South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-23
THE SKY LINE
OF SPRUCE
by EDISON MARSHALL

shade. obtaining perhaps a table
spoonful Of black liquor. To this
she added considerable sugar.
Then she concealed the cup in a
cluster o. vines. ready for the mo-
ment OF need.
Then she FASTENED Up the ridge to
meet Ben on his way 10 the cave.
she waited a few minutes. then
spying his staIwart form at the
edge q the beaver meadow. she
tr.pped down 20 meet HIM.
She walked 10 the door OF The
cave. procuring a handful of dried
srsJSOeaI. aO3WETAOIN TAOI I 1
red-root leaves that she used for tea.
Through the cavern opening he saw
her drop them into the bucket that
served as their teapot.
Then she came back for the oiled.
cloth bag that contained the last OF
their sugar. He began 10 ca. his
steak.
All that he had told her concern
ing his war with her father REQUIRED
10 her in one vivid fash. Could q
that her father and his followers
had been the attackers in the begin
ming?
But even as these thoughts came
20 her. she had walked boldly 20 the
fire and emptied the contents OF the
cup into the boiling water in the
teapot
Then she took the pot off the fire
and poured the hot contents into the
She bought 1t steam!ng to Ben's
side.
It's pretty strong. I'm afraid
she told him The leaves weren't
very good, and I boiled them too
long I'm afraid you'll find it Bit
ter"
"I'H drink it. if it's bitter as gall. >"
he assured her.
His hand reached and seized the
handle Of the cup.
Then she seemed TO writhe as in a
CONFUSION. Her voice rose in a
piercing scream. "Ben-Ben--don't
drink it," she cried God have
mercy on my soul."
She reached and knocked the cup
from his hand; and its black con-
tents. like dark blood. stained the
sandy floor OF the cavern.
Never mind Beatrice" the man
was saying. his deep, rough voice
gentle as a woman's Don't cry
just forget all about it, Let's go
over to your hammock and rest
awhile"
But you don't understand-you
don't knOw-what I tried TO do"
His rugged face lighted as ne
smiled. kindly and tolerantly. But
her solemn voice arrested him.
Wait, Ben. l want YOU to know
so you won't trust me again. The
cup-was poisoned"
The man looked at her in infinite
compassion, then came and sat be-
side her in the hammock. Rather
quietly he took one of her hands.
Then he pressed il to his lips.
You'd kiss my hand-after what
did?"
After what you didn't do" he
corrected.
They would need fuel in plenty 20
keep the fire bright tonight. Ev.-
IDENTIFY rain was impending Of
those cold, steady downpours that
are dis.ked so cordially.
He went a full two hundred yards
before he found a tree TO his liking.
Il was q tough spruce of medium
height and just at the edge OF the
stream. He laid his rifle down. lean
ing il against a fallen log: then be-
gan his work.
His blows struck true from habit.
Now the tree was half-seN cred: it
was time to cut the opposite side
Suddenly his axe crashed into yield
ing, rotten wood
Half OF the tree had been rotten.
changing the direction OF its fall and
crashing i down before its time
Ben leaped for his life. instructive
" aiming for the shelter Of the log
against which ne had inclined his
rifle; but the blow came too soon.
Ren's rife. catching the full might
or the blow. was broken like a
match. Ben himself was crushed tc
earth rs beneath n meteor. The
rain clouds deepeneG and spread
above his motionless form.
Beatrice's dreams were troubled
after Ben's departure into the forest.
She opened her eyes; the cavern
was deep with shadow.
She wondered why Ben did no,
come into the cave. Was he embit-
tered against her. after all?
Her uneasineSi was swiftly de-
velop!ng into panic.
CONTINUED in Our Next IsSue)
ZERO WEATHER ys. SUMMER