Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
A PAIR OF SKIS
By Courtney Ryley Cooper
A Story of Faith and Love

- ~ - ~ - ~ -
friend Of mine. Brad said something
and called him liar
Then it was Thornton he men.
tioned!"
Il amt brought Thornton Luce's
name In this, and amt brought yours
| In it, and l amt brought anybody.
but Brad Masters and mine!" the mar
protested. If you're going to keep or
making up things" He halted anc
scraped a booted foot against the knot
ted pine floor. II didn't mean to say
that so rough-like." he apologized. The
girls grasp frightened upon his arm.
Just tell me what happened, Jed
won't interrupt"
"Yeh-well, that's about all there
was" An sngushed brain was striving
to piece together a thing palntui!y
vivid, yet fragmentary. Il called him
a liar and a pretty low sort Of man
to try to butt in when two folks-that
is, when somebody was happy-and try
to ruin something that wasn't any OF
his business. And he said didn't
know what I was talking about. and
that. If took my friends part sc
strong, I must be just about as bad as
| he was. I guess those things all end
! I'D the same way. Anyway, the first
thing knowed. we were fighting. Both
| of US about the same SiZe-only ne
had the best Of me. Brad could box
you know
And nobody tried to stop you!" the
girl exclaimed. "Oh, why Will men
stand about"
There wasn't anybody else in the
place, Mary" Jed answered. just MN
and me-" He halted, peering out al
the driving blasts of white. as though
striving to pierce them for a view OF
the lower country beyond. I've. got
| to be watchin' the trail" he explained
Then as question from the girl pull
ed him back to his subject: No. there
wasn't nobody but Brad and me- He
had the best Of it--kept hitting me
under the heart. I was getting pretty
dizzy when I thought heard the door
open behind me and started to look
around to see If it was some friend OF
Rrad's, comm to help him. But ]
never got to look Brad hit me again,
and started to go down, and"
Then you--"
II guess So" said Jed Lawrence
brokenly az mustve done it then.
Must've just done it without even know
ing it. I just remember kind of foun-
dering around for a second or two, and
the next thing I knew. I was getting
up off the floor. There was Brad, all
doubled up and a streak of red on his
clothes. at his side, you know. And
my hunting knife in him. I called to
him, and rubbed his wrists and temples
and everything, but he didn't answer
me-"
jed" She said it family, with her
hands over her eyes.
1T scared me, Mary" he went on.
81 just knelt there and trembled-beg-
gin him to open his eyes. Then I
heard somebody coming. and I Jumped
up and looked through the window.
1t was Thornton and couple of fell
lows, laughin' and talking as they
turned off the street. And there I
stood, Mary, with murdered man,
and my knife in hint came over me
just like that. could see only Judge
Parker looking down at me over his
glasses-an' mumblin', like he did that
time when he sentenced that Mexican
broke II run, Mary couldn't help
it! I went out through the back door
and jumped on my horse and made IL
out of town. I pushed him as hard as
could go until got to the bottom OF
the ridge; then let him go and start
ed walking. I mustve made 1t up here
in leSsn two hours, Mary"
Y y
THERE was no answer, save the sob
bing of the girl. Jed Lawrence
began to tumble with the buttons Of his
sheepskin.
1--WE got to go, Mary" he said at
last This snow'll be deep enough to
slow me up pretty soon. and I've got
to keep ahead Of 'em. They've found
out by this time-with my name on my
knife. Besides, folks must've seen me
ridin' out of town"
You're not going to run away,
i've already run, Mary. I'm goin'
on up to my cabin-got snow shoes
there. Once I get started over the
range, they'll never have a chance of
heading me of. know that country"
"But Jed-Jed!" Her voice was
pleading. "You amt going to run
away. like a criminal!"
I've done criminal thing amt -"
he asked.
But you amt told all of it. I know
you amt told all of it! There's some
thing behind all this, Jed, that Vol,
won't tell me-and I've got to know,'
He strove to break from her, but
the hands of Mary Preston had become
OF great strength, clutching at his
arms, at the folds Of his heavy Sheep
skin.
"Jed-you can't go! I won't let vol,
go! I won't, won't! You've cot to
stay and face it-we'll find way, Jed
If you'll just tell"
He flung his arm free from her CRASH
You've gone crazy. Mary. You. put
tin up that talk to a murderer"
But you're not, Jed! I know you're
not-theres something you haven't
told, and I'm going to know It." Her
last veStige OF reserve vanished in a
surge OF emotion that sent her to her
tiptoes. her arms tightly clasped about
MS neck. You're no murderer, Jed
you couldn't be! I wouldn't believe II
II a thousand people said they saw you
You're going to stay and face it out: I'll
wait for, you; we'll make out some-
He gaped for an instant in wonder,
. then, almost roughly, his big hands
went upward to tear her arms from
their embrace.
What's come over you, Nary" he
| gasped, "Carryin' on this way? What
| II Thornton'd hear you talkin' like
! this!"
| "Thornton" Mary Preston faced
him with flashing eyes. What do ]
care about Thornton?"
What do you care about him?" asked
/ Jed Lawrence amaZedly. why, Mary
after you two fixing up to get mar
ried?"
He told you that?"
why, sure: he told me all about It, ;
| And you believed him? Is that why
| you haven't been to see me, Jed? Is it?
Is that why you've acted so queer and
stayed out Of my way? I want to
! know"
Why. sure, Mary. 1t wasn't nothin
but natural that you'd care about him
over me. Him-he's got education anc
| looks and clothes"