Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-27
@NQQ-Lith. Brown GQonpanu


those sounds went down to him. He
lay d long time, trying to under
stand.
On her knees beside him Beatrice
saw the first iutter of his eyelids. In
awe, rather than rapture, her arms
crept around him, and she kissed his
rain-wet brow. His eyes opened,
| looked wonderingly into hers.
THE tree got me, didn't it?" he
asked.
Don't try to talk" she cautioned.
"Yes-the tree fell on you. But
you're not going to die. You're 60
ing to live, i've
He shook his head, the half smile
fickered at his lips. Let me talk,
Beatrice" he said. IT'S important
and l don't Think have much
time"
Her eyes widened in horror. You
don't mean"
I'm going back in a minute
can't hardly keep awake he said.
His voice, though feeble, was pre-
ternaturally clear.
II believe the tree got me-clear
ipside-but you must listen to every
thing 1 say"
She nodded. In that eerie moment
of suspense she knew she must hear
what he had to tell her.
Don't wait to see what happens
to me-" he went on. I'll either go
out or I'll live-you really can't help
me any. Where's the rifle %
THE rifle was broken-when the
tree fell" -.
Il knew it would be. 1 saw it
coming. Beatrice - please, please
don't stay here, trying to save me"
do you think 1 would go?" she
cried.
you must. The food - Is about
gone. Take the pistol. There's SIX
shots or so-in the box. The rifles
broken and we can't get meat. It's
just-death-if you wait"
And leave you here to die, as long
as there's a chance to save you?"
the girl answered. you couldn't
get up to get water-or build a
fire"
He listened patiently, but shook
his head at the end.
He struggled for breath, and she
thought he had slipped back into IN
seriousness. But in a moment the
faltering current of his speech be-
gan again.
'Take the ~pistol-and CO." he told
her, "You showed me today how to
give up-and l don't want to kill
your father-any more. I renounce
it al! Ezram-forgive me-old Ez
that lay dead in the leaves"
Inconsistencies welled high above
him, and the lids dropped over his
eyes. And Ezram, watching high
and afar, and with infinite serenity
knowing at last the true balance of
all things one with another, gave
him his full forgiveness.
The trail was long and steep into
Back There for Jeffery Nelson and
his men.
They had counted on slow travel,
but the weeks grew Into the months
before they even neared the obscure
heart of Back There where they
thought Ben and Beatrice might be
hidden.
The days passed, June and July.
ever they moved at a slower pace.
The food stores brought for the
journey were rapidly depleted.
No experience of their individual
lives had ever presented such a daily
ordeal of physical distress: none had
ever been so devastating to hope and
Jeffrey Nelson had almost forgot
ten the issue of the claim by now. He
had told the truth, those weary
weeks before, when he had wished
he had never seen 1t. His only
thought was Of his daughter. Yet
dared not turn back. She might
yet live, held prisoner in some far-on
cave.
AT first all three agreed on this
point; that they must not turn back
until either Ben was crushed under
their heels Or they had made sure OF
his death.
They were still partners in their
to rescue the girl and STAY her
otherwise they were at
swords points.
If mental distress and physical dis
comfort can constitute vengeance,
Ben was already avenged.
One rainy, di~sagreeable morning,
as they camped beside the river near
the mouth of a small creek, affairs
reached the crisis. They had
caught and saddled the horses; Ray |
pulling tight the last hitch.
Chan stood beside him, speaking in
~undertone. When he had finished
Ray cursed explosively in the sill
ence.