Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02

taking up more ground with each STEP When
they reach the business stores both men are
almost running The hillman suddenly slips
in between a team of mules disappears for an
instant; then the sheriff sees him running for :
the grove.
Jet sees the Valentines rise in the grove.
Sees Brant whispering to them ALL Brants-
arms are folded. His right hand Is inside his
coat. Gun in his shoulder holster" says Jett
TO himself. The sheriff keeps on going toward
the grove his thumbs hooked in his belt.
!,
THE tensions tight under the porticos Every4
body but the Valentines leave the grovsAA
Mountain men and women and their young
leave their victuals to burn over the wood fires
and move back to the deep timber. The crowd
under the porticos thins out fast. Folks hustle
into business stores. Some go into the bank
and look out the long window with the cashier.
Some climb the stairway to the Argus printing
office. Hillmen unite their mules and lead them
up to Five Corners. Windows up and down the
street frame faces, and doorways are filed with
mountain and town men who stick out only
heads
And Jet keeps going, keeps straight for the
grove, his thumbs hooked in his belt He's only
is seconds in crossing the road, but a lot of
things are observed by him during this time.
The forbidding grove, IL dark-expressioned
men cycling him. The lips of Brant Valentine
Bad Brant, move in whisper. Ned Shakespeare,
first cousin to Brant, first cousin to Mark
Valentine who's running against Jet for cleo
ton, Ned who's been in prison twice for noon
shining, is whispering and nodding to Brant.
The sheriff sees the faces way back on the hill
side beyond the grove looking over the tops Of
the tight laurel. The sorrel horse of Brant
Valentine champs his bit, the sheriff's boots
make a sucking sound he lifts them from
the mud Nothing else is audible as Jet crosses
the road.
Somebody's going to be killed in this town."
says the sheriff to himself as he reaches the
grove. Going to be bodies laid down here.
It's in the air. in souls"
When he reaches Brant Valentine he grabs
his right arm quickly. 1t comes forth empty.
few seconds tick off while the county officer
and the bad man eye each other He sees
Brants eyes rise, close, then open again. Double
wink. Signal. Jett reaches inside Brant's coat
with his right hand, reaches for the gun car.
Tied Western fashion.
yell comes, loud yell from somewhere ms-
der the porticos warning yell, yell from a
friend peculiar note in it that makes Jet turn
his head
curtain seems to drop in front of Jets
eyes black curtain but hot black curtain that
burns, that says into his eyes and sears makes
him throw his hands to his eyes to push the
curtain away He hears report, and his left
leg loses its feeling. Only one leg to support
him-and the strange curtain that's hot and
doesn't glow, that shuts out everything. He
can't stand on one leg, got to go down. He
feels the ground, but he seems to keep going
GOWN. way down INTO PIT, going slow but
going down. He hears gunfire, shouts, yells.
An uproar above him where IT'S light. Where
the world Is, above the Sod there Is war.
Pretty soon others will lay their bodies down.
Pretty soon he'll have company going down.
Nothing to see. Nothing! Maybe something
to feel" thinks Jet. His hands feel around
slowly Glide over something soft-covers His
fingers step up his chest, to his face, to the
place where his eyes should be. Still a curtain.
This time curtain he can feel.
Don't Floydl Lie STILL Can't take it 6fE
yet" Woman's voice says this woman. BE
all right by an by
What happened?" he asks feebly "Who-au
was killed in this town."
Mustn't talk, must lie still, Floyd"
The slow stepping of mule comes from tAS
street.
Must be night" says the sheriff.
Eyes, it's night" says the Voice of his woman
See If you can't Sleep"
voice suddenly rises in song; hillman going
home. Hillman singing and mule stepping
through the mud.
High Sheriff Jet braved IL bad men,
Jett afeared O. nothin we-uns could see
Stood alone like Daniel in OIL lions den,
Faced Killer Brant purity as yuh please
High life flung in Sherff's eyes,
Sheriff as blind as bats kin be-
Oh what did Brant do when Sheriff
can't see?
air a-tellin' yuh ALL 1issen tub me.
"Brant war yaller, big yaller streak
Made him shoot Sheriff blind as bat
Oh, what did men do a-hidin' in street
When they seed High Sheriff shot by a
rat?
Guns an knives come out o. wagons an
Sleds
Sod began a-runnin' with blood an