Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-11-24
CHAPTER XVII

Bruce stood as if entranced. gazing
with awed face at the flaming tree.
There was little danger of the house
itself catching fire. The wind blew
the flame in the opposite direction
besides, the rains were beating on the
roof. The fire in the great tree itself,
however, was too well started to be
extinguished at once by any kind of
rainfall; but it did burn with less
ferceness.
Dimly he felt the girls hand grasp
ing at his arm. Her fingers pressed
until he felt pain. His eyes lowered
to hers. The sight of that passion
drawn face-recalling In an instant the
scene beside the camp fire his first
night at Trails End-called him to
himself. Shoot, you foolp she
stormed at him. "The trees lighted I'D
the whole countryside, and you can't
miss. Shoot them before they run
away"
He glanced quickly out. The clan
that had drawn within sixty yards of
the house at the time the lightning
struck had been thrown into confusion.
Their horses had been knocked down
by the force of the bolt and were flee
ing, riderless, away. The men followed
them, shouting, plainly revealed in the
light from the burning tree. The great
torch beside the house had completely
turned the tables. And Linda spoke
true; they offered the best of targets.
Again the girls eyes were lurid Sits
between the lids. Her lips were drawn,
and her breathing was strange. He
looked at her calmly.
mo. Linda. / can't"
"You can'tr' she cried. you cow
ard-you traitorI Kill-kill-kill them
while there's timer
She saw the resolve in his face, and
she snatched the rifle from his hands.
She hurled it to her shoulder and three
times fired blindly toward the retreat
ing Turner's.
At that instant Bruce seemed TO
come to life. His thoughts had been
clear ever. since the tree had been
struck; his vision was straighter and
more far-reaching than ever in his life
before, but now his muscles weakened,
too. He sprang toward the girl and
snatched the rifle from her hand. She
fought for it, and he held her with a
strong arm.
"Wait-wait, Linda" he said gently.
you've wasted three cartridges now.
There are only o.left. And we may
need them some other time"
He held her from him with his arm
and 1t was as if his strength flowed
into her. Her blazing eyes sought
his. and for a long second their wills
battled. And then a deep wonder
seemed to come over her.
what is TT" she breathed. "What
have you found 0ut?'
She spoke in a strange and distant
voice. Slowly the Dire died IA her eyes,
he drawn features relaxed, her hands
Tell at her side. He drew her away
rom the lighted doorway. out Of the
range OF any Of the Turner'S that
should turn 10 answer the rifle fire.
The wind roared over the house and |
iwept BY IA clamoring fury the cleo
ric storm dlmmed and lessened as a. /
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hem 10 all the long passage 0f their
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