The state herald., 1921-01-21

open to. YOU"
You did say thnt." was Cranstons
cultural reply. "But you see I'm here
just the same. don't you? And whnt
are you going to do about lt?"
II probably felt that sooner or later
you would come to steal-jusi ms you
and your crowd stole the supplies
from the forest station last winter
and that probably Influenced me to
give the orders. didn't want thieves
around my house. and I don't want
them now. | don't wnnt coyotes.
either"
"And I don't want any such remarks
out Of you. either" Cranston nm.
swered him. you lie still and shut
up, and ! suspect that Sissy boarder
Of yours Will come back. after he's
through embracing your daughter in
the snow and find you In -one piece.
Otherwise not"
'If were In one piece" Lennox mn.
swored him very quietly. "lnstead Of
bundle Of broken bones that can't
lift Its arms. I'd get up Off this couch.
unarmed as ! am, and stamp on your
lying lips"
But Cranston only laughed and tied
LennOx's feet with cord from the
window shade.
He went TO work very systematical
ly. First he rifled Iennox's desk, in
the living room. Then he looked on
all the maniels and ransacked the
L. a II. III. l..
taunting and calm at first. But MS the
moments passed. his passion grew up.
on him. He no longer smiled. The
rodent features became Intent; the
eyes narrowed to curious. bright slits
under the dark lnshes He went to
Dams room. searched his burenu
drawer and all the pockets of the
clothes hanging In his closet. He up.
set his trunk and paved among old
letters In the suitcase. Then. stealing
like some creature OF the wilderness
he came hack 10 the living ROOM
Lennox was not on the divan where
he had left him. He lay instend on
the floor near rhc fireplace: and he
me, the passion-dravn face with entire
ralmncsS. Ills motives were perfectly
nl,in. He lad lust uinde . tlestera,e
effort TO procure Dams rifle tha, hung
on two sets of deer horns over tie fire
place. and was entirely exhausted
from ii. lie lad succeeded In getting
down from the couch. though wracked
by agony, hut had been unable 10 lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention in one
glance. I.ennox knew 1t. but lie sim
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed TO mat
ter.
"Tell me where 1t Is" Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rife
at Lennox's wasted breast.
"rell you where what Is? My
money!"
"You know what want-and II
isn't money. mean those letters that
Falling found on the ridge. I'm
through fOollng. Lennox. Dan learned
that long ago. and It's time you learned
It now"
Dan learned II because he was sick.
He isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much on that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scon.
But that Isn't the question. I said
I've wasted all the time I'm going TO.
You are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand In the
way Of getting what came to get.
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. I've watched. and he's had no
chance to take them into town. I'll
give you-just five seconds to tell me
where they're hidden"
sand I give you." Lennox replied.
zone second less than that-to 20 to
h-llw
Both Of them breathed hard In the
quiet room. Cranston was trembling
now, shivering Just little In his arms
and shoulders. Don't get me wrong.
Lennox," he warned.
"And don't have any deiusIons In re-
gard to me. either" Lennox replied.
I've stood worse pain from this acci.
dent than any man can give me while
yet live. no matter whnt he does. II
you want to get on me and hammer
me In the approved Crnnston way, ]
can't defend myself-but you won't
get civil answer out OF me. I'm used
to pain. and can stand II. I'm not
used to fawnIng to coyote like YOU
and can't stand IT,"
But Cranston hardly heard. An idcn
Ind famed In his mind and cast . red
glnmor over NIL the scene about him.
It was lnstilling poison In his nerves
and madness In his blood. and It was
soaring him. like fire. In his dark
brain. Nothing seemed real. He sud-
denly bent forward, tense.
"That's nil right about YOU" he said.
But you'd be little more polite II II
was Snowbird-nnd Dan--that would
have TO pay"
Perhaps the color fndcd slightly In
Lennox's face; but his voice did not
change.
They'll see your footprints before
thcv come In nnd he rcndy" tenuOx