Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-08-23
CHAPTER VIII

"A AAo1l DOIlll4 oSSdlS am iAN>AA
TN that unknown cavern, beyond
reach Of the sun, beyond the sound
Of human voices, might taste some
thing of the misery of prison! And,
# he stayed there long enough, he
would-die. 1t was a scheme so
simple and so hideous that it ap-
pealed at once to his ferocious pas
sion for revenge. 1t would be easy,
too, if only he could get Stenhart by
himself; with all his willy skill in
shielding himself at the expense OF
others, all his bravado, Stenhart
was, at heart, a coward. All, how
well Sherwin knew that! How the
shifty eye had cringed away from
his cousins when he took the oath
In court and-lied. Lied young
man into prison for life-for what?
So that there might be no one to dis
pute that will, the will that the old
uncle meant to change in Sherwin's
favor. To secure himself in that he
had sworn to lie.
He stood in the full glory of the
morning. The far off heights were
shorn of their shadows and melted
like peaks of gold into the golden
sky. BY contrast the nearer hills
were darkly wooded, glancing with
lights and shadows, and far up an
eagle scared. Something new and
mighty swept into his soul; he
seemed to hear the voices Of the
wilderness crying to him: "Ven-
geance is Mine!" For a single in
slant his very soul was shaken. then
he turned and walked to the far
edge Of the little clearing. There,
through window in the foliage, he
glimpsed the lower road. running
like white ribbon far beyond the
ravine. AS he glanced down at it he
saw a man riding slowly across his
vista and he easped for breath The
uplifted moment plunged deep down
into the chasm of his hate-it
was Stcnhart,
He did not question why he came
thus. Instinctively he knew that
the man was on an errand Of be-
trayal, but his own heart leaped
fiercely; he had seen him first, he
was alone. Holding the rope upon
his arm, he felt for the pistol in
his shoulder-holster; knew it to be
loaded and ready. With a kind of
savage joy he turned and began to
descend the dangerous path on the
ledge Of the ravine, and its very
danger thrilled him. How easy to
thrust a man over herein strug-
glel He glanced down at the boil
ing water far below and smiled
grimly; either way, his weapons
were ready to his hand.
He did not walk fast, he took time
to order his thoughts; the man
should have his chance, a chance
he had never given him, to fight for
his life. Sherwin scorned to stab In
the dark as the other did, to kill
with liesl Imprisonment for life
and he was SO young thenl He
thought Of the cavern, its gloom, its
dripping walls, and he laid caress-
ing hand on the coil Of rope upon
his arm. Torn with the evil forces
of his passions, sure that revenge
was near, he turned the corner Of
the ledge and saw figure coming
toward him. Not Stenhart so soonl
No, a slighter, younger figure,
white face, clear eyes-Jane!
Jane, looking at his hardened
face, his grim lips, wavered. Her
courage-which had been high
went down in sheer terror of him;
he hated her-suddenly she felt it.
Then, having come so far, she would
not be utterly dismayed. She came
on weakly, catching at the trailing
limbs of nearby trees.
II guessed where Mac had TAX
en- you. I've come to-ask you one
question:" she faltered, q"
She could not go on and he would
not help her. He stood there look
ing at her and she saw only his
memorable eyes. At last she could
not endure them; she lifted her
shaking hands and hid her face.
Il came to ask you to-" Her
voice broke and then rose almost to
. cry of pain-''to tell me that it
isn't true!"
ITO what purpose?" he asked
hoarsely. "You don't believe me.
Ask Stenhart; I know, you see, that
he's with you'll"
with me?" She lifted her flushed
face and looked at him, amazed.
"What can you mean? I'm alone"
Sherwin could not doubt her hon.
esty; she did not know that she was
followed.
Hes behind you," he said grave
": "he diSmounted on the lower
road. 1 saw him just now"
She gasped, casting frightened
look over her shoulder. II never
thought he could ride SO far. He'll"
she shivered-'he'n betray you'll"
Sherwin laughed discordantly. 1T
wouldn't be new; he began that long
ago-with lie!"
She caught at that, trembling. 1T
was lie? Please tell me that, tell
me the truth-I want to believe it,"