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Show THE SPANISH FORK PRESS. SPANISH FORK, UTAH IIWTTOT QIAPLESjCmr BUCK TKgCVLL of the CUMBERLAKDS AUTHOR0 illustrate fr cr. Diodes . dy ftopyiGrr CHARLC3 JjJ) V ' nfvjLLC Juanita Holland, a Philadelphia young of wealth, on her Journey with her guide, Good Anae Talbott, Into the to become a heart of the Cumberland teacher of the mountain children, faints . the door of Fletch McNash's caliln. While resting there she overhears a talk between Bad Anse Havey. chief of his elan and one of his henchmen that ae- with the Havey-McBrlfeud, Sual'nts her an has unprofitable talk with Had Anse and they become antagonists. .Cal Douglas of the Havey clan Is on trial In peril, for the murder of Noah Wyatt, a In the night Juanita hears McBrlar. cabin feudists ride past the McNash Dawn McNash become and Juanita friends. Cal Douglas Is acquitted. Nash Wyatt attempts to kill him but is himJuanita goes self killed by the Haveys. to live with the Widow Everson, whose boys are outside the feud. Milt McBrlar, bead of his clan, meets Bad Anae there and disclaims responsibility for Wyatts attempt to kill Douglas. They declare a truce, under pressure from Good Anse Juanita thinks she finds that Talbott. Bad Anse Is opposing her efforts to buy build a school. Milt McBrlar and land breaks the truoe by having Fletch murdered. Jeb McNash begs Bud Anse to tell him who killed his father, but Is not told. Juanita and Bad Ansn further misunderstand each other. Bad Anse Is bitter. iwnmun ar Me-Na- CHAPTER X Continued. Im grateful for this teachers course," said Juanita hotly, "and Im not going home. Anse Havey went on: "But I know that boy. I know that If Id talked thataway hed just about have gone out In the larel an got somebody. Hit might not a been the right feller, and he might have found that out later. I reckon ye never had a father murdered, did ye?" "Hardly," answered the girl with a scornful toss of her head. "You see, I wasnt reared among "Well, I have, responded the man. "I was in the legislature down at Frankfort when It happened, to make the laws that govern this state. I was fer them laws in theory but when that word came I paired off with a Republican, sos not to loae my vote on the floor, an I come back here to these hills an got that feller. I reckon I ought to be ashamed to tell ye that, but Im so plumb ignrant that I cant feel It I knew how Jeb felt an so I held him off with a promise to Of course ye couldnt help of a man like that" He turned and withdrew from bis pockets. wait accept the his hands Tm through," he added, "an Im obleeged to ye fer harkenin to me." "There Is something in your point of view, Mr. Havey, she acknowledged. "But It is all based on twisted and distorted principle. dont think myself a saint. guess Im pretty weak. My first appeal to you was pure weakness. But I stand for Ideas that the world has acknowledged to be right, and for that reason I am going to win. That la why, although Im a girl, with none of your physical power, and no at my back, you are secretly afraid of me. That is why you are making unfair war on me. I stand for the implacable force of civilization that must sooner or later sweep you tway and utterly destroy your dominance." For the first time Bad Anse Ilaveys face lost Its impasslveness. Ills eyes clouded and became puzzled, surprised. "I reckon I don't hardly follow ye," he said. If ye wants It to be enemies all right, but I aint never made no war on ye. I dont make war on womenfolks, an besides I wouldnt make a needless war nohow. All Ive got to do Is to give ye enough rope an watch ye hang yourself. If you think that, she demanded, lth a quick upleaptng of anger In her Pupils, "why did you feel It necessary to prevent my buying land? Why do you coerce your vassals, under fear of death, to decline my offers? Why. If my school means no menace, do you refuse it stnnding room to start Its fight? The man'B pose stiffened. "Who told ye Id hindered anybody from sellln ye land? "Wherever I Inquire it is the same jnmg. They must ask permission of Anse Havey before they can do as they wish with their own. "tiy heaven, thats another lie, he said shortly. "But I reckon ye believe that, too, I did advUe folks hereabouts against soilin to strangers, but that as afore ye come." He paced the length of the room a hle, then halted before her. Some of that property, he went on. and this time his voice was In Its earnestness, "has enough coa an timber on It to make its own-ej- s rich some day. Have ye seen any ?; the sections of these ills? Weil, go an have a look. Ye on t find any mountaineer richer for he development. Yell find em plundered an cheated an robbed of tlielr homes by your civilized furrlner. Ive one alined ter pertect my folks gainst bein looted. 1 alms to go on Prtectln em. tnaat1 jranC Won Prcte't them," she I 1 gun-fighte- pub-lona- coal-mlnl- I told ye we was distrustful of fur"Some day be a bigger war here than the f.vfy-'Icllrla- r war. Ye've seen some-wit- s f That othor war will be J'our people, an' when It comes . went on Havey. riers," re'D 5rf Me-Bri- shud-dere- jail-hous- Me-Hri- Jeb McNash shook hie head. A spasm of battle went through him and shook him like a convulsion to the soles of his feet. He had but to crook his finand ger to appease his blood-lus- t break his pledge. "I done give Anse my hand ter bide my time twell I war dead sartatn, he told himself. "I hain't quite dead sar-taihe told himself. "I hain't quite deud sartaln yit. I reckon I've got ter wait a spell. He uncocked the rifle and the other boy rode on, but young Jeb folded his arms on the wet earth and buried his face in them and sobbed, and it was an hour later that he Btumbled to his feet and went grogglly back, drunk with bitterness and emotion, toward the house of Anse Havey. Yet when he arrived after nightfall his tongue told nothing and hla features told less. s never blow this signal onless ye wants ter raise merry hell." Then he imitated very low, through pursed lips, three long blasts and there wont be any or three short ones. We an be mountaineers What's that signal? she demandstandin together an holdin what God ed. gave us. God knows I hate Milt "Yeve heered the McBrlar yell, he an his tribe hate em with all told her. "Thet horn calls ther Havey the power of hatin thats In me-- an rallyin signal. When thet goes out l m a mountain man. But Milt's peo- every Havey thet kin tote a guns got ter git up an come. Hit means war." ple an my people have one In common. Were mountain thing "Thank you. Jerry. I wont call the men, an these hills are ourn. We have the Haveys to battle. same killin Instinct when men The night after she had flung her seek to rob us. We want to be let alone, an challenge down to Bad Anse Havey if we fight amongst ourselves it aint Juanita stayed at the McNash cabin nothin to the way we'll fight, shoulder to be with Dawn and the widow. The to shoulder an back to back, against next day she went with them to the the robbers from down below. mountainside "buryin-ground- , where The man paused, and as Juanita Good Anse rites for last the performed looked into his blazing eyes she the dead. for It seemed that the killing After It was all and it had been instinct of which he spoke was burn- decided that the over, widow was to take ing there. She thought of nothing to the younger children up Meetingsay, and he continued: house fork to live with a brother, the Its war betwen families now but missionary and the teacher started when your people come come to buy back. Jeb was to stay here alone to for nothin and fatten on our starva- run the farm, and when Juanita retion, we men of the mountains will turned to the ridge Dawn went with forget that, an I reckon well fight to- her. gether like all damnation against tho They were passing a tumbling warest. Thet's why I'm counselin folks terfall, shrunken now to a trickling not to sell heedless. rill, when Dawn broke the long silence. Then you did not forbid your peoWunst, when I war a leetle gal," ple to sell to me? inquired the girl, she said, "Unc Perry war out Why, In heaven's name, should 1 thet branch from ther revenuers. I make war on ye? he suddenly de- up used ter fotch his victuals up ihar ter manded. Does a man fight children? him." We dont fight the helpless up here In Juanita turned suddenly with a the hills. shocked expression. It was as if her Possibly, she suggested with a trace of Irony, when you learn that little songbird friend had suddenly and reverted; as if the flower had Im not so helpless you wont be so violently turned to poison weed. And as Juamerciful. looked Dawn's eyes were blazing Well wait till that time comes," nita said the man shortly. He paused for and Dawn's face was as dark as her a moment, then went on: Helpless! black hair dark with the same exwhich brooded on her brothWhy, heaven knows, maam. I pity ye. pression Cant ye see what odds yere contend ers brow. q "What is It, dear? Juanita asked, In against? Cant ye see that yere and in tense and fiery voice the fightln Gods hills and sandstone an winds an thunder? Cant ye see yere younger girl exclaimed "I wishes I war a man. I wouldnt tryin ter take out of mens veins the wait and set still like Jeb's doin. By fire In their blood the fire thats been burnin' there for two centuries? Yere heaven, Id git thet murderer. Id cut like a little child tryin ter pull down his heart outen his body. tole ye," quietly commented a Yere slngln lullaby songs to the thunder. Yes, I feel right Brother Anse, "thet ther instincts in sorry fer ye, but I aint ye." ther blood. Anse Havey went down I'm doing none of those things,' ter Frankfort an set in ther leglslater but he come back ther same man she answered with a defiant blaze In her eyes. "I'm only trying to show thet went down. Somethin' , called. these people that their ignorance la him. Somethin calls ter every mounnot necessary; that Its only part of a tain man thet goes away, an he harkscheme to keep them vassals. You ens ter ther call." Anse come back," repeated Dawn talk about the wild, free spirit of the An Anse is hyar. Ef mountain men. I think that free men triumphantly. Jeb sets thar an' don't do nothin, I will listen to that argument." Anse laughed. "Change em!" he repeated, diare garding the slur of her last speech. "Why, If ye dont give It up and go back to your birds that pick at berries, do you know what will happen to ye? Ill tell ye. Thar will be a change, but It wont be in us. It'll be In you You'll be mountainized. "Ye can't live where the storms come from an where the rivers are born an not have their spirit get Into your blood. Ye may think yere in partners with God. but 1 reckon ye'll find the hills are bigger than you be. How much land do ye need? Why? Because I aim to see ye get It. Ye say I'm scalred of ye. I aim to show ye how much Im scaired. I aim to let ye go your owu fool way an flounder In your own quieksund. An if nobody won't sell ye what ye want let me know an, by Almighty God, III11 make ye a free gift of a farm an 1 build your school myself. Thets how much Im scalred of ye. I've tried to be friends with ye, an ye won't have InIt. Now Just go as fur as ye feels I mind much ye how see clined an He turned abruptly on his heel and went out, quietly closing the door beWho Told You I Hindered Anybody hind him. From Selling You Land? CHAPTER XI. reckon Anse Havey won't hardly let hit go by without doin nothin. Thank rose That summer Juanitas cabin thar's some men left In ther heaven, of bought ground on the small patch Anse Havey but ef Jeb don't like hills In these from the Widow Everson, for I'll do hit myself." nothin do hills the raising of a house Is a simple shuddered, but It was Juanita to Again subject thing which goes forwardworkmen for argument, and so she time the not or no delays of striking usual type, went on. bitterly accusing Havey In balking contractors. The be reared her heart for his wizard bold on these may room, with Its single turn people a hold which Incited them to in a few days by volunteers who bloodshed as the fanatical priests of owed had She frolic. a their labor into the desert urge on their wild tribesGood to much to Jerry Everson and men. Anso Talbott, for had her building She did not know that Had Anse Haor force been solidly of Havey would vey went every few days over to the complexion the school desoluted cabin and often persuaded naIn branded. henceforth have stood the boy to ride home with him and Institution. feud tive eyes, a were who spend a part of the time in his larger Hut Good Anse and Jerry, were brick houao. She did not know that tolerated by both factions, and nearer to lying rough-hewdiplomacy, Hud Anse was coming gifted with a come In withbefore ever bad he even than had known upon whom to call, from the his suspicions strong at holding select to seemed while they bad to his of unwillingness because boy beanother tragedy. Incite Just finished The cabin bad been So when one day a Mcllrlar henchdeath of fore the news camo of the Everson man by the name of Luke Thlxton had and Jerry Klotch McNash, mountains and gone west, Anse and tho left had gone over with her to survey hoped that this man would stay away HAs he stood under tho newly laid for a long while, and he refrained from fra- mentioning to Jeb that now, when roof, snllllng tho fresh, woody he protho bird had flown, he know d 'finitely timbers, grance of the green coat lookod his guilt. what of his duced from under . He lmd While Dawn, under the guidance of powder-hornBlunt a Ilko until It shone her preceptress, was making tho acscraped and polished It sweeter life, It quaintance of a new and like varnish, anti ha hung It by Influences fed her imagination whose hearth. the above leather thong fired her quick ambition, her What Is It for, Jerry?" demanded and Sjc. synopsis. the girl, and with that he took It down brother was more solemnly being again and set it to his lips and blew. molded by the chief. Havey A mellow sound, not loud, but The water mill of old Bob McGreegor like the tally-ho- , was the nearest spot to the dwelling of floated over the valley. Had Anse Havey Where grist could be Our house halnt more than a ground to meal, and sometimes when whoop an' a holler away, he said Jeb ranio over to the brick bouse he awkwardly, "but when yere livin over would volunteer to throw upon his hyar by yoreself, ef ye ever wants any- shoulders the sack of corn and plod thing in ther nighttime, Jest blow thet with it up across the ridges. He would horn. sit there in the dusty old mill while After she had almost burst her tho slow wheel groaned and creaked cheeks with effort, he added: Don't and the cumbersome mlllstonea did their slow stint of work. So one day, toward the end of August, Juanita, who had climbed up the path to the poplar to look over her battlefield and renew her vows, saw Jeb sturdily plodding his way In long, resolute strides through the woods toward the mill, a heavy sack upon his shoulders aud a rifle swinging at his side. That day chance had it that no one else had come to mill and Hob McGreegor had persuaded the boy to drink from the "leetle blue kag" until his mind was ripe for mischief. While the mill slowly ground out his meal Jeb McNash sat on a pile of rubbish In the gloomy shack, nursing his knees in interlocked fingers. Old Hob drank and stormed and cursed the Inertia of the present generation. The lad's lean fingers tautened and gripped themselves more tensely and his eyes began to smolder and blaze with a wicked light as he listened. Ye looks like a right stand-usort r of a boy, Jeb, growled the old who had set more than a few An' couples at each other's throats. 1 reckon hit's all right, too, fer a feller ter bide his time, but hit 'pears ter me like ther men of these days dont do nothin but bide thar time. "I won't bide mine no longer than what I has ter, snapped the boy. Anse Tows ter tell me when he finds out who bit war thet got my pap. Thet's all 1 needs ter know. Old Bob shook his head knowingly and laughed in his tangled beard. "I reckon Anse Havey'll take his leisure. He's got other fish to fry. Hes tout bigger things than yore grievance, son." The boy rose, and his voice came very quietly and ominously from sud denly whitened lips. "What does ye mean by thet, Uncle Bob? "Mebby I don't mean nothin much. Then ergin mebby I could give ye a pretty good idee who kilt yore pap. Mebby 1 could tell ye bout a feller a feller tbet hain't fur removed from Old Milt hisself thet went snoopin crost ther ridge ther same day yore crost his pap died with a rifle-guelbow and his pockets strutty with Juanita, living in the cabin she had built with the girl who had berome her companion and satellite, making frequent hard journeys to some house which the Bhadow of illness had invaded, found It hard to believe that this life had been hers only a few months. Suspense seemed to stretch brier-choke- p fire-eate- catrldges. "Who war he? came the tense demand with the sudden snap of rifle-firWho war thet feller? Old Bob filled and lighted his pipe with, fingers that had grown unsteady from the ministration of the "leetle He laughed again In a blue kag. drunken fashion. "Ef Bad Anse Havey don't Tew ter tell ye, son, he artfully demurred, "I reckon hit wouldn't hardly be becomln fer me ter name his name. The boy picked up hla battered bat "Give me my grist," he said shortly. He stood by, breathing heavily but silently while tbe sack was being tied, then, putting it down by the door, he wheeled and faced the older man. "Now yere ter tell me what I needs ter know, he said quietly, "or I'm ter kill ye whar ye stands. Uncle Bob laughed. He had meant all the while to impart that succulent bit of Information, which waa no inforsusmation at all, but mischief-makinpicion. He had held off only to infu rlate and envenom the boy with the cumulative force of climax. "Hit warnt nobody but After a pause he went on, "but old Milt Me Briars own son, Young Milt.' "Thets all," Bald Jeb soberly; "Im obleeged ter ye. He went out with the sack on his shoulders and the rifle under his arm. but when he had reached a place In the woods where a blind trail struck back he deposited bis sack carefully under a ledge of overhanging rock, for the clouds were mounting and banking now in a threat of rain and It was not his own meal, so he must be careful of its safety. Then he crossed the ridge until he came to a point where the thicket grew down close and tangled to the road. He had seen Young Milt going west along that road this morning and by nightfall he would be riding bark. The gods of chance were playing Into his hands. So he lay down, closely hugging tho earth, and corked his rifle. For hours he crouched there with unspeakable patience, while his muscles cramped and his feet and hands grew cold under the pelting of a rain which was strangely raw and chilling for the season. The sun sank In an angry bank and the west grew of thunder-headlurid. The drenching downpour blinded him and trickled down his spine under his cjothes, but at last he saw the figure he awaited riding a horse he knew. It was tho same roan mare that Bad Anse hud restored to Milt s r. When young Milt rode slowly by, yards away, with his mount at a walk and his reins hanging, he was untroubled by any anxiety, because he was in his own territory and was at heart fearless. Tho older boy from Tribulation felt his templet throb and the rifle camo slowly up and the one eye which was not closed looked point-blunacross Immovable sights and along a steady barrel Into the placid face of hie Intended victim. He could see the white of Milts eye and the ragged lock of hair under the hat-briwhich looked like a smudge of soot across hla brow. Then elowly fifty lng of thunder, but that year the clouds seemod to have dried up, and down In the tablelands of the Blue Grass the crops were burned to worthless stalk and shrunken ear. Even up here, in the birthplace of waters, the corn was brown and sapless, so that when a breeze strayed over the hillside fields they sent up a thirsty, dying rasp of rattling whisper. it was not only In the famished forests and seared fields that the hot breath of the plague breathed, carrying death In its fetid nostrils. Back In folks," the cabins of the "branch-wate- r where little springs diminished and became polluted, all those who were not strong enough to throw off the touch of the specters finger sickened and died, and typhoid went In and out of Havey shack and McBrlar cabin whispering, "a pest on both your bouses. The widow McNash had not been herself since the death of Fletch. She who had once been so strong over her drudgery, sat day long on the doorstep of her brothers hovel and, in the language of her people, Jest sickened an pined away." So, as Juanita Holland and Good Anse Talbott rode sweating mules about the hills, receiving calls for help faster than they could answer them, they were not astonished to hear that the widow was among the stricken. Though they fought for her life, she refused to fight herself, and once again the Eastern girl stood with "buryin-grounDawn In the and once more across an open grave she met the eyes of the man who stood for the old order. But now she bad learned to set a lock on her lips and hold her counsel. So, when she met AnBe and Jeb afterward, she asked without rancor: "May I take little Jesse back with me, too? He's too young, she added, with Just a heartsick trace of her old defiance, to be useful to you, Mr. Havey, and Id like to teach him what I can. Anse and Jeb conferred, and tbe elder man came back and nodded his head. "Jesse can go back with ye," he said. "I'm still aimin to give ye all tbe rope ye wants. When ye've had enough an quits, let tns know, an I'll take care of FTetchs children." And on her farm, as folks called Juanita's place, that September saw many changes.- - Near the original cabin was springing ,up a new structure, larger than fan other house In that neighborhood, except, possibly, the strongholds of the chiefs, and as It grew and began to take form It imparted an air of ordered trlmness to the countryside about it It was fashioned In such style as should be in keeping with Its surroundings and not give too emphatic a note of alien The Rifle Came Slowly Up. weeks to years, and she awoke each new day braced to hear tbe news of some fresh outbreak, and wondered why she did not. A few neighborhood children were already learning their rudiments, and plans for more build lngs were going forward. Sometimes Jeb came over from the brick house to see his sister, and on the boys face was always a dark cloud of settled resolve. If Juanita never questioned him on tbe topic that she knew was nearest his heart It was because she realized that to do so would be the surest way to estrange bis friendship and confidence. In one thing she had gained a point She had bought as much property as she should need. Back somewhere behind the veil of mysteries Anse Havey had pressed a button or spoken a word, and all the hindrance that had lain across her path straightway evaporated. Men had come to her, with no further solicitation on her part and now It seemed that many were animated by a desire to turn an honest penny by the sale of land. In every conveyance that was drawn deeds of ninety nine-yea- r lease Instead of sale she read a thrifty and careful knowledge of land laws and reservation of mineral and timber rights which she traced to the head of the clan. As summer spent Itself there was opportunity for felling timber, and the little sawmill down In the valley sent up Its drone and whine in proclamation that her trees were being turned Into squared timbers for her buildings. Once, when Milt McBrlar rode up to the sawmill, he found the girl sitting there, her hands clasped on her knees, gazing dreamily across the sawdust and confusion of the place. "Ye're right smart Interested In thet thar woodpile, hain't ye, ma'am? he d, d strangeness. Juanita wished that her cabin could house more occupants, for the plague had left many motherless families, and many children might have come Into her fold. As It was, she had several besides tbe McNasbea as ber nucleus, and while tbe weather held good she was rushing her work of and building which tba winter would halt - timber-fellin- g 4 CHAPTER XI L 'i"r' f One day In early October yonng Milt McBrlar happened upon Dawn and Juanita walking in tbe woods. The gallant colors and the smoky mists of autumn wrapped the forests and brooded in the sky. An elixir went into the blood with each deep-draw-n breath and set to stirring forgotten or hitherto unawakened emotions. And In this heady atmosphere of quickened pulses the McBrlar boy halted and gazed at the Havey glrL Juanita saw Young Milt's eyes flash with an awakened spirit She saw a look In his face which she was woman enough to Interpret even before he himself dreamed what Its meaning might be. Dawn wap standing with ber head up and her llda half closed looking across the valley to the Indian summer haze that slept In smoky purple on the ridges. She wore a dress of red calico, and she had thrust In her belt a few crimson leaves from a gum tree and a few yellow ones from a poplar. Juanita Holland did not marvel at the fascinated, almost rapt look that came Into Young Milt's eyes, and Young Milt, too, as be stood there In the autumn woods, was himself no mean figure. Ills lean body was quick of movement and strong, and his bronzed face wore the straight-lookin- g eyes that carried an assurance of fearless, honesty. He had been away to Lexington to college and waa goln back. Tbe keen Intelligence of his face was marred by no note of meanness, and now, as he looked at the girl of the enemy, his shoulders came unconsciously erect with something of tbe pride that shows In men of wild blood when they feel in their veins the strain of the chieftains. But Dawn, after her first blusK, dropped ber lids a little and tilted her chin, and without a word snubbed him with the air of a Havey looking down on a McBrlar. Milt met that gaze with a steady one of his owp and banterlngly said: Dawn, 'pears like y mought 'a' got tangled up with a rainbow." Her voice was cool as she retorted: I reckon that's better than gtttlng mixed up with some other things. 1 was es 1 looked at jest ye," went on tbs boy gravely, "thet hlt'a better then glttln mixed up with anything else. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Inquired with a Blow, benevolent smile His kindliness of guise Invited confidence, and there was no one else with In earshot, so the girl looked up, her eyes a little misty and her voice lm pulsive. Mr. McBrlar," she said, "every one of those timbers means part of a dream to me, and with every one of them that is set in place will go a hope and a prayer." I reck He nodded sympathetically. on, he said, ye kin do right smart good, too." Mr. McBrlar, she flashed at him In point-blanquestioning, since I came here I have tried to be of use In a very simple and Ineffective fashion. I have done what little I could for the sick and distressed, yet I am constantly being warned that I'm not allowed to carry on my work. Do you know of any reason why I shouldn't go ahead?" He gazud at her for a moment, then shook his head. I Oh, pshaw!" he exclaimed, wouldnt let no stch talk es thet fret me none. Folks round hyar hain't got much ter do except ter gossip 'round, ter hinder ye. Nobody hain't We hain't such bad people, after all." After that she felt that from the Me Briars she had gained official sanction, and her resentment against Anse Havey grew because of his scornful ungraciousness. Tho last weeks of the summer were A man may deliver a convincing weeks of drought and plague. Ordi- barroom oration concerning a free narily, in the hills storms brew swiftly country, and then be required t" put and frequently and spend themselves his money on tho counter before -I In violent outpourings and cannonad served. quiz-zically- , |