South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-25
THE SKY LINE
OF SPRUCE
by EDISON MARSHALL

couldn't get up to get water-or
build a fire"
He listened patiently but shook
his head at the end.
He struggled for breath. and she
thought he had slipped back into
. Inconsistencies. But in a moment
the faitering current OF his speech
began again.
Take the pistol-and 90" he told
her. You showed me today how to
give up-and l don't want 10 kill
your father-any more. 1 renounce
II all. Ezram-forgive me-old Ez
that lay dead in the leaves"
| Inconsistencies welIed high
above him. and the lids dropDed
over his eyes. And Ezram, watch
ing high and afar. and with infinite
serenity knowing at last the true
balance OF all things one with an
] other, gave him his full forgiveness.
The trail was long and steep into
Back There for Jeffrey Nelson and
his men.
They had counted on slow travel.
but the weeks grew into the months
before they even neared the obscure
heart OF Back There where they
thought Ben and Beatrice might be
hidden.
The days passed June and July,
. ever they moved at a slower pace.
The food stores brought for the
Journey were rapidly depleted.
No experience OF their individual
lives had ever presented such n daily
ordeal Of physical distress; none had
ever been so devastating to hope
and spirit.
Jeffery Nelson had almost forgot
ten the issue of the claim by now.
He had told the truth. those weary
weeks before. when he had wished
he had never seen it, His only
thought was of his daughter Yet
he dared not turn back. She might
yet live, held prisoner in some far
off cave.
At first all three agreed on this
point; that they must not turn back
until either Ben was crushed under
their heels or they had made sure OF
his death.
They were still partners in their
effort to rescue the girl and slay her
abductor; otherwise they were at
swords points.
If mental distress and physical
discomfort can constitute vengeance,
Ben was already avenged.
One rainy. disagreeable morning.
as they camped beside the river
near the mouth Of a small creek. af-
fairs reached their crisis. They had
caught and saddled the horses; Ray
was pulling tight the last hitch.
Chan stood beside him. speaking in
an undertone. When he had finished
Ray cursed explosively in the
silence.
Nelson turned. He seemed to
sense impending developments.
What nOw?" he asked
I'm not going on. that's what it
is" Ray replied. Nelson. it's two
against one-if you want to so you
can-but Ray and I are going hack.
You're going back. chs AIRED
out!" Nelson commented colby.
I'm going back-and don't say
too much about being scared out,
either"
And you. too. Chan? You're
against me. too?"
Chan cursed. I'D gone a week
ago II it'd been me. I'VE know the
way home, at least"
The old man looked a long time
into the river depths.
Then turn the horses around.
you towards" he answered. Il
can't go on alone"
For once neither Ray nor Chan
had outward resentment for the cpl
tibet. Secretly they realized that old
Nelson was TO the wall at last, and
like a grizzly at bay, IL was safer not
TO modest him Chan went down to
the edge of the creek 10 water his
saddle horse.
But presently they heard him
curse, in inordinate and startled
amazement. as he gazed at some i'm
print in the mud Of the shore
Clear and unmistakable in the
mud was the stale imprint of Ben's.
canoe as they had landed. and the
tracks OF both the man and the girl
as they had turned into the forest.
The dawn that crept so gray and
mysterious over the frosty green of
spruce brought no hope to Beatrice.
sitting beside the unconscious form
OF Ben in the cave fronting the
glade.
ITO be cOntinued.l