The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-02-22
CHAPTER XVII
branches

Bruce stood us 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 o well started to be
eXtinguished at once by any kind of
rainfall; but ii did burn with less
~tierCeneSS.
Dimly he felt the girls hand grasp
ing at his arm. Her fingers pressed
until he felt pain. Ills 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 Eni-called him to
himself. "ShOot, you fool 7" 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. The 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 llee-
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. l can't"
You can't" she cried. "You cow-
ard-you traitor! Klil-kill-kill them
while there's timew
She saw the resolve in his face, and
she snatched the rife from his hands.
She hurled it to her shoulder and three
times fired 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 beer
struck his vision was straighter and
more f~ar-reacblng than ever In his life
before, but now his muscles weakened,
too. He sprang toward the girl and
fought for 1t. and he held her with n
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 ii was as IL his strength flowed
into her. Her blazing eyes sOugh'
his, and for a long second their wills
battled. And then a deep wonder
seemed 70 come over her.
"What is itT" she bfeathed. what
have you found out?'
She spoke In a strange and distant
voice. Slowly the fire died in her eyes.
the drawn features relaxed, her hands
fell az her side. He drew her away
from the lighted doorway, out OF tn
range Of any OF the Turner'S that
should turn to answer the rife fire.
The wind roared over the house AMI
swept by In clamoring fury, the elec,
trio storm dimmed and lessened as II
lourneyed. 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
essfy, oblivious to all things else. H.
eemed wholly W of her now
There was something aloof. impressive
infinitely calm about him. and a great
.~ar-reaching understanding vas in hi
yes. Her own eyes suddenly fllei
with tears.
Linda, there's something come a.
nne-and don't know that !; can make
gu understand. l can only call T.
t%rength--a new strength and a great
IT strength than ] eve had before
rs something thar the plne-that
great tree that we Just saw split open