The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-18

bow Cuff. an n he'd fallen down q,
And no one In this country has ever
been known 10 reach tho TOP q That
spine"
Have sou ever thought that per
hapa De didn't faiiF That he might
have been put there as a way 10
cover a-erimeT'
Nance shook her head
Every bone in his body wna
broken" ubo said sadly. The was as
loose az "a bag % sand 10 fell
down Rainbow Cliff all right--but
how Il happened. that's what we'd
love 20 know
"And probably never will" said
Pair.
NO"
They eat for a timo IN silence.
The little wind blow In their faecs.
sweet with is fresh and nHmclerg
suggestion OF flowing water. out In
tho shadows the biE black horse
stood perfectly ntiIl. his peaceful
breath scarce llftinE hls sides Tho
collie WINS silent. tho his handEome
head WINS up. hin sharp ears lifted
above his run. The child Ia Fairs
lap continued 90 sleep.
II seemed 10 Nance Allison that
the might had never been ~ calm
before. tie stars 30 bright tho un'
speakabis majesty OF the heavens 20
apparent She wondered how u w1s
possible 70 feel TO fafe and ~ peace
ia tho face OF this last disaster. 10
look 70 tho future once more with
hope.
Tho little smile was pulling a. her
lips again. her long blue eyes were
soft with hidden light
And then. out OF the stiffness and
starlight. from somewhere across the
rfycr. there came tho clear crack OF
hiEhpowcr sun. tho thud OF ball
IN wood. with ono hwcep Of his
riEht arm Fair flung Nance back
upon tho floor, himself and the child
beside her.
Hc slipped sonny from his lap
with n tow word and rolled clear.
Quick as a cat he drew HIS body 10
tho table. raised an arm above ia
edge and swept tho lamp 70 the floor.
ox,inguishlng II Instantly
Then be crawltd back and the
hands no laid upon the girls shoui.
dera were shaking
Tell me" he erltted. tell me I,
did net hit your
'T--can't." whispered Nance: my
left arm--it feels all full Of necdlcA'
Fair slipped his fingers down
along the firm young arm beneath
- faded sleeve and found IL warm
and act.
sonny was awake but Btill as a
little quail hid tn the grass az ia
mothers warning whistle.
There was the sound Of a sof,
opening door beyond. and Mrs. All
SONS voice. low and terrornIlod
said. Nance girl"
Don't fret, Nanny" she whls
percd back. I'm ali rlEht--jus, a
.
window before YOU make a light"
Buds shuttle came around The
table aud he knei, beside her. feeling
for her hands.
Nanny nc cried with restrain
cd passion. "I'll have my Pappys
gun now--or go with bare hands
You got TO gimme it,
Nance got 10 her feet with Fair,
arm about her and pushed the door
shut. Then the mother struck q
! light and restored tho lamp 20 the
table. In SIS yellow flare they peeled
tho Sleeve from the girls arm anc
found shallow wound straight
across. about three inches above The
elbow.
| For long time Brand Fair lookeC
at II.
Then he raised sombrc eyes to hcl
face.
Eight inches TO the right" hC
said slowly. and II would have beer
your heart"
She nodded.
Cattle Kate means business
now" she said; "but-I-don't
think she'll get me-"
Not II can get her first" saiC
F'iar Erimly. Now let's have som,
hot water strong with salt"
Mrs. Allison set about preparing
this, while the bitter tears Of on,
who had seen feud before drippec
down her weathered cheeks.
The boy Bud stood by the tabl,
opening and closing his hands ant
muttering under his quick breath
"Pappy's CUNTS good and true
sighted. Not high.power but car
hide and t-close--close--
"If you'll forgive n stranger Mrs
Allison" put In Fair. strengthening
UP and looking at the mother, ~
say-glve him his fathers gun. AM
I'd say. Buddy--don't 20 to piecei
now after such n brave and conserv
atlvo fight. Be IA defendcr--not
murderer"
The boy turned his dilated eyes t
him. wettinE his dry lips.
In the long look that passed be
tween them. something seemed 4
down in Bud. tho antagonlsm he In,
break down in Bud, the Antagonist
no had felt for Fair seemed 90 mel
away. The mysterious oomradery o
honest manhood fell upon them botl,
and the man held out his hand
Tho boy took IL and his oyco be
cnmo sane.
'Wc'vo got a big Job cut out 10
us" said Fair grnvcly, and mus
be In tho rlght--ut every point. We
dig out the most OF vlpers al 81
Line, but wen do the job clonnl!