The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-05-01
By DAVID ANDERSON
Author of THE Blue Moon


his terrific right TO the point OF the
bearded jaw. and Hopkins went down
like a beef under the mallet.
But Loge Belden was still unaccount-
ed for, a circumstance the woodsman
had not forgotten. that had puzzled
him no little. Bruised and painting
himself, he dragged Hopkins back Of
the safe out OF range Of the window
as II CHANGED. near the candle on the
floor and stood over him.
His heavy mass Of black hair had
fallen across his brow-amongst the
black. one lock Of glazing red The
woodsman snatched up the candle bent
closer and covered the lower part OF
the bearded face with his hand.
MY Godl" he muttered-"the red
lock-it's Ken"
He set the candle down; straight
ened; stood staring at the PROSTATE
figure on the floor. for the moment
swept beyond his habitual calm and
poise. The Transformation that the
one lock Of red wrought on the beard
ed face was unbelievable-cruel; sinis-
ter: brutal-as IL the face Of Red
Colin. the old sea pirate. had sprung
out Of long dead past.
The fallen man stirred. ratified his
heels on the floor, moved his arms, sat
up and stared about him. Suddenly
aware OF the hard eyes upon him, he
hurriedly raised a hand and hastily
brushed the mass Of hair back into
place.
ut Amt no use. Ken" came from
the other side of the candle, II seen
IT."
The man on the floor scrambled to
his feet; glanced toward the window.
at the candle within reach Of his foot
as II meditating some desperate move I;
frowned at the shattered fingers; stiff
fened, leaned against the safe door.
"Well-7"
The old arrogant haughtiness that
the woodsman remembered so we'll
that used to awe him. dominate him
was In the expressive monosyllable
But II didn't awe him now-it rasped
him; crawled up through his blood
and struck spark from his eyes. He
was a long time answering; when he
did, Il was with another question.
what have y'u got Z say why
oughtn' t hand y'u over Z Jerry
Brown
mot a d-n' thing. though I'd rath-
er be pinched anywhere else in the
world than here"-s shade of the
haughtiness left his tones-"on ac-
count of-Sis."
The big woodsman winced-whlch
the other, with his quick wits, Just
then strung to keenest pitch. doubt
less noticed.
Live while y'u may; Z HI when
y'u must-it's a game Of chance any
how. with the odds on the man with
the quickest fingers. I've seen twenty
seven years Of tia game not worth
the candle"
at Is II y'u play II square"
Square the other snaried, "a word
the devil invented { throw men on
guard. There amt any such word
he hesitated. . softer light fitted
across his expressive face-"except-
In the Flatwoods."
The woodsman caught the transient
softer light-an expression that In
other days used so to win him.
''Then why not come back T. the
F1atwoods-r
The other glanced down at the
\. kolf lfffSA hfa "a
and covertly studied the man before
him.
"Texie-she still BELIEVES In y'u. and
/ amt quite give up blievin' In y'u
m'sslf You was careful Z either"
his eyes were again drawn irresisti-
bly, toward the concealed house-boat-
tout OF danger t'night. and low y'u
never aimed { hurt Pap Simon. and
y'u amt takin' away nothin' but what
y'u brought II would kill-her, II she
knowed II was you that done-this"-
he swept his hand toward the scat
tered money. the open safe. the dead
robber; glanced in the direction Of the
churchysrd. where lay a new-made
graye-"and worse You could 20
'way-a while. and then comeback"
He paused; his eyes hardened But
the next time y'u've got Z come
clean"
The eyes Of the other turned IN
every direction except toward the man
addressing him A moment OF silence
fell.
where's Beidenf" Jack suddenly
asked.
The other started. glanced AZ the
open window bit uneaslly. as Il
might have seemed
HE didn't show up. that's all
know
did they know who y'u--are7-
The man addressed glanced down az
the huddlsd body on the floor: frowned
in the direction Of Eagle hollow.
Cattle ike them-h-li-
The woodsmsn frownsd AZ the
words but apparently decided to pass
them over.
ssThen-nobody needs 4 know He