Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-10-27
CHAPTER Xxx

{ As Bruce waited. his eyes slowly %
e came accustomed to the darkness III
d began 10 see the dim outlines OF hi
fellow occupants OF the room--full
y seven brawny men seated In chair
: about the walls. Lets hear you drol
yogr rifle" one of them said.
Bruce recognized the grim voice a!
Simon's-heard on one occasion before
He let his rifle fall from his hands He
knew that only death would be the
answer TO any resistance to these men,
Then Simon scratched a match, and
without looking at him, bent to touch
it to the wick of the lamp
The tiny flame sputtered and flick
cred. filling the room with dancing
shadows Bruce looked about him.
Simon sat beside the fireplace, the
lamp at his elbow. AS the wick
caught, the light frightened and stead
led and Bruce could see plainly. On
each side of him, in chairs about the
walls. sat Simon's brothers and his
blood relations that shared the estate
with him. They were huge gaunt
men. most OF them dark-bearded and
salow-skinned, and all of them regard
ed him with the same gaze of specula-
tive interest.
Bruce did not finch before their
gaze. He stood erect as he could, in
stinctively defiant
Our guest is rather early" Simon
haWan snayn hncpft
Dave is the principal witness"
A bearded man across the room an
swered him. But | guess we amt |
goin' TO let the prisoner 90 for lack
of evidence"
The circle laughed then-a harsh
sound that was not greatly different
from the laughter of the coyotes on
the sagebrush hills. But they sobered
when they saw that Simon hadn't
laughed. His dark eyes were glowing.
You, by no chance, met him on the
way home, did you?" he asked.
Il wish l had" Bruce replied. but
didn't"
Il don't understand your eagerness.
lou didn't seem overly eager to meet
s."
Bruce smiled wanly. These wilder.
ess men regarded him with fresh in
crest Somehow, they hadn't counted
n his smiling. 1t was almost as if he 6
ere of the wilderness breed himself. :
lstead of the son of cities. "Tm here
m l not?" he said. at isn't as if you {
lme to my house first" +
Yes, you're here" Simon confirmed |,
md I'm wondering if you remember g
hat l told you just as you left Mar Il
MS store that day-that I gave no y
an two warnings" N
Il remember that" Bruce replied. v
saw no reason for listening to Won h
don't see any reason now, and T II
'uldn't If it wasn't for that row of II
MS" =.
Simon studied his pale face. "Per- ki
ps you'll be sorry you didn't listen 9,
fore this night Is over. And there m
many hours yet in 1t. Bruce-you
me up here to these mountains to in
en- old wounds" !.
Simon, came up here TO right to
ongs-and you know 1t. If old 81
unds are opened, can't help IT," on
And tonight" Simon went on as If m
mad not been answered, "you have mi
ne unbidden into our house. If fir
uld be all the evidence the courts oo
uld need, Bruce-that You crent IN. NJ,
our house in the dead of night. If or
thing happened to you here, no RI
rd could be raised against us. You IT,
re brave man, Bruce"
so can suppose you left the In
e?" ~ ~
he circle laughed again, but Simon GRO
nced them with a gesture. "You're no
KEEN" he said.
linen where Is Linda ?" Rruce's to
hardened. Il am more Interested 4.
her whereabouts than In this talk wh
4 you" :,
The last seen of her, she was going of
hill with Dave. When Dave re-. ms
IS you can ask him." Z.
he bearded man opposite from abo
on uttered short syllable of 81
n. And 1t don't look like he's go. cut,
to return" he said. The knowing ~
on his face was deeply abhorrent itch
Bruce Curiously. Simons face ~
led' and he whirled in his chair. off
Do you mean anything in particu. out
Old BillT he demanded. eves
looks TO me like maybe Dawes thls
Of lot Of things you told him vop
he and Linda are hayln' n little betf,
Kin time together out IN fhe ~
b." -,
60 '''''' =" please The elan. undo
simon's eyes gl0wed and g,nca tha
eli felt the beginnings Of n Mind IA.
that might. unless he held hard vi,I,
H. hufi him against their r,. facs
"less ~ehDoDs i don't wanf any ~
speh iaik our " you, Old BIN" led
D reproved him, "ond we've talked IN !,
Oh, anyway liis keen eyes SIND. ,o,,
ruee's flushed face "Ons of van .i,..
our guest o. chair and Ax him nn I'M.
WIN % thong We d0nl nanf dlse.
nylug ~ me coop and zeftlng are.
lnfH Nrff done milking d.. li,,H