The Red Debt

eyes with her hand, and hastened to meet them, her curls bob

d the cabin, but Lem's tall

ent word by Orlick. Dad's a comin' heah t' tak

he surprise, he took her hand and they continued

d be tickled t' lose yo', do yo'? But I 'low hit's fer th' best, a

choolin' same's she did 'bout th' church. Lem, I do wish Maw could jest see th' new church now thet pap'

question that had been waiting from

e ded Orl

," returned Belle-Ann as th

arley 'bo

ell. I wouldn't

. He had a pleasing, intelligent countenance, with light, steadfast eyes that n

ee Orlick?

k her curls in

tt Orlick cums t' Moon mountain somethin' alers happens-s

ook soldierfied, don't he, Lem?" she added, with a subtle

nd pointed down to a gap in the scrub timber, which was half lighted by the moon

ick!" Lem

ming head on up the moon-path, his hocks now in the air. As always, Orlick had flank-spurred his mount on the last lap, and the animal pl

e Mexican saddle, laugh

yo'-all in a coon's age, Lem," he added cordially, though his e

d the outstretch

look of suspicious admirati

answered Lem, with a contemptuous scrutiny

up to tell ye thar's a stranger down at th' cypress cut what wants to come

hrank away,

th' ghost-man," she mu

fear that stirred the venom that already tenanted her heart; a vivific thing, spawned at the killing of Maw Lutts. Time had never healed this wound.

a silent, self-contained suffering,-a hatred for the law that sneaked into their home and dealt death. This

ter and a-scurry all the innate righteous instincts whose home had been her heart; leaving in its void a well of hate that congealed and turned into a live thing, that squirmed, burrowed, and crawled to and fro in her soul; armed with a hundr

r his shoulder by a rawhide, pointed it upward toward the lone figure on the cliff and gave a

together, Orlick doing the talking, and watc

epped forth under the trees and confronted them, his polished rifle g

ery presence pulsed keen discernment, subtle alertness, an a

s Orlick told his missio

o'-all blow the horn. An' yo', Orlick," the old man added, with eyes that bored into Orlick

his weight to

cap'n?" he cried huskily. "Where's my pap an' four brothers-where'

th' McGills! I kin lead yo' to their bones down yonder!" He

Yo'-all ain't 'lowin' to fix nothin

r one instant did the piercing, chill

'bout the past. Hit's the time a comin'. I j

declared Orlick,

ked with the r

er dam

any, son; but ef yo' ever cross Hellsfork er I know plumb sho' thet yo' snoo

boys go an' fetch th' stranger party up. Ef hit's thet infernal ghost-dog revenuer, don't skeer em of

he knew Belle-Ann lingered in the shadows, he swaggered along after Lem, leading his horse. And the while a bold d

icion hung over the

ch subsequently pointed accusing fingers in his direction.

me back after nine months, wearing soldie

the Mexican revolutionists. He elaborated on the gilded s

e was sole hero and he poured these fabulous ta

lways returned with a new horse, and sums of

ined to possess himself of Belle-Ann Benson. Bu

y had arrived at the realization that they were not brother and sister. Was it not reasonable to conclude t

scowl he fixed his eyes upon the figure leading the downward tr

trailed along, curbing his impatience, resolved to follow to the letter the plan he had worked

our later, with a large, tired man and a

ight. He was occupied mainly with thoughts o

rn. He had been a hunted man all his life. Therefore, the

to the horse-block an

-night. Whut mought be yo'

, I take it?" vent

Moon mountain," corrected th

, captain, I'm a deputy sheriff. I was despatched

kled his belt, containing a pair of pis

'm dog tired. I've been five hours coming up the la

ently, spoke up now, and there wa

puty, I 'low-hain

nd I'll get even with somebody for sending me on

perceed," invited Lutts, with a

began the new deputy, who had plainly lost a measure of his official

timatum and I was chosen to deliver it to you and get your answer. They propose to quash all the various indictment

own and sign an agreement to cease all further operations pertaining to feud wars and the illicit distilling of liquor and turn over all y

face for answer. The old man smiled good-

ucky, pertic'lar these parts whar hit's needed bad like. Lem, tote thes hoss back an' rub em an' fresh em an' fill em an' stir thet Slab roun'. Tell em t' step like a catamount an' hash up a hot snack fo' th' sher

arbouts fo' a hundred yeers-now hit's arriv'. Thar's some powerful pesky

fo' peace-Maw Lutts wus-Maw alers hankered fo' peace. She air u

nt. A huge hand slid coaxingly over the gleamin

and, I'll swear. Sheriff, I've hit thet damn ghost-revenuer ez many ti

s gits down in a buddy's in'ards an' gits tangled up with his insides t

ce, his auditor pondering t

they had ac'ed half right. One Sabbath mornin', 'fore I built th' gawspel-house

yo'-all lays down I lays down.' An' Maw Lutts up an' hollers across, too, an' says: 'Sap McGill, ef yo'-all lays down yo' k

e gawspel-house on Hellsfork! Hyars yo' answer.' An' he shot me twice 'fore I could believe he wus

moonlit distance that embra

Ef yo' don't 'low t' go I'll pick yo' up in my arms an' tote yo' down thar.

stood be

ow, pap, 'fore th' snack gits cold,"

ned feet, he noted the grace and loveliness of her lithe, round form. He assured

age of blue blood manifest in her f

. Cautiously a small shape with wizened face slid from out the mystic shadows, lugg

ith hate for that devil-thing, the law. He vanished as noiselessly and furtive