, 1922-09-20

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was considerable Emphasis in the tone.
Hudson seemed quite sure of this
| point, whether or nessae knew any
ching concerning the dark gates he
was about to enter. He wouldn't have
spoken greatly different If he had
been sitting in perfect health before
his w camp fire and the shadow was
now already so deep his eyes could
scarcely Penetrate 1t.
NO." Bruce answered. "Dave Tur-
ner is up a tree. He didn't lei walt
to shoot"
"Of course he wouldn't" Hudson
spoke with assurance. The words
dimmed at the end, and he half-closed
his eyes as If he were too sleepy to
stay awake longer. Then Bruce saw
a strange thing. He saw, unmistak-
able as the sun in the sky, the signs
of a curious struggle in the mans
face.
The trapper-a moment before sink
ling into the calm of death-was fight
ing desperately for a few moments Of
PLANTATION. And he won 1t at last
an lnterlude of half a dozen breaths.
who are you. he whispered.
Bruce bowed his head until his ear
vas close TO the lips. Bruce Folger.'
he answered,-for the first time in his
knowledge speaking his full name.
Son of Matthew Folger who lived at
Trails End long ago"
The man still struggled. 81 knew
it," he said. II saw tin your face. 1
see-eyerything now. Listen-can you
hear me?v
yes"
II just did a wrong-there's a
hundred dollars in my pocket that I
just got for doing it. L made a prom
ise-to lie to you. Take the money
it ought to be yours, anyway-and
hers; and use it toward fighting the
wrong. 1t will go a little way"
yes" Bruce looked him full in the
eyes. mo matter about the money.
What did you promise Turner?'
"That I'd lie to you. Grip my arms
with your hands-till 1t hurts. I've
only got one breath more. Your IA
ther held those lands only in trust-the
Turner's deed is forged. And the
secret agreement that l Witnessed is
hidden"
The breath seemed to go out of the
man. Bruce shook him by the Shout
ders. Dave, still in the tree, strained
to hear the rest. "Yes-where?"
ITS hidder-just-out-~ The
words were no longer audible to Dave,
and what followed Bruce also strained
to hear in vain. The lips ceased NOV
ing. The shadow grew in the eyes,
and the lids filckered down over them.
A traveller had gone.
Bruce got up, q strange. cold light
in his eyes. He glanced up. Dave
Turner was climbing slowly down the
tree. Bruce made six strides and
seized his rifle.
The effect on Dave was ludIcrous.
He chung fast to the tree limbs, as II
he thought a bullet-like a grizzly's
claws-could not reach him there.
Bruce laid the gun behind him, then
stood waiting with his own weapon
resting in his arms.
"Come down, Dave,n he commanded.
"The bear is gone"
Dave crept down the trunk and
halted at Its base. He studied the
cold face before him. Better not try
nothing" he advised hoarsely.
"Why not?" Bruce asked. do you
think I'm afraid of a coward?" The
man started at the words; his head
bobbed backward as II Bruce had
struck him beneath the jaw with his
fist.
people don't call the Turner's cow
ards and walk Off with it." the man
told him.
ION, the lowest coward" Bruce
said between set teeth. THE yellow
est, mongrel coward Your own con-
federate-and you had to drop your
gun and run up a tree. You might
have stopped the BEARS charge"
Dawes face twisted In a scowl.
you're brave enough now. Wait to
see what happens later. Give me my
gun. I'm going to 60"
you can 20, but you don't get your
gun. I'll fill you full of lead If you
try to touch It."
Dave looked up with some care. He
wanted to know for certain If this
tenderfoot meant what he said. The
a was blind in some things, his
vision was twisted and dark, but he
made no mistake about the look on
the cold. set face before him. Bruce's
finger was curled about the trigger,
and it looked to Dave as II 1t itched
to exert further pressure.
Il don't e why l spare you, any
way Bruce went on. His toni was
self~-reproachful. God knows / hadn't
ought Accommodating who and what
you are. If you'd only give me one
little bit of provocation-"
Dave saw lurid lights growing in
the mans eyes; and all at once d con.
clusion came to him. He decided he q.
make no further effort to regain the