The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-05-21

bearded jaw, and Hopkins went dow
like a beef under the mallet.
But Loge Belden was still unaccount
ed for, circumstance the woodsmar
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 1t 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 benz
closer and covered the lower part OF
the, bearded face with his hand.
my GodT he muttered-'the red
lock-lt'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
polse. The transformation that the
one lock Of red wrought on the beard
ed face was Northumberland; SIMS
ter; brutal-as If 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.
at amt no use, Ken" came from
the other side Of the candle, 81 seen
It."
The man on the floor scrambled to
his feet; glanced toward the window,
at the candle within reach Of his foot
as If meditatlng some desperate move;
frowned at the shattered fingers; stiff
fened, leaned against the safe door.
"Well-?
The old arrogant haughtiness that
the woodsman remembered so we'll
that used to awe him, dominate him
was In the expressive monosyllable.
But 1t didn't awe him now-it rasped
him; crawled up through his blood
and struck a spark from his eyes. He
was long time answering; when he
did it was with another question.
"What have y'u got t say why l
oughtn' t hand y'u over t. Jerry
Brown"
mot a d-n' thing, though I'd rath-
er be plnched anywhere else in the
world than here"-a shade of the |
left his tones-"on ac- |
count of-Sis."
The big woodsman winced-which
the other, with his quick wits, just
then strung to keenest pitch, doubt
less noticed.
Live while y'u may; t. hi when
y'u must-it's game of chance any
how, with the odds on the man with
he quickest fingers. I've seen twenty
seven years of tia game not worth
he CANDLE"
at is If y'u play 1t Square"
Square" the other snarled, "a word
he devil invented t. throw men off
,uard. There amt any such word'-
lie hesitated, a softer light fitted
cross his expressive face-"except-
n the Flatwoods."
The woodsman caught the transient
Otter light-an expression that In
ther days used so to win him.
"Then why not come back t the
The other glanced down at the
money on the floor; half lifted his face
nd covertly studied the man before
i'm.
"Texie-she still blieves in yu. and
amt quite give up b'lievin' in y'u
lself. You was careful t git-her"
his eyes were again drawn irresistl-
ly toward the concealed household
out Of danger t'night, and / low yu
ever aimed t hurt Pap Simon, and
u amt takin' away nothln' but what
u brought. 1t would kill--her, If she
moved 1t was you that done-this'-
e swept his hand toward the scat
cred money, the open safe, the dead
)bber; glanced In the direction of the
where lay a new-made
rave-"and worse. You could go
yay-a while, and then comeback"
lie paused; his eyes hardened. But
lie next time y'u've got t come
can"
The eyes of the other turned In
very direction except toward the man
1dressing him. A moment of silence
H.
where's Belden?" Jack suddenly
sked.
The other started; glanced at the
pen wlndow-a bit uneasily, as 1t
light have seemed.
"He didn't show up, that's all / v
now" n
Ibid they know who y'u-are?" v
The man addressed glanced down at
lie huddled body on the floor; frowned d
! the direction Of Eagle hollow. II
Cattle like them-h-lw
The woodsman frowned at the h
'ords, but apparently decided to pass T
hem over.
"Then-nobody needs T. know" He q
ropped half-opened hand toward o
he body Of the fallen robber. Hes
nough t satisfy Jerry Brown, and one r