The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-02-02
CHAPTER XVII

Bruce stood as If entranced, gazing
with awed face at the flaming tree.
There was little danger of the house
itself catching fire. The wind blew
the flame in the opposite direction !;
besides, the rains were beating on the
roof. The fire in the great tree itself,
however, was too well started to be
extinguished at once by any kind of
rainfall; but 1t did burn with less
fierceness.
Dimly he felt the girls hand grasp
ing at his arm. Her fingers pressed
until he felt pain. His eyes lowered
to hers. The sight Of that passion
drawn face-recalling in an instant the
scene beside the camp fire his first
night at Trails End--called him to
himself. "Shoot. you fool!' she
stormed at him. ''The trees lighted up
the whole countryside. and you can't
miss. Shoot them before they run
away"
He glanced quickly out. .rhe clan
that had drawn within sixty yards of
the house at the time the lightning
struck had been thrown into confusion.
Their horses had been knocked down
by the force of the bolt and were flee-
ing, riderless, away. The men followed
them, shouting, plainly revealed In the
light from the burning tree. The great
torch beside the house had completely
turned the tables. And Linda spoke
true; they offered the best of targets.
Again the girls eyes were lurid Sits
between the lids. Her lips were drawn,
and her breathing was strange. He
looked at her calmly.
"No, Linda. can't"
"You can't ~ she cried. "You cow
ard--you traitorl Kill-kill-zkill them
while there's timel"
She saw the resolve In his face, and
she snatched the rifle from his hands.
She hurled 1t to her shoulder and three
times fred blindly toward the retreat
Ing Turner'S.
At that instant Bruce seemed to
come to life. His thoughts had been
clear ever since the tree had been
struck; his vision was straighter and
more far-reaching than ever in his life
before. but now his muscles weakened,
too. He sprang toward the girl and
snatched the rifle from her hand. She
fought for It, and he held her with a
strong arm.
"Wait-wait, Linda" he said gently.
you've wasted three cartridges now.
There are only two left. And we may
need them some other time"
He held her from him with his arm !;
and IL was as IL his strength flowed
into her. Her blazing eyes sought
his, and for a long second their Wills
battled. And then deep wonder
seemed to come over her.
"what is it2" she breathed. .What
have you found out?'
She spoke In strange and distant
voice. Slowly the fire died In her eyes,
the drawn features relaxed. her hands
fell ut her side. He drew her away
from the lighted doorway, out Of the
range of any of the Turner's that
should turn to answer the rife fire.
The wind roared over the house and
swept by in clamoring fury. the elec-
trio storm dlmmed and iessened as II
journeyed on.
These two knew that II death spared
them In all the long passage Of their
years, they could never forget that mo
ment. The girl watched him breath
lessIy, obllvious to all things else. He
seemed wholly unaware OF her now
There was something aloof. impassive
| Infinitely calm about him. and great
far-reaching understanding was In his
eyes Her own eyes suddenly filled
with tears
"Linda, there's something come tt
me--and don't know that can make
| you understand. can only call Il
strength--a new strength and q great
er strength than I ever had before
| It's something that the pine THAT
ueag tree that we Just saw split open