The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-12-29
CHAPTER XIV,

Dave Turner Travelled hard and late.
and he reached Simons door Just be-
fore sundown Of the second day.
Bruce was still full two hours dis
tant. But Dave did not stay to knock.
1t was chore-time, and he thought he
would find Simon In his barn, super
vlsing the feeding and care of the
live stock. He had guessed right, and
the two men had moments talk In
the dusky passage behind the stalls.
"Tve brought news" Dave said.
Simon made no answer at first. The
saddle pony in the stall Immediately
in front Of them, frightened at Dawes
unfamiliar figure, had crowded, trem-
bling, against his manger. Simon's
red eyes watched him; then he ut
tered short oath. He took two
strides into the stall and seized the
halter rope in his huge, muscular
hand Three times he jerked II with
a peculiar, quartering pull, a curbing,
that might have been ineffective by q
man of ordinary strength, but with
the incomprehensible might Of the
great forearm behind 1t was really
terrible punishment. Dave thought
for a moment his brother would break
the animals neck; the whites began
to show about the soft, dark pupils
of Its eyes. The strap over the head
broke with the fourth pull; then the
horse recoiled, plunging and terrified.
into the opposite corner of the stall.
Simon leaped with shattering power
at the creatures shoulders, his huge
arms encircled Its neck, his shoulders
heaved, and he half-threw 1t to the
floor. Then, as 1t staggered to rise,
his heavy fist failed against Its neck.
Again and again he struck, and In the
half-darkness of the stable 1t was .
dreadful thing to behold. The mans
fury, always quickly aroused, was
upon him; his brawny form moved
with the agility of panther. Even
Dove, whose shallow eyes were usually
wont to feast on cruelty, viewed the
scene with some alarm. 1t wasn't that
he was moved by the agony of the
horse. But he did remember that
horses cost money, and Simon seemed
determined to kill the animal before
his passion was spent
The horse covered, and in mo-
ment more 1t was hard to remember
he was member Of noble, high.
| spirited breed-a swift runner, brainy
| as a dog, servant faithful and
worthy. He stood quiet at last, his
head hanging low, knees bent, eyes
curiously sorrowful and dark. Simon
fastened the broken strap about his
neck, gave 1t one more Jerk that al
most knocked the animal Off his feet,
| then turned back to Dave. Except for
| higher color in his cheeks. darker
lights In his eyes, and an almost Inn
perceptible quickening Of his breath
Ing, 1t did not seem as II he had
moved.
| you're always bringing news" he
said. "If it's as important as some of
the other news you've brought don't
take my time"
"Al right" the other replied sui.
Ienly. "You don't have to hear it. But
Tn telling you it's Of real Importance
this time-and some time you'll find
out" He scowled into the dark face.
"But suit yourself"
| Dave walked clear to the door, then
turned. "Don't be fool. Simon" he
urged. Listen to what have to tell
you. Bruce Folger knows where that
secret agreement Is"
For once In his life Dave got Q
response Of sufficient emphasis to
satisfy him. His brother whirled, his
whole expression undergoing an Inn
mediate and startling change. II
| there was one emotion that Dave had
never seen on Simon's face 1t was
fear-and he didn't know for certain
that he saw 1t now. But there was
Observation-Disclosures surprise
too.
"what do you meant" he demanded.
'Out with iti" His tone was really
urgent now, not insolent as usual.
Good Lord, man, don't you know
that II Bruce gets that down to the
settlements before the thirtieth Of
next month we're lost-and nothing
in this world can save us7 We can't
drive him OF, like we drove the
Rosses. There's too much law down
In the valleys. II he's got that paper,
there's only one thing to do. Hel6
me saddle a horse"
"wait a minute. didn't say he had
1t. only said he knew where It was,
He's still an hour or two walk from
herey toward Little river. and II We
have to walt for him ON the tran.
we've got plenty Of time. And Of
course amt Quite sure he does know
where It L."