, 1922-10-04

And / don't particularly like yelled
threats. At present / e to be In
your hands,"
You don't seem to be-" Simon an
swered with reddening eyes. you
are"
Il have nc intention Of saying I'm
sorry l didn't heed the threats you
gave me beforehand as to those I've
heard tonight-they're not going to do
you any good. either. 1t Is true that
you found me in the house you occu-
Ply in the dead Of night-but it isn't
your house to start win. What q man
seizes by murder isn't his"
what a man holds with a hard fist
and his rifie-in these mountain@is
his" Simon contradicted him.
Besides, you got me here with a
trick" Bruce went on without heed
ing him. $50 don't pretend that any
wickedness you do tonight was justi-
fed by my coming. You'll have to an
swer for it just the same"
Simon leaned forward in his chair.
His dark eyes glosed in the lamp
light. i've heard such talk as that
before" he said. II expect your w
father talked like that a few times
himself"
The words seemed to strike straight
home to the gathered Turner's. The
moment was breathless, weighted with
suspense. All of them seemed strain
ing in their chairs.
Bruce's head bowed, but the veins
stood out beneath the short hair on
his temples, and his lips trembled
when he answered. THAT was a great
er wickednsss than anything you can
do tonight. And you'll have to answer
for 1t all the more"
He spoke the last sentence with n
calm assurance. Though spoken soft
ly, the words rang clear. But the IN
swer of the evil-hearted man before
him was only a laugh.
"And there's one thing more I want
to make Clear Bruce went on In the
strong voice of n man who had CON
quered his terror. And it was not be-
cause he did not realize his danger.
He was in the hands Of the Turner's,
and he knew that Simon had spoken
certain words that, If for no other
reason than his reputation with his
followers, he would have to make good.
Bruce knew that no moment of his life
was ever fraught with greater peril.
But the fact itself that there were no
doors of escape open to him, and he
IA ACE TO face with his destiny,
steadied him all the more.
The boy that had been wakened In
his bed at home by the ring of the
phone bell had wholly vanished now.
A man of the wild places had come
instead, stern and courageous and I'M
iinching.
Everything is tolerable clear to US
already" Simon said, except your
sentence"
Il want you to know that l refuse
tude of you and your BLACKBOARD fol-
lowers" Bruce went on. "This gath
ering Of the group Of you doesn't
make any evil that you do any less
wrong, or the payment you'l have to
make any less sure. 1t lies wholly in
your power to kill me while I'm sitting
here, and / haven't much hope but
that you'll do 1t. But let me tell you
this. A reign of bloodshed and crime
can go on only so long. You've been
kings up here. and you think the law
can't reach you. But 1t will-believe
me, 1t WILL"
And this was the man who was go
ing to renew the blood-feud-already
hollering about the law" Simon said
to his followers. He turned to Bruce.
ITS plain that Dave isn't going to
come. I'll have to be the chief witness
myself. after all. However, Dave told
me all that / needed to know. The
first question | have tn ask of you, Fol-
ger. is the whereabouts OF that agree
ment between eur late lamented faith
err and the late lamented Matthew
Ross. according to what the trapper
Hudson told you a few days ago."
Bruce was strong enough to laugh
in his bonds. up to this time I have
given you and your murderous crowd
credit for at least natural intelligence"
he replied, "but I see l was mistaken
or you wouldn't expect an answer
to that question"
do you meal you don't know its
whereabouts?'
II won't give you the satisfaction
Of knowing whether I know or not. 1
just refuse to answer"
II trust the ropes are tight enough
about your wrists"
"Plenty tight, thank you. They are
cutting the flesh so 1t bleeds."
How would you like them some
tighter?"
Pull them till they cut my arms
off, and you won't get a civil answer
out OF me. In fact" and the mans
eyes blazed-"Pm tired of talking to
this outlaw crowd. And the sooner
you do what you're going t o do, the
better it will suit me-"
well come to that shortly enouob