Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-11-17

after and a hope that l can get you
over it. Many of my own brothers
hate me, but yet l don't care as long
as they do my will. No matter how
much you scorn it, this bravery has
always got me what I wanted, and 1t
will get me what / want now"
The high color died in her face. She
wondered If the final emergency had
come at last.
1--WE come to make a bargain. You
can take it or you can refuse. On one
side is the end of all this conflict, to be
my wife, to have what you want
bought by the rich return from my
thousands of acres. And l love you,
Linda. You know that"
The man spoke the truth. His ter
rible, dark love was all over HMM
his glowing eyes, in his drawn, deeply
lined face.
"In time, when you come around to
my way of thinking, you'll love me.
If you refuse-this last time-Ive got
to take other ways. On that side is
oCICdt 1OA yOu SulC dO udy. 1llS
time is almost up when the title to
those lands is secure. Bruce is In
our hands"
She got up, whitefaced. Bruce"
Eyes Did you think he could stand
against US? I'll show him to you In
the morning. Tonight he's paying the
price for ever daring to oppose my
will"
She turned imploring eyes. He saw
them, and perhaps-far distant-he
saw the light of triumph, too. A grim
smile came to his lips.
Simon" she cried. "Have mercy"
The word surprised him. 1t was the
first time she had ever asked this man
for mercy. "Then you surrender-"
Simon, listen to me-" she begged
Let him go-and l won't even try to
fight you any more I'll let you keep
those lands and never try any more to
make you give them up. You and
your brothers can keep them forever,
and we won't try to get revenge on
you, either. He and | will go away
He gazed at her in deepening won
derment. For the moment, his mind
refused to accept the truth. He had
known perfectly the call Of the blood
in her. He had understood her hatred
of the Turner's; he could hate in the
same way himself. He realized her
love for her fathers home and how
she had dreamed Of eXpelling Its usurp-
ers. Yet she was willing to renounce
it all The power that had come to
her was one that he, man whose code
of life was no less cruel and renorse-
less than that of the Killer himself,
could not understand.
But why?" he demanded. "Why
are you willing to do all this for
himY
"Why?" she echoed. Once more the
luster was in her dark eyes. II sup
pose it is because-I love him."
He looked at her with slowly dark
ening face. Passion Telled within him.
An oath dropped from his lips, bias
phemous, more savage than any wilder
ness voice. Then he raised his arm
and struck her tender flesh.
He struck her breast. The brutal
ity of the man stood forth at last. No
picture that all the dreadful dramas
of the wild could portray was more
terrible than this. The girl cried out
reeled and fell fainting from the PAIN
and with smoldering eyes he gazed at
her unmoved. Then he turned out of
the door.
But the curtain Of this drama in the
mountain home had not yet rung down
Half-unconscious, she listened to his
steps. He was out In the moonlight,
vanishing among the trees. Strange
fancies swept her, all In the smallest
fraction Of an instant, and a voice
spoke clearly. With all the strength
of her will she dispelled the mists OF
dawning Inconsistencies that the pain
had wrought and crept swiftly to the
little desk placed against the wall. Her
hand fumbled In the shadow behind it
and brought out glittering rifle. Then
she crept to the open doorway.
Lying on the floor, she raised the
weapon to her shoulder. Her thumb
pressed back, strong and unfaltering,
against the hammer; and she heard 1t