The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-02-25
BY EDISON MARSHALL
Copyright. 1S2o, By little. Brown u Co


the mountain men are not saved BY
their women without mourning Obliga-
ton. She attempted no barren de-
malls. She made no effort to pretend
he had not incurred a tremendous deb,
when she had ON with her pistol. II
vas IN unavoidable fact. A life for
q life is he code of the mountains.
1.-TWO things I must do before I can
ever dare TO die" he told her sOberiy
zone Of them Is TO pay you: the other
Is to pay CranstOn for the thing he
said. Maybe the chance will never
come for the first Of the two: only I'll
pray that II will Maybe II would be
kinder to You to pray that II wouldn't
YET ! pray that II will, Maybe | on
pay that debt only by being Away
ready ALWAYS watching FOR a clanct
to save you from any danger. Away
trying ~ protect q You didn't
come In time to see the fight I made
BeSidpS-l lost. and little else ma
'"rS. And that debt to You cant b.
paid until sometime | fight again-fo,
you-and win" He gasl,ed from hi>
weakness hut Went on hraveIy. "Ili
never be able to feel at peace. Snow
bird. until I'm tested in thp fire hefor.
your eyes! I want IL show YOU tn
things CranstOn said of me are no,
true-that my courage will stand the
test.
1T wouldn't he the same. perhaps
vr,ftl -, Et. ,-:.l INAlr~ L;n-
matter IN the valleys. But | see 10Y
It IL here: that there is only on
standard 70 men and by that stand
ard they rise or fail. Things In the
mountains are down to the essen
tails"
He paused and struggled 70,
strength to continue. "And I know
what yon said to him." he went on
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as was renem
her every word Each word lust seer,
to burn into ne. Snowbird and II,
make every one Of them good YOr
aid 7 nm a hetter man than he. and
sometime II would he proved~~and IT..
he truth Navhe in y month mavhe
N n year. I'm not going 70 die fror
his mai'dv of mine now Snowhird
I've got too much to live for-to
nrr' debts to nav In the end IN
prove vcur words to him"
His eyes grew earnest. and the hard
Are Went nut ~ them. "It'S almost as
II you We're a GueeN. q renl queen ~
some great kingdom" he told her
'remu'ons with a great 1--WE that was
stealing over him. ms a mist steals over
water. "And because had kissed
vorr fr"erS For ever md ever ] was
f~htS-mavhe with y dream in the
end to kiss YOU fingers AGAIN. Wher
you hent and kissed me on tf"t hill.
side-fcr him to sect was the same
that I was sworn to You. and NOTHING
mattered In my 'ife except the service
and love I could give vou And IT.
more than Won v dream SnOwbird
It's all vorrs. for your battles and
your harriness."
The "reat mines we've silent above
them. shodowed cnd dark. Perhaps
they we're listening to an age-o'd
story. those vows Of service and SELF.
gained worth nv which the ace has
STRUGGLED unword from the darkness.
"Rut I kissed Won -once before"
che reminded him The voice ri
inst a whisrer hardly 'ouder than the
stir Of the leaves In the wind.
"RNt that kiss didn't count" he told
her. ut wasn't at I'll the same. !
t~roC .,o,, t1,or \ tE;ry. HIT - di1vef
moan what 1t did TODAY"
"And what" she teamed toward
h,m her ewes tnIl on his. "dOes II
mem nowy'
"Ail that's worth while in life. all
WAT matters when everything Is ca'd
TINT can he said, and all is done that
cnn he done. And II means please
God. when the debts are Maid. that !
NAV have such n kiss n~ain."
mo until then" she told him.
w~h.'srering.
"V1ntl then. I make oath that l
won't even ask II. or receive II " o
should give II. II goes too deep dear.
est-and u means too much"
This was their pact. Not until the
debts were paid and her word made
~nnd would those Tins he his again.
There WIS no need for further words.
Both IT them knew.
IN the skies the Crnv csOnds were
gathering swiftly. as always In the
mountains. The raindrops we're fall
ing one and me. over the forest. The
summer was done. and fall had come
In earnest.
GRO RE C~ONrTNr'FD.)