The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-02-25
ILL., Continued.

man would have possessed this knOw'-
edge. But q p%lainsman has not the
knowledge Of life itself that the noun
taineer has, simply because he does
tot see It In the raw. Aud he has moi
talf the intimate knowledge OF death.
an absolute requisite OF self-con'-
posture. 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 mel In any sn0wdrift. on
any rocky trail and these conditions
are yer? deadly to any delnsions that
he has In regard to himself. He &C
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 thar,
the mountain men. such as that mag
~nificent warrior from Tennessee. made
In the ate war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow.
bird would do. although of a higher
order. che was q me lntaln creature.
even as himself. She meant exactly
what she said. II he hadn't climbed
from Dams prone body. she would
have shot quickly and very straight. If
lie tried to attack either OF them now,
her finger would press hack before he
could blink an eye, and she wouldn't
weep any hysterical tears over his
dead body. n he kept his distance.
she wouldn't shoot at all. He meant
to keep his distance. But he did know
thai he could insult her without dan.
ger to himself. And by nov his lips
had acquired their old curl Of scOrn.
"Ill go, Snowbird.' 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 60"
"lf he's sick. let him stay In bed
and have q we nurse. Maybe you can
he that"
The lids dropped halfway over her
gray eyes. and the slim finger cur'eu
more tightly about the trigger. "Oh,
! wish could shoot you. Bert I" she
sniI. She didn't whisper It. or hiss It.
or i.url Il. or do any Of the things most,
people are supposed TO do In moments
Of violent emotion. She simply said
II. und her meaning was all the
| clear er.
"B IT you can't. And ri pound that
mllk-sop OF yours to a jelly every time
see him. I'd think. SnOwbird. that
| you'd want a man."
He started up the trail; and then
size did a stranye thing. Hes more Of
4 nan than you ire right now. Bert"
she told him. "He'll prove Il 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.
Cransfon's nswer was an oath. II
dripped from his lips. more poisonous.
more malicious than the venom Of q
snake. His features seemed to tight.
en-. the dark lips drew away from his
teeth. No words cOu:d have made
him such an effective answer as this
little action CT hers. And as he turned
up the trail. he called down to her
4 name-that most dreadful epithet
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.
had not called him out Of his half.
consciousness. II had scarcely seemed
real. rather just an incident In q bliss
full dream. But the word called down
the trail snot out clear and vivid from
the silence. Just as a physicians face
will often leap from the darkness at
ter the anesthesia. Something Infinite
" warm and tender was holding him.
pressing him hadk against a holy place
that thrObbed and gave him life and
strength: hut he knew that this word
had to he answered. And only actions,
not other words. could he Its payment.
All the voices Of his hody called to
him to lie still. hut the voices ct the
spirit. those higher. nobler pr0mptings
from which ne nan to the glorv Of,
the breed from which he sprung. can
ever quite escape. were stronger yet.
File tugRed upward. strainlng. But ne
didn't even have the strength to break
the hold that the soft arm had about
hts neck.
"(h. n I could only pull the trig-
eer!" she raj crying. III could
only kill him"
LET me-" Ne pleaded. "Give me
ne pistol. ri kill him"
And he would. There was no hinch-
~ II the gray eyes that looked M
% her. She leaned forward. N \ 70
p1t fhe weapon IN hia hands. but at
enre drew II hack. And then = single
sOb caught n her throat. An instant
lafer they heard Cranstou's laughter
- ~ vanished around tho turn of the
trait.
Fors long minutes the two Of Them
vere sl1l. TIE ktris sftll hesd the mans
oeahsupon NJ Ateast. Te pistol had
HI xE.A &&IN%x - &MMAa AAA#