The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-11-01

his berth, the first sweet drifting OF
sleep upon him, he was the subject
Of a discussion in q far-distant noun
tain home; and sleep would not have
fallen 80 easily and swcetly If he
had heard it.
1t might have been different world.
Only a glimpse of it, illumined by the
moon, could be seen through the sOiled
and besmirched window pane; but
that was enough to tell the story.
There were no tall buildings, lighted
by a thousand electric lights, such
as Bruce could see through the win
dows Of his bedroom at night. The
lights that could be discerned in this
strange, dark sky were largely un-
familiar to Bruce, because Of tho
smoke-clouds that had always hung
above the city where he lived. There
were just stars. but there were 50
many of them that the mind was I'M
able to comprehend their number.
There was also a moon that cast .
little square Of light. like a fairy
tapestry, on the floor. 1t was not such
a moon as Ieers down red and strange
| through the smoke of cities. 1t was
vivid and quite white-the wilderness
moon that times the hunting hours
| of the forest creatures. But the patch
that it cast on the floor was obscured
| in a moment because the man who
had been musing in the big chair be-
side the empty fireplace had risen and
| lighted kerosene lamp.
| The light prevented any further
scrutiny of the moon and stars. And
what remained to look at was not
nearly so pleasing to the spirit. 1t
| was a great, white-walled room that
would have been beautiful had it not
been for certain unfortunate attempts
to beautify it. There was a stone
fireplace. and certain massive, dust
covered chairs grouped about it. But
the eyes never would have got to
these. They would have been held and
fascinated by the face and the form
of the man who had just lighted the
lamp.
No one could look twice at that mas
sive physique and question its might.
He seemed almost gigantic In the yell
low lamplight. In reality he stood
six feet and almost three inches. and
his frame was perfectly in proportion.
He moved slowly, lazily, and the
thought flashed to some great monster
Of the forest that could uproot a tree
with a blow.
The face was huge. big and gaunt
Of bone; and particularly one would
notice the mouth 1t would be noticed
even before the dark, deep-sunken
eyes 1t was a bloodhound mouth.
the mouth of man Of great and ter
rible passions and there was an un-
mistakable measure of cruelty and
savagery about il. But there was
strength, too. No eye could doubt
that. But it was not an ugly face.
for all the brutality Of the features.
It was even handsome in the hard,
mountain way. One would notice
straight, black hair-the mans age
was about thirty-nine-long over rather
dark ears, and great. gnarled throat.
The words when he spoke seemed to
come from deep within It.
"Come in. Dave" he said.
l III Illlc idy StthCiHiHB
. of the mans power. The visitor had
come unannounced. His visit had been
unexpected. His host had not yet
seen his face. Yet the man knew,
before the door was opened. who Il
was that had come.
!, The reason went back to a certain
!. quickening of the senses that is the
! ri,rl.S tv Of rnn
!. men who are really residents of the
wilderness. This man was the SOC
of the wild as much as the wolves that
ran in the packs. Soft though II
was, he had heard the sound of ap
preaching feet in the pine needles
AS surely as he would have recognized
the dark face of the man in the door
L way, he recognized the sound as
Dawes step.
The man came in. and at once ar
observer would have detected an all
' Of Difference in his attitude. Very
plainly he had come to see his chief
He was a year or two older than hi;
host. less powerful Of physique, ant
: his eyes did not hold quite SO straight
There was less savagery but more
cunning in his sharp features.
He blurted out his news at once
"Old Elmira has got word down Il
= the settlements at last" he said.
!. There was no muscular response IL
- the larger man. Dave was plainl.
- disappointed. He wanted his new
: to cause a stir. 1t was true, however
that his host slowly raised his eyes
Dave glanced away.
what do you meant" the man de
manded.
Mean mean Just what said. W,
- should have watched closer. Bill
= Young Bill, I mean-saw a city cha
= Just In the act of going In to se'
her. He had come onto the plateau
=. with his guide-Wegan was the man.
:, name-and Bill said he stayed 10
- longer than he would have if he hadn'
= taken a message from ner."
"How long ago was thisf"
= week ago Tuesday"