.
.- lssed upward, straining But he
wan T even have the strength TO break
e-t-st tAtT StAl al III Hal dH0At
lls neck.
Oh Il I could only pun he trig-
she was crying. IF / could
'1-T KIN him"
Le me" be pleaded. "Give me
re 1.stol III XIII him"
'aa he would. There was no finch.
-s IN the gray eyes that looked up
She leaned forward. as If TO
ne weapon in his hands. but at
rev It back. And then a single
asat ct her throat. An instant
5aey heard Cranston's laughter
7 vanished around the turn Of tie
eng .nufes TIE two Of them
- The girl stih held the mans
son hsv breast The pistol had
he pine needles. md her
#a7d nIucked strangely at the
rs 3 mountain flower t. rf.rse