Show 1 00 m L 4 1 IN A il L m ca ilita em copyright by ben ames william bi ben ames IM lUu liams ams service SYNOPSIS at a gathering gatherl nc of cronies in the village I 1 e of liberty maine jim saladine Salad lne i la tens to the history ot of the neighboring hostile hoo tile valley its ita past tragedies lt to superb fishing ashing streams and above all the mysterious enticing huldy wife ot of will ferrin interested he drives to the valley fora days fishing though admitting to himself his chief desire Is to see the glamorous huldy ferrin ferran old marm pierce and her nineteen year old granddaughter jenny live in the valley since childhood jenny has deeply loved young will ferrin older than she and who regards her as still a child will leaves to take employment in nearby Au augusta gusfa his fathers athera death brings will back to the valley but he returns to augusta still unconscious of jennys womanhood and love neighbors ot of the pierces pierce are bart and amy carey brother and sister bart unmarried and something of a neer do well to Is attracted by jenny the girl repulses him definitely learning that will Is I 1 coming home jenny exulting sets his long empty house to rights and has dinner ready for or him ile he came comes bringing his wife huldy the all girls world collapses huldy becomes the subject of unfavorable gossip in the valley entering his home unlocked tor for will finds seemingly damning evidence of his cifes unfaithfulness a as a man he knows Is seth humphreys breaks from the house bouse CHAPTER IV continued 7 cut but will had spent no energy in vain direct pur pursuit sult lie ile had cut straight for the steam mill down dow a the valley to wait tor for seth there and humphreys after a while guessed this his ile he said to dart bart himself reluctantly preparing to depart bart you got a gun in the house theres a wild bull in the woods down where were working been bothering the men im a mind to shoot him bart said ive got an old revolver that throws a heavy slug it if you can hold it straight you geear get near enough and you could kill an elephant with it let me have that seth proposed this bull he comes right up around the mill I 1 can get near enough to him without no trouble at all so bart produced the revolver an ancient model in a heavy holster bolster stained by years of use got quite a history that gun has he said proudly fellow out in denver found a dead man in a gulch in the mountains one day with this gun on him and a bullet through hla his head bead ue he sent gent the gun cun to me TrIg triggers gees mighty light aln gle action you have to cock IV it seth hefted the weapon sighted it made sure it was loaded much obliged he said ill fetch it back to you and he be got into the truck and laid the pistol on the seat beside him and went on his way the man was afraid I 1 he was as big its as will ferrin not quite so tall but heavier nevertheless just as a dog fights best in its own yard so does a man in the wrong fight poorly seth wanted no fight with will ferrin and his very fears gave him a false courage a pseudo ferocity he gritted gritter his teeth and shook his bis head and vowed that will had better not try to lay a hand on him ue he drove down the valley road and turned into the rough wood track that led to the clearing where the steam mill was set beside a spring brook that furnished water tor for the boilers the mill was working the mill crew gathered in the shed but seth did not see will anywhere about and knew a deep relief there was at one side a shed of rough boards rooted roofed with tar paper with a dirt floor in which the truck was customarily stored against the weather its boors were swung wide and seth arned the truck into this shed but as he did so will ferrin came suddenly gud denly out from behind one wide flung door and leaped on the trucks running board by beths very elbow ills his countenance was aff righting beths foot missed the brake pressed the throttle instead then he be found the brake and jammed it down the truck leaped ahead tried to stop skidded shielded sidewise the right rear wheel broke partly through one wall the front mudguard burst into the opposite wall and will in silent deadly purpose caught setha throat with both it hands ands to drag him to the ground beths hand band found the ready pistol he be thumbed the hammer back AS the weapon came into his sight will released beths throat with his left hand band and grabbed at setha wrist that held the gun the two men were falling together 9 ether as aa the pistol exploded will felt the heavy ball plow into his bis leg below the knee crashing through the bone with a shocking impact but he be did not dot loose the grip he had bad the mill was wag sixty or seventy yards away and the saw at the moment of the shot was whining through a log but luke nills hills was beyond the mill by the brook and his ears were clear of the taws saws close proximity ile he heard the shot and came lumbering up the bank shouting the alarm to the others the meo men came to the shed loor and saw will and seth down in a locked inched grip and wills leg was hideous but the muzzle of a heavy pistol pointed toward them from the wa watering erang in the tight grip of vo opposing hands anila li and this wax enough to deter the boldest tor for a moment they dodged aside peering cautiously tiou sly and by the time they found courage to draw near seth was wag dead but wilt despite his wound was waa alive and luke knotted a bit of rope around wills leg and twisted it with a stick there was a babble ot of commands and advice and argument for setti seth clearly there was nothing to be done but we got to get help tor for will here mighty quick luke pointed out one of the other men remembered marm pierce two boards secured together by cross crosspieces pieces served as a rude litter they set out to carry will through the woods to the old womans comans house it was thus that jenny saw will again borne tn on a rough litter improvised of fresh sawed boards still redolent of sap and resin his face drained white his eyes closed his leg below the knotted rope a shattered thing she saw the men approaching with their burden and she and marm alarm pierce came out on the kitchen porch and the old woman cried urgently hurt bad jenny get the cloth off the dining room table put a couple leaves in and a blanket on it sos they can lay him there jenny would have run desperately to meet them but the old woman held her from that futility so when nhea luke and the others arrived the table was prepared and marm alarm pierce met them at the door fetch him in she commanded who Is it will ferrio ferrin ills legs shot oil off said luke hills hoarsely seth shot him would have but he did not loose the grip he had killed billed him like as not but will held on till he choked the life out of seth dont stand there talking the old woman scolded lay him on the table here ey easy one of you go over to bart careys carels and telephone for a doctor we lowed you could 1 oget get a doctor I 1 told you I 1 jabbering like a pack of crowal crows L lay ay him down now get out of here the lot of you jenny and me well te tend nd him one of yo you u go telephone and the rest of you stay handy case I 1 need you A man aaa departed at a clumsy run and marm alarm pierce standing by will slitting away his overalls tug tugging ing at his heavy shoe asked over her shoulder wheres seth lies iles dead no help for him luke hills told her well go stay with him one of you she directed get along and to jenny shut shot the dohrl so jenny and marm alarm pierce were left to tend the hurt man and marm pierce as she bared the wound made little rueful whistling sounds sound 18 between her teeth and jenny was cold as stone all emotions in abeyance standing like ice fee get water boiling jenny marm pierce directed the doctor ll want that certain and fetch some water here till I 1 clean his bis leg all I 1 can caa jenny turned to the kitchen chunked chucked the fire pumped dumped water put the kettle on the stove then she came back to the dining room she had not spoken wills eyelids wavered opened then closed again ile he said weakly my teams tied up on ridge road somebody fetch em cm home you hush bush up will marm pierce told him need all the strength youve gov got nut come off the axle will instated insisted theres a spare nut in th shed hush I 1 tell youl you I 1 the old woman cried she loosed the tourniquet a little till blood flowed again then tightened it once more she saw jennys tearful fearful doubts of this procedure and said 1 I dunno donne jenny seems like ive heard beard tell you youve ve got to let some blood get through or the legu begu die I 1 guess its going to have to be cut off though no bone left only splinters tor for tour four live five inches down the shin jenny nodded dumbly all ail w we can do Is keep him auw till the doctor cornea comes marm alarm pierce confessed 1 I can cure some hurts this here Is too much for me and later she said you put a pillow under onder his head and a blanket over him to keep him warm but when these things were done they could only keep vigil till after a long hour the doctor did arrive when that which had now to be done was done jenny was left drained and empty her muscles limp her heart sick throughout she and warm alarm pierce had helped the doctor the old woman administering chloroform drop by drop under strict direction jenny holding this and that as she was bidden with the first stroke of knife she was stunned as though by a head blow had thereafter no sense or strict consciousness of what went forward here at all this still form on the table ceased to be the man she loved she helped like an automaton her cheek white as stone her hands precise and strong while flesh and blood and bone of good will ferrin were reduced to carrion the overpowering physical experience per peri lence ence would leave its traces on her thereafter in lasting ways yet she was for the moment spared emotion this was no tempest of the soul which buffeted her rather she suffered physical blows and and emerged exhausted bruised weary to the heart when at last she was no longer needed she went weakly into the kitchen to wash her hands bands and clean her garments she returned to her own room to change into her other gear time had flown dusk was purple in the valley when she returned to the dining room will had somehow been moved so that he lay breathing irk in long gasping inhalations on the couch and jenny found the doctor gone and only marm alarm pierce and luke hills remaining here the old woman looked at jenny in the lamps pale light and saw the girls exhaustion and she came to say to her softly jenny theres nought to do here for a while it will be long enough till he be knows us or knows anything you tou get out of doors get some air breathe life back into you child youre pale as a gone thing yourself this minute ill tend all here and jenny moving with a curious passivity obeyed the old woman as she was used to obey the night would be cold r and she put pu on a coat over her dress and a shawl about her head and shoulders and went out into the thickening darkness this was a still cold night with threat of another frost before dawn the stars prickling overhead stooping low peered brightly down like the eyes of curious children the girl looked up at them and she heard an owls hooting cry far down the valley and she heard the rumble of a distant automobile somewhere toward the steam mill and saw a sweeping ray of light above the trees as though a car were turning there its headlights like a searchlights bea beam they would be taking seth humphreys body away she thought and she thought will had killed him and thought of the lawand what the law would have to say to this and she thought loyally that none could blame will blame it might be but not will and slow anger began to wake in her to supplant the terrible stricken grief because a part of will was gone and the sweet flesh she loved was now reduced to a noisome thing that must be disposed vt of secretly and swiftly anger woke in her at seth humphreys for his bis active part and at huldy tor for her secret passive role seth was dead beyond reach of jennys wrath but huldy lived 1 and jenny found herself going at long strides like a swift avenger toward the brook along the wood path toward wills farm where huldy now would be jenny went in wrath but her deep abiding anger was bound in fetters not easily to be broken tor for huldy was wills wife and the girl had wit enough deep sense enough sound wisdom enough to understand that this w was as no seemly hour tor for a womans comans brawl to shame huldy would be to shame will and with clear perception jenny knew that this she would not do so by the time she had crossed the brook and climbed the steep trail and come up through the orchard to the house she was steady again bent and bound first and above all else to protect will from ugly tongues she came through the barn into the farmyard and through the window of the kitchen she saw huldy within and sight of huldy checked the girl for wills wife was dressed to an unaccustomed fashion in a skirt and coat of some dark stuff also jenny saw that bart carey stood beside her bending down to her speaking intently and she saw huldis slow glow mocking smile as she looked at the man her head tilted backward the smooth line of her throat sweeping deep into her bosom this much jenny saw not particularly intent on bart but startled by the fashion of huldis dress and she went quickly to knock upon the kitchen 1 I 1 door huldy called come ini in so jenny entered the two faced her from beyond the table the lamplight was strong upon them huldy sat with her head a little lithe on one side her dark eyes shadowed her lips curled in that deep smile bart beside her stood half erect one hand band still upon the arm of her chair as though he had been bending over her in some stern or ardent urgency and jenny said slowly mis alls ferrin I 1 guess you dont know it or been there but wills hurt over to grannys grandys Gr annys house the doctor cut his leg oft off have to come on over I 1 bart straightened up his face hot what ive been telling her he said yet not convincingly and eyes turned toward him with a sardonic upward twist of 0 her brow hell be coning coming to soon jenny urged 1 when the chloroform wears off and hell want you there bart insisted yes huldy 1 hell want you youl I 1 ought to go along with jenny I 1 huldy sat at ease one knee crossed over the other one toot foot moving slightly in a tight little rhythm jeny jenny saw that the other comans womans hat lay on the table by the lamp you were getting ready to come she hazarded 1 I guess bart told you about it I 1 thought you know huldy did not speak a at t at all I 1 and jenny asked bart how did you know 7 they telephoned from my house be reminded her 1 I was fishing down brook with a man been staying at my place amy told me when I 1 got home a while ago I 1 come right up here quick as a tomcat said huldy with a mocking glance at him and he said hotly virtuously it looked to me need some one have the chores to do jenny remembered something forgotten she cried oh bartl bart will says his teams up on the ridge road ile he lost a nut off the wagon better go fetch them back to the barn bart hesitated but huldy said watching him cruelly go along bart you can make up to a horse maybe I 1 jenny perceived without understanding a baffled anger in bart she thought he was provoked by huldis heartlessness and she touched his arm go on bart she urged go fetch the team back and unhitch them and give them some feed ill take huldy over home there was sweat on oa barts brow he looked from jenny to huldy an and a his dark eye fixed on wills wife you stay here till I 1 come back he muttered 1 I want to talk to you ive heard all youve got to say huldy fluddy told him get away from me and stay |