, 1922-10-11

"o"hh prays TO nnu strength in the
man h loves-but 1t isn't the kinJ
that you have. the kind that mokes
your men grovel before Won. ond
makes me trembJe when I'm talkina
to yoa. It's a big, calm strength-onS
| CENT q ELL you what 1t is. It's some.
thing the pines have, maybe-strenptb
not to yitid to the passions, but TO re-.
strain. not to be afraid of, but to cline
toto stand upright and honorable
and manly. and make a woman strong
just to see it in the man she loves
He listened gravely. Her cheeks
blazed. It was a strange scene-tha
silent room, the implacable foes. tbe
GREATNESS suspense. the prophecy and
inspiration in her tones.
Perhaps ! should have been more
gentle" he admitted. Il might have
forgotten-for a little while-this surg.
ing, irresistible impulse in my muscles
t-and tried just to WOO you, gently
and humbly. But It's too late now
I'm not a fool. / can't expect You TO
begin at the beginning. / can only 20
on In my own way-my hard, remorse.
less. ruthless way.
ut isn't every man who is bravo
enough to see whit he wants and
knock away all obstacles to get IT," he
went on. put that bravery to nv
credit. To pay no attention to meth.
DDS, only to look forward to the result
That has been my creed. II is nv
creed now. Many less brave men
would fear your hatred-but / don't
fear II as long as l possess what | 20
after and a hope that / can get Won
over 1t. Many of my own brothers
hate me. but yet l don't care as long
ms they do my will. No matter how
much YOU scorn II. this bravery has
always got me what ] wanted. and II
will get me what l want new"
The high color died in her face. She
wondered If the final emergency had
come ut last.
I've come to make a bargain. You
can take 1t 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 ! love you,
Linda. You know that"
The man spoke the truth. HIS ter.
rible. dark love was nll 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.
II you ~refuse-this last time-rve got
to take other ways. On that side Is
defeat for you-as sure as day. The
time is almost up when the title to
those lands is secure. Bruce Is IN
our hands"
She got up. whitefaced. "Bruce-?"
"YesI Did you think he could stand
against us7 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 dlstant-he
saw the light of triumph. too. A grim
smile came to his lips.
"Simon." she cried. "Have mercy"
The word surprised him. It 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 / won't ever 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 car keep them forever,
and we won't try to get revenge on
you, either. He and l will so 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 h was willing to enounce
1t all. The power that had com to
her was one that he. a man whose code
Of life was no less cruel and remorse-
less than that of the Killer himself
could not understand.
But why?" he demanded. "Why
are you willing to do all this for
him?"
"why?" she echoed. Once more the
luster was in her dark eyes. 81 sup
pose It Is because-I love him."
He looked at her with slowly dark
ening fnce. Passion selled 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