Richmond planet. [volume], April 02, 1904, Image 3

About Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938

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CHAPTER VI 11.^
THE courthouse bell ringing In
th- night! No hesitating
stroke of Sohot?ohls" Henry,
im une*erta?n touch, was on
the rope?. A loud, wild, hurried clamor
peaiirig out to wake the e*ountryside, a
rapid dang! clnncJ etBn.fl ?hat struck
clear in lo the spine. The courthouse
BetU had tolleel for the eh\<itb of Mor?
ton, of C.artield, of Hendricks; had
rung je>y peals of penca after the war
aud after political campaigns, hut It
bad run?* as it was ringing now only
three times-once when Hibharel's mill
burned, once when Webb Landis killed
?>**?.? Bard lor k and iutreuched hinisi'lf
t?n the lumber yard and would not be
taken until he was shot through and
*hn?'igh, and once wf?en the Konen ?<?
?*eHHiuodatiou. crowded with children
and women and men, was wrecked
within tweuty yards of the station.
Why was the bell ringing BOV. Men
and women, startled into wide wnko
fuJeess. groped to windows. No red
tuist hung over town or country. What
was it? The bell rang on. Its loud
alarm bent Increasingly into men's
heafte and quickened their throbbing
te ti*e rapid measure of its own. Vague
forms loomed In tho gloaming. ? home,
madly ridden, splashed through the
town. There were shouts; voices ealkxl
"hoarsely; lamps began to gleam In the
windows; half dad people emerged
frcMu their houses, men slapping their
?*t???1 mi their shoulders as they ran
out of de>ors; questions were shouted
. ln?e? the dinumss.
V Then the news went over the town.
It w-us cried from yard to yard, from
group to group, from gate to gate, and
reached th?* furthermost confines. Knn
ue?T8 BBOntCd it as they sped by, and
Ixiy** paiit?*d it. btvatMess; women with
??oseued hair stumbled into darkling
chambers and faltered it out to new
w?k?n.<l sleepers, nnd pale girls, cluteh
BBJ Brrnpa ?! their throats, whispered
it across ftenden. The si?k, tossing on
their hard beds, heard it. The hell
clamoreel it far and near; it spread ov?r
ana countryside, and it flew over the
?? res to distaut cities. The White Caps
had g?.t ?Mr. II a rilessi
? I-ig.? Willetts had lost track of him
out near Krisooe's, it was said, anil had
?time into town at midnight Becking
Mm II?? hael found Parker, the 1!? rahl
foreman, ami Boss Si -boti? Id. th?* type
setter, and It ml Tipworthy. the elevil.
ut ?m k m the printing offici?, but no
>;-.r? pf Harkless the-re? or In the e-ot
tage T?jir?'ther these had sought for
tua- ami hael roused other*- who had in
qaircd at every house wbere he B??ftal
have gone for shelter, anel tbey had
beard nutbimr. They ha?l WBtcbed for
his coming during the slackening of
the etorui He had not conio, and there
was no place he could have gone. He
was misslnu. Ouly one thing could
taina happened.
? he> hael roused up Warren Smith, '
the? prosecutor, anel Horner. the slier- ?
Iff. aud Jan?! Wiley, the deputy. Wil- '
..-.m Tmld hail rung the alarm. It was
igniij that the tirst thing te> do was
to limi him. After that there would
be tr??ubl??. If uot before. It looke?el as
if there would he trouble before. The '
men tramping up to the muddy square
iu their shirt sleeves wore bulgy about ?
the right hips, and when Homer Tlbbs |
joined Columbus Landis at the hotel
corner and Landis saw that Homer
v-ts currying a shotgun Landis went
t-iio-W for his. A hastily sworn posse
t'uilupcd enit Main stroe't. Women and
vhilelren ran Into neighbors' yards am"
began to cry. Day was coming, ano
ai? ?he light grew mem swore and sav
Bfarj kicked at the palings of fon<???>
- ?hey ran by them.
Iu the foreglow of dawn they gatlier
?d in the square anel "listinoti to War?
ren Sjnith. who made | speeeb Horn
the courthouse fonce and warned
lb? m to ge? slow. They unswereel bini
wifh angry shouts ami hootings. Itut
..?? made his big bass voice heard and
onio them elo nothing rash. No facts
w?-re kiiowQ, he said. It was far from
???rtain that harm hail been done, amlj
Be ana knew that the Six Crossroads'
BBBpi? Bnd done it. even if something
had happened to Mr. Harkless. He de
? ? ? hat beepoke In Barkleaa' name. I
n ttbing coniti dlatreaa Un so ni?eta as
for tl:i?m to defy the law. to tak?? it
??!' t!:?? proper bands .lustier would
j.? done
"Yes it Will!" Bbonted ? man below
bint, brandishing th?? butt of a rawhide j
w!:ip above his bead ??Ami while you
,..w ?m about it bete he may be tied up
Ukc a doa la the winds, aboi full of!
?- li\ tl..? men you never lifted a?
? tej**r to bender, becaane yoB want
They in,s,? ml him With OnpTBJ stimila.
tneir vous when you run for circuit
i Judj?e. What are we doin' here? What's
I the !????'?1 of listenin-i to you?"
i There was a yell nt this, and those
aria) heart! the speaker would prohnhly
have started for the Crossroads hud
not a rumor aprimi; up which passed
rapidly from man to man und in a f?*\v
moments had reached every poison in
the crowd. Tbe news came that the
two shell -?ambler-* had wrenehed a liar
out of a window under cover of the
stoni!, bad broken Jail and were at
Iar-ie. Their threats of the day bet?re
were reiiiemiiei t*?l now with convinciti;;
vividness. They had sworn repeatedly
to Bardlock antl to the sheriiT anil in the
hearing of ?ithers thai lh?*y would "ti<i"
forthe man who liad taken their mon?
ey from them ami had lliein arrested.
The iBTOaeCllllllg attorney, quickly per
esirlag the value of this complication
iu hold??? hack the aioli that was -li
ready form i ??, called Homer from the
: crowd an?! made him get up on the
fence and confess that his prison.?is
had escaped, at what time lie di?l not
know, probably toward the betiinniii?
of the storm, when it was noisiest.
"You see." cased the attorney, 'there
is notliin?,' as yet of which we can ac
cuse the Crossroads. If our frittiti has
been hurt it is uiucli more likely that
these crooks did it. They escaped in
time to do it, ami we all know they
were laying for him. You want to bei
ruiiihly careful, fellow citizens. Bar*
inr ?s already in telee-raphie coiiinnml
cation with every town around heve,
a ml he'll have those men before Bight
All you've ??\ to do is to control your?
selves a little and go home ?piielly."
He could see that his worths (cm opt
those iu reference to ivlurnin.tr homo
no one was gatssj home) made an im?
pression. There was a babble of shout
ititf and argument and swearing that
greti louder and louder.
Mr. Kphraim Watts, In spite of all
eonfusitm, clad as carefully as upon
the precedine day. deliberately climbed
the fence and stood by the lawyer and
miti?* a siiiifle steady testure with ba?
band. He was lisp-nod to at once, ?is
his respi'ot for the law was less imto
rioiis than his irreverent??* for 't. tad
he had been kimwn in ?'allow as ? lis?
tonan ?ly a reckless man. They want?
ed llBlgBl and ?lesiierate ad vie?* mid
qateted down ta bear it. He aposta in
his professionally caini voice.
"< ?eiitlemeu. it seems in mo that Mr.
Smith and Mr. Kibshaw." nodding lo
the man with the rawhkrt whip, "are
botta right. What t.ro?xi at??? we doing
barai wi.ai are want io know ?s what*a
bappeaadj to Mr. Harki??**, it ?atata
just ii-iw I?k?* the shell BBSS, Balgbt have
done it. Let's tint! out what they ?a?^
Si.itter antl hunt for him. Soon as any
tliinii's known for certalB Ilibhard's
mill whisile will blow three times.
? ? '? ? on look!ii? till it ?loes: ;!i"ii." he
finished, arlth a barely perceptible
sroinful smile at the attorney "then
we ?an decide on what h:-d BSSBjM be
done "
Six ? '? .ssriBat? lay dark and sf?>ain
In-,' in ' ? sun ?hat intimine The forj;e
was silent, th?* saloon looked up, the
roadway ?loser?.?1 even by the pl^s.
The broken old >>J*ggT ?*to0d rot tini; in
ta? mud without a Blngle lean littst old
man or woman su? li arata the ehil
?iren of th?? Craaaraad? to play about
it. On????, wlien the depOtj BhefflaY rod.*
tbraegk alone, a tattert! black hound,
mor?? wolf than dog. half emerged.
?.Towlintr. from betieatb. one of the
tumbledown barns ami w:is jerked
back into the darkness by his tail, with
a snarl fh-rcer than his own, while a
gaaj barrel shone for a second as it
nraag for ? strok" OSJ th? brute's head.
The hound did not yelp off whine when
the blow fidi. He shut It 1st eyes twice
and slunk sullenly back t?? his place.
The shanties mij;lit have received a
volley tir two from some of the mo.lut?
ed bands, exasperated by futile search
inir, had not the escape of I belter's
prisoners mad?? th. grossi of the CrOBB?
roads iippoar doubtful in the ?Binda of
iiiiiny. As the mornlne: wane?! the ad?
vocates of the theory that the gata?
biers had niatle away with Harkless
prow in number. There came a tele?
gram frot.1 the Rouen chief of police
that be had I ?lew to their wh ?r a bouts.
lie UBuoght they had succeeded in
reaching Ronen, and ?t began to be
generally believed that thrty bad OB
enpod by the 1 o'.lock freight train
which bad ?topped to take on ?ante
empty ?ars at a side truck a mile nor; h
west of town, across the holds from
the ala lacen bouse. Toward noon ?
party went ?ui! to examine the rail?
road embankment.
Mm began io osane bach late the vii
laj??? for breakfast by twos and threes.
but many kept on scar?-faIng the woods.
not feeling the need af food or eating
if'they ?lid. livery grore and clump
of underbrush, every thicket, was ran
Backed. Tfae waters of the creek, shal?
low for the most part, but swollen
orernlght, were dragged at every pool.
Nothing was found. There was not a
sign.
The bar of the hotel was thronged
all inoriiinir as the r??turtiin>; citizens
rapidly made their way thither, and
thus?? who had hr??:ikfastod and were
iTouit?. out again paaaed fot Internal as
well as external re-eaiforceaaent, The
landlord, himself returned from a knag
hunt, sot out liis whisky With a lavish
han?!.
"Ilr was the best man we bad. boys."
said Lundis as h?* poured the little
priasses full. 'We'd ort of s?*nt him to
the leglalatlTe hails ?if Washington
loag ago. He'd of done aa hanor there,
I tut ?c never thoiiv.ht of ?loin' any
thing fer hita. Jest ael round and leti
him bu?tl up the town ant! .ulve him
enapty tbankyea, Drink hearty. ajen
tlelllcll," be finished Bjlt mini I.V. **1 do?'l
gradge no liquor today except to Lip
Willette.**
"He was a pajod man," said yotntg
W ? Imi m Todd, whose nose was red. noT
from the whisky. "I've aimut give
up."
"It's goin' to seem mighty empty
around here." said Keiss Schofleld.
"What's goin' to b?*oome o' the Heralel
and the party in this district? Whereas
the man to run either of 'em now?
Like as not," he continued desperately, j
"it'll go against us In the fall."
Dthb Zane choked over his four fin?
gers. "We might's well bust up the
dab dusted ole town ef he's gone."
"1 dont know what's e-ome over that
Cynthy Tipworthy." said the landlord.
"She?"* waite*d table ein him last two
years, and her brother Bud works at
the Herald orfico. She elidn't say a !
wore!, einly looked anel looked and
looked, like a crazy woman; then her
ami Bud went off together to hunt in
the woods. They jest tuck hold i>f
each other's hands like"?
"I reckon there ain't many crazier
than them two Bowlders, father nnd
son." interrupted a patron, wiping the
drops from his beard as he set his
glass on the bar. "Th<?y rid into town
like a couple of wild Indians, the old
man hen tin' that gray mare o' tholtn
till she was one big wait, and he ain't
natchorly no <-riicl man either. 1 ex
pect Lige Willotts better keep out of
Hartley's way."
"I kee-p out off no man's way!" cried
a voice behhnl him. Turning, they saw
Lige standing on the threshold ??f the
door that led to the street. In his band
he held the bridle of the horse be had
rielden across the sidewalk and tlm
now stood panting, with lowered bend
half threuigh the doorway, beside his
master, bice was hatiess. Bnlaahed]
with mud from head to foot; his jaw
was set. his teeth ground toother, bis
?yes burned under reel lids, ami his
hair lay tossed and damp on his brow.
"I keep out of no man's way." he^ re?
peated hoarsely. "I heard you. Mr.
TtbbS, but I've cot too much to do.
while you loaf am] cas and drink over
Lanelis' bar. I've got other business
than ke'epin' out of Hart TowUler's
way. I'm lookin' for John Harkless.
lie was the liest man wo had in Ibis
ornery bole, and he was too gooel for
us. anil so we've maybe let bim g>?t
billed, and maybe I'm to blame. But
I'm goin' to timi lim. and If he's hurt
I'm goin' to bave a hand em the rope
that lifts the men that did it if I have
to go to Kouen to put it there. After
that I'll answer for my fault, not be?
fore?."
He threw himself on his horse and
was (noe. Sion the room ein? .?ed. as
the patroni of the bar re'uriud to the
search, and only Mr. WUkerSOB and
the landlord remained, the bar being
the professional ollice. so to speak, of
both.
At p o'clock Judge Briacoe dropped
wearily freni bis borsa ni bis own "pite
and s.iid to a wan uirl who cani?? run
nine down the wa!k to meet him:
"There is BOthhnj .Vet. I sent th?? Id?
eer? m It) your mother?to Mrs. Sher?
wood."
Helen tvrned away without answer
ing. Ret face was very white and
looked pinched about the mouth. Bhe
went back to arhere old Flanee sat en
the porch, his while ln-ad held lietw.-.o
bis two handa. lb? araa rocking him
self to and fro. She touched h m gen*
t'y, but h<" did not look up. She? spoke
to him. "Father." abe aald.
He did lint scot?i to hear her.
"Then leni anything yet. Bo sen
tin? telegram I shall stay with y?>?.;
now, no m t what you say." Mm*
cat beatala bim and pnt her head down
mi b's aboQrdcr, and, though for a Btm
iii-Mit be innen it d noi to notice It, erben
Minnie? came Otti 00 the porch. Ima ri ic?
hor father at the door, the old min
h,:.l put Ins arm about ?he girl ami was
stroking ber fair balraoftly.
Briaco? glanced at them and rais???'?
a warning Anger '" ??hi ? aughter, and
they went tiptoeing Into th?* arenane.
where the lodge dropped bevily upo??
a sofa, alluni?, stood before htm with
a look of pal?? inquiry, and be shook
his heml.
"No use to tell bini, but I can't see
any hope," be BOBWi red her, biting
nervously at the end of a cigar. "I ox
pect you bettet bring me some cotTe??
? here. I ooddn't take another step
to save nie. I'm too old te? tear around
the country boTBehOCk before break?
fast. Bke 1 have today."
"liid you Bend 1er teleem in?" Min
nie asked as he drank the COffC! sb.?
bronght bin. She had Interpreted
"COCLie" liberally aii'l. with the assist?
?t.;?? of Mikly rpton. whose subdued
BOW was frankly rid and who shed
tears on tin? raspberries? had prepared
an appetising table at bis elbow.
"Yes." rreponded th?? judge, "and I'm
g1 ad she sent it. I bilked th?? ?liher
way yesterday, what little I said?it
Isn't any of our business but I don't
think an.? too mil? ?? of those people
somehow. She thinks she ii.'i.iu.i??? with
Plebee, and 1 .?iiess she's right. That
young fellow must have got along
with her pretty w. 11, and I'm afraid
wli.il she givea ill? she'll be pretty bad
eiver i;; but 1 gneet w?? all will. It's
terribly sudden, somehow, though it's
anty what everybody hair expected
would com.?, only we thought it would
??oui?? from over yonder." lie nodded
tow ani the west, "..ut she's got to stay
hen? with us. Boarding at T?bhs' with
that old man won't do. and site's no
girl to live in two rooms. You ti\ it
up with her you make her stay."
??she mu. i.'" answered his daughter
as she knelt beeide bita and patte?! DM
eoat and handed him several things
to eat at the same time. "Mr. Fisbee
Will help me persuade her. BOW that
she's bound to stay in spite of him and
tb?? Bberwooda too. I've always though?
Bbe was grand, ever sine?? she took me
und??!? ber protection at school, when
I"? Minnie area speaking sadly, me
chanically, but suddenly she broke off
With a quick Spb, turned te? the win
?low. then turned again to BliSCOC and
cried: '1 don't believe il! lie knew
how to take ?are of himself loo well.
He'd have gut away troni them."
Her father shook his head. "Then
why haso't he turned Up'.' He'd have
gone hor.*.?? after tin? atOtm if something
bad wasn't the matter."
"But nothing nothing that bad
could bave happ md. Tbey hnveaVt
found any anything.'*
"But Why ha-n't he com?? hack.
Child'.'"
"Well, he's lying hurt BOUBOU diere.
Um all."
"Then why haven't tbey found him'
"Ftitht r,'' ?/tc suiti.
"I doni tare." she cried tint! choked
? with the winds unti tossed her dishev
i ?letl li.-iir from her t?-inpios, "?t isn't
true: Helen won't believe it. Why
ehouhl IV It's only a few Ixmrs since
he was rlgfal here in our yard talkini;
tons all. I wont believe it till they've
aaarctaed every sii.k ami Beaste af Six
Crossi?i.i?Is sad found him."
"It wasn't the < 'rossr.unis."' said
the o?d pin tirana ?. pendil iig iba tabi?*
away and resSJCaag lus linihs on the
sofa. "They prohably didn't lut ve any?
thing to do with it. We Ih? ??-,-lit they
had at first, hut everybody's altout
conio to behove il wat those two fel?
lows that he had arreeted jf elinlnj **
"it wasn't the Crrjaatraadar echeed
Minnie, ?ml she begun to tremble vio
hnlly. "Haven't they been out natta
yet G
"What us,??.? They are out of it. end
they can thank Cod they arc."
"They BIB not:" she cried, very much
nirilatitl. "They did it. It was the
Whit?* Caps. We saw tin ni. Batatal
and I."
The Jastaje cot upon his feet with an
oath. He had not sworn for years un?
til that moi nini;. '-What's this:" lie
said sharply.
"I ofiL-rht to bave toh! yen l*.*fnro. but
tre were so frightened, and and you
aratri aal Ih su?h ? rush after Mr. wii ?
was her??. I never dreamed everybody
would'i'i know it was the < 'rossro.ids;
that they would think of any BflaS else.
Aad I kookcil for lh<* soarivrow as stvui
ns it was liuht. ?mil it v.a:-. away <???
from Where are saw theill and wasn't
blown down at all: and Helen BBS?
them in the ti?-hl besides; saw all of
them"?
He internipt?*d b r. "What do yo?u
mean'.' Try <o tell BBC atMMtl it ?pii"'ly. j
eliiltl." He laid his hand on her shout- ?
dor.
She told bim breathlessly what sh?> !
nnd Helen had seen, ami he -rr?.w moro :
and inore visibly perturbed and un
easy, biting his ?-???ar to peeeaa ami!
trrouning at i irti rvals. When she had
Bnlshed he took ? few ajan k turns
nltout the mom. with his hands thrust
Bang} Ht his coat piK-ki'.s. and then.
charging her to repeat tin* story to m
one. left the bous?* and. fo met I inn his
fatigue, rapidly erossed the Ihdds t??
:he paini where the btaarre nazarea of
ras aighl had shown theusanlsua to the
t,. o ?-iris at l ht w indow.
The soft gmnnd had btUBJ trampled
liy maii\ fast. The boot prints pointed
to th?? aofftheaat. He traced thent back
ward to the soiitliwesl through th??
Badi an?! saw where they bail come
from near Iba road, gaaag ?snrtaaeaat;
then, returning, he dlnibed the fence
and foltosred then northward through
the m*?t lieid. Croni there the n??\t lie!?,
to ihe in,i;h. lying beyond the iva?! thai
w .is a con: inn?! : ion ?if Main Street.
st;. t.hetl to the railroad ??ni'iatiknienl
The track, ruggedly tb-lined in tram
pled loam and nnddy furrow, beni in
? tliri?clion which imlica'.i-tl that it??
tarnitnaa mi.cht be the switch where
tbe ei.ip.y cara had s!oo?l last Bight
?raiting rat th?? ? ?wiock freight. Though
th?? tiiids bad been, trampled iu many
placea by ?h?? aearchlng partios, ha r??it
sure of the direction lalv?'ii by the
Crossroads men, and he pere el tad that
the searclnrs had mistaken the tracks
he billowed for those of olirli??!- parlies
iu the hunt, ? in the embankment lie
saw a number .if men walking Brest
und exBnalaiag.tbe ground on each side
and a BBatJ line ?d people following
1 hem out from town. He ?tapped. He
hohl the fale of Si\ CroaSfftatd? in Ids
hand, and lit* know it.
The men ?ni the cinliaiikiin nt wen*
walking slowly, bending far over, their
?yes li\e?l ou the "?round. Suddenly
one of tlioui st?i<nl ere? t antl tossed liiy
arms iu the ail and BhOUted loudly.
Other men ran to him. and another far
?low ? the track repeated the shout sad
? ho gesture to another far in liis roiir.
This man took it np and shouted antl
?rated to ? fourth man. and s?? they
paaned the ?Ignal bach to town. There
?amo almost immediately three Ioni;,
loud whisth*s from a mill near the sta?
tion, and the ?-lnbankmciit gres* black
with penpal pcatrlag out from town.
While the sear? hers cant? running from
the batan ami woods sad ninfci tatuali
OU both sities of the railway.
Brkacoe began to walk aa toward the ,
? in : ?? ii k it ? nl.
The track lay level and straight, not
dinuning In the middle distances, the
rails COUTerglng to pointa bet h north
west and southeast in the olean washed
air like examples of porsp???tive in a
Child?? drawing book. About seventy
mil?*s to the west ami north lay Iiotien.
In th? same tliroi'ti.ui, nearly six miles
from whore the Bigatti was ?riven, the
track was crosse?! I?y a road leading
directly sonth to Six t'rossroads.
The embankment bad been newly
ballast?*?! with sand. What had heen
discovered was a broftd Impubi a stain ba
the santi on the south slope near the
top. There were sniall??r stains abate
antl below, mute beyond it to left or
light, and Hit-re wer?? many deep foot?
print? m the sami. Men were exam?
ining the place excitedly, talking and
aaattrnlttlng It was Liga Wille.ts
who had found it. His berat was
Bsthcred to a fence near by at the end
of a lane tfarough a eorndohl. .la roti
Wiley, the deputy sheriff, was talking
to a giasBp near the slain. o\;ilainini;.
"You see. them two must have
know???! n bout the 1 o'clock freight and
that it was to stop here to take on the
empty lu m tier care. ? don't know how
tbey know ed lt. but they did. It was
this way : When they get out tbe win?
dow tliey beat through the storm
straight for this side track. At the
BBgne time Mr. Harkless leaves Bris
BaO*u, pnftaf west, it beajpha to rain.
He <*uts across to the railroael to have
a sure foot In* ?nei stri kin' for the
det^p?? for shelter near place as any,
except BrisciM-'s. where he's said good
Bight uln-ady. and proh'Iy don't wisli
to go bnck, fe*ar of giriti' trouble or
koeprn* "em up. Anybody ?an under
stanel that. He comes along and gets
to where we are precisely at the BUBO
tbey ?io, thnm enantn* from town, him
at ri kin' for it. They run rieht into
eimh other. That's what hippem-d.
They re eog-nhted him .and rais???! up
on him ami let hint bave it. What they
done it with I elon't know. We* took
everything in that line off eif 'em.
I'rob'Iy useel niilriKid iron, and what
they ihm?? with him afflMUUrd we don't
know, but wo will by night. They'll
sweat it out of 'em up at Kotieu when
they get 'em."
"I BSCaBBl maybe some of us might
help." remarked Mr. Watts retleetIvely.
Jim Barellock swore a \ iolent oath. ,
"That's tho talk!" lie shouted. lit' I
ain't the first man of this crowd to BCt
my foot in Hoowun and tirst to beat in
that jail dOBT I'm not town marshal
of Blatt ville, county of CnrtOW, state
of Indiana, and the I?ord have mercy
em OUT souls!"
Tom Martin lookoel at the brow
stain and quickly turned away. Th**n
he went baijc slowly to tbe village.
On tin* way he passed Warren Smith. ?
"is it sov Baked tbe lawyer.
Martin nnswe*rt?d with a dry throat.
He lookoel out over the sunlit holds
and swallowed once or twice. "Ye??,
it's so. Iberos a good deal of it there.
Little more than a boy be was." The
olel follow pass?-?! his seamy hand over
his eyea without ceoceahnent ? ivter
ain't very Brighi sometimes, it seems
to me." be added brokenly; "overlook
BoelolTer and l-'isbe?? and mo. anel all
of us old husks, nnd and'' he glllp
ed sudelonly. the-? tinished?"and act
the fool and take a boy that's tbe best
wo had. I wish tli?> Almighty would
take Pater olT the gate. II?? ain't fit
for it." ?
When the attorney reached the spot
where the crowd was thickest, way
was made for bini. The old colored
man. Xenophon. approached at tho
same time. Learning on a hickory stick
and lvi'iit very far over, on?? hand rest?
ing on bis hip as if to ease a rusty
joint. The negro's age was an Incentive
to fable?. From bis appearance h?
might have kr.-iwn the prophets, and be
wore that hoary look of unearthly wis
dim which many decades of super
stitious experience sometimes give to
members ef his race. His face, so tor?
turili with urini"ha thai it might have
been made of innumerable black
thread*. wov.?n together, was a living
mask of the mystery of his blood.
Harkless had omo said that I'ncle
Xenophon had riattai heaven before
Swodcnbore ami ball before liante. To
day as be slowly limped over the ties
bis eve?-- wen? brieht and dry under
the solemn lids. and. though hi* heavy
BOBt rila were unusually distended in
the effort for regular breathing, the
deeply peefcored lips beneath them
WOre BBl firmly. He stopped .'?nd look
iil at th?? Bacea baffere him. When be
spoke his retace was gentle, and. tlioirgh
the tremulousness of age? harped on lit??
vocal string?;, it was rigidly control lad.
"Kin some kino gclniun." It?? asked.
**plasna t* t>e ?<? go??i ??/. If show de id?
main ??huh eh* \\ ite Clip.? ir, doue
BBOot tatnrse HawkUear"1
"llerv was where it happened, I'm tal
/.en." answered Wiley, leading him for?
ward. Here is the slain."
Xenophon b?nt over the s'iot on the
sand, makine little mid noises m his
throat. Then he painfully resumed
his former position. "Pass his blood,"
he sake] in th?? same gcntU?, quavering
tone. "Pass my Lus' trien' what lay
SB de groim' w hay yo' stai'.?l. eelmun.
I ?a?-? w hub dey labi 'im. tin' dass w huh
he lie." the old m'ero coiitinu.il. "Dey
shot iui in ia BaffB. Dey ain't shot 'im
li?-ah. Yoiuhdi ?ley druggcii 'im, but
dis v. bub he lie?." He bent over again,
then kneit gm.tiiiiigly and placed his
hand on the stain, on?? would bUTO
said, as a man might phoe his band
over a heart to see if it still lioat. He
was motionless, with the air of heark
i-ninu.
"Marse, honey, is you gone''" He
rais???! his voice as If calling. "Is y??'
gone, sub marsi?'.?"
Ho hoked up at the circle about him,
and then, still kneeling, not taking his
hand from the sand, seeming to wait
for a sign to listen for a voie?*, he B?ht.
W'hafo' yo' golmun think ele good
l.awil summon Mars?? HawklissV Kase
BO eh? mos' tittes'V You know, dat man
he gete? im? in de cole Bight, w intuii
??" lais." stealin' 'is wood. You know
whnt be ?Ione f ile ole thief*. 1>b an'
liuil' up big tiali ten ol?? /,?n' shainty.
Say: He'p yo'se'f, an' welcome. Reck*
OB yon lummy, too. ain' you. Xeno?
phon G Tek an' f?d me, tek an' tek
beer b* me ee* ainee. Ah pump eh? bnltk
full in tie mawn', nu-k 'is bed. pull ele
weiils iiut'n de front walk; ?lass all.
He? tek me in. When Ah alsk 'im ain'
he 'fruid beep id?? thief he say. jess?).
'Pass all my fault, Xenophon** ?ought
look yon up long go; ought know long
'go you be cons anse botai nights. Beck*
ou All'in dB tliiovetiest one 'us two,
Xenophon. keepin' all ?lis wood st?,??!?'
up when you got nom?.' be say, jesso.
T?'k BM in; say he ?abk a thief, pay me
sala'y; food me. I ?ass du niai ? whnt
ile Copa gone shot lut?**1 nieid." lie
?aised his head shar? ly. and the mys
!ery in his gloomy By08 iniensit'teel as
; tbey opened Ulde and stared at the
sky unseeinrdy.
"Abs lawn wid a cawl!" he exclaim
ed loudly. His t ? Bated frame was
braced to an extreme tension. "All's
baWU wid a CUWil l>e blood BBOOUhr
"It wasn't the White Caps, I'ncle
Xe?noplioii," said Warren Smith, laying
his band on the old man's shoiihler.
Xenophon rose to his font, lie
stretched a long, bOUy arm straight to
the West, where the Crossroads lay;
stood rigid and silent, like? a s??er; then
spoke:
"l>e men whut shot Mars?? Hawk
llss lies yondeh. hidin' funi de light o'
day. An' him"- he swerved bis whole
righi body till the arm pointed north
w??st he lies yondeh. "ffOU won* tine
'im beob. I>y fought 'im in ile tiel's.
an' dey druggoB 'im bean. D?f wbub
dey lay '!ui down. Ah? batta wid a
eatrir
There were exclamations from the
listeners, f?ir Xenon hon spok?? ns ata?
batttaj authority. Suddenly lie t*ini?-d
?ml |Hiint?*il his outstrt-letteti hand full
ut tftatge Hris< oc.
"An' ?lass de mairi." he fried: "?lits?
tie main kin tell y?y Ab siM-ak tie
trufe!"
Balata Krisen?*? .ins we reti. Kph Watts
looked ?t him Keenly and thii turn?*?!
to Lige Wilh-tts nnd wldsfterttl: "<;?*t
on your luirse, ri?!?? in -?ml rin-j; th
courthouse bell like fury. I>o aa I
say."
Tears stood in the ju?:*;*?'s eyes. "It
is so." be said solemnly. "?<? njBrUtBU
the truth. I tlidn't mwni to tell it to
day, but somehow" Be paaaasal
"The hounds!" In* eriett "They de
s?'rv<? Jf. My ?laughter saw then? ?Toss?
ili jr the fiel?!s in the ni-J-i saw th'?ni
ciinib the fence, ? big etuataj of tacan
She nnd tbe ludy who i.-?. visiting its
saw them -saw them (dainty. The
lady saw them several times clear ne
day by tin* flashes of liixbtriirrjc. The
scoti minds arete ??ominir tliis way. They ,
must have been anags^hg him with j
".I?Vn hit il ti uni il ./?l'i!"
them then. He couldn't have bad a
show for bis Hffe among them. i??>
what you like. Maybe they've ge*l bini
?t the t 'rossroaels. If there's a charter
of it. dead or alive, bring bim back!**
A voice rune OUI above the clamor
that followed the Judgr'B speveh
""Bring bim backf God renkt, aaay
he. but h?? won't. Who"?? tnrvelin' HT*
way? ? go west!" Hnrttey Bowlder
had ridden his sorrel rieht up the <???
hanknieiit. ami the boras Steed BflWi en
the rails.
Then* was an aturry roar fnun the
crowd. Tin* prosecutor pleaded and
threatened nnhe?*dod. and. as lor tin
deputy sheriff, he declared blalntentkni
Of taking with bini ali who wished to
gO asliis BOOBS, l'.ph Watts ?BC'U'rdfd
In making himself heu ed ?bove the
tumult.
??The Sinnm?:" he BhOUtedL "Start
rr??in ibe si|iinre. W?? want overybialy.
We'll need them. And w'e want ??very
one in e "arlow to be iuiplh-atcd iu this
?Hisse."
? '?????? will be"' shouted a farmer.
"Don't you wot\ about that."
"We want to gni ;nto son??? sort of
B*BBpef* cried I.ph.
*"Sh:i|???!"' repeated Hartley Bowlder
???orniully.
There was a hiss and el.arig and rat
tie behind bim. and a sicani whistle
aliriekid. The er??wil elivided. and
Hartley's sorrel scrainhh?l down just
In t?in**? as the? west hound accommoda?
tion rushed by on its way to Koiien.
from the rear plot futili leaned the
sheriff, llorner, waving his hands fran
tic.-illy as he flow by, but no one un
ib'istiKMl or cared what he said or in
tin? general excitement even wondered
why lie was going away. When the
train hael dwindled to a ?lot and db>
iippeared ami the noise of its rush
grew faint the ewirt house bell was
heard ringine. and the mob w.as rusli
mg pelimeli into the- village to forni on
the smiaro. Tbe judge sto??d alone ?in
the embankment.
"That s.-t?es it." he said aloud,
gloomily WBtehlng tbe last figures. II?
took ??it his but ami pushed back the
thick White Unir from his forehead.
"Nothing iodo but wait. Might as well
go bon? fOI ti.al. lb.ist it!" be ex
dainied imp. ietidy. "1 don't want to
go lluro. Is too bnrd on the little
girl. If abe 'al rome till next week
She'd " .... ?'?,.?!< less."
(TO ? ? Ce?NTINUt?.!?.'
Soi ?. -il 111?? f'rnlilrn?.
Miss Btrongmln?. Pare ? ? me. hut if
I .un no; mis.a. ? n > du an on. of the
pour uueirrpaid working girli whom
our BmancipotioB socle*] irtedtobene?
fit?or at least. >?>u were two years a^o
Fatr Stranger- -Thm is true.
"Then our society has iviibntly r.ot
bom nit boot influence, for ron look
Bery prOBD* runs now "
"l have everything ! wan', andaever
was so happy in my iife."
"Thank Heaven! You must have
solved the WOmaB BToble m "
"I haw "
j "(?lorions* Tt !? nie bon jim niar:
agedf**
"1 married a nice y our: g man"??. Y
Weekly.
Tl??? Mran III In?.
"My d. ar, ! < n.arki ?; Mr J?l?f ?a bla
wife, as he gatlu-reo up nib rr.i?;; on the
first of the month, "* ? ?? ha\i- ?
your venation. Yon aOOUld hUV*j i I I ?.
a memher of the sto.te legislature."
"What do yen: ir.;:.i. h\ that?** ashed
his innocent wife
"You arc so Indefhtignblf in irdrodue
it.g bills." replied Jot.t.1 d: cii.i..?.;.
Commercial Tribur.e
(irnrralb PvrSiat?.
"What do you think of ibhl new
theory that if yon cough ab you can
?ben you hav? the pneumonia it won
be BO hard on j ot) !*"
"I don'i buon about that, hut I re?
member that aller ? uot b*oII of pneu?
monia two or thr???? .vint?!.- ago I had
to do some hud COUgbiBg every SO
days for aonrl] ?ix rnontba.**?Chicago
Tribune.
Hitlhi-r Airy.
"She seems to be wrapped in thought."
he ?.aid. reterrlBfl to ine lady with the
b? astila. .
"Ves." his ?in compatii?)?? reptiaitV
"Shouldn? you think n would he rath?**
er < hill> to b<? wrapped iu ntithie?; UasTX
thought ab?te the waits? line?"?Chir?*
cago Kettird-lierald.
?\ ..r?h I.i>uI?Ib| r'??,
"What are you looking for? We'ssj
got ererything worth takins;.??
"I am lookini; for?"
And the aaarghaT ccntinusd
search.
" tat the much larger booty whicbv
the BBatta to-morrow will sajr are orazs.
looked "?Tit-Bits.
% ?..?.. ?>. ... ? allia?/,
"He starred out to be the aixhrt*<iP
of his owu Fortunes Di?! be ouccsjooir**
"Well, he's tin? architect ail right,,
but he didn't aasTSataJ in putting oa*>
much of a sirncture."
"What aaaaaed to be 'he trouble?*"**?
"He revise?! ?he plans too oft?? a.**-?*?
Chb.ago I'ttM.
' ti- .-. t.ti l.iar.
She laagatlyj sir. ? aaeVaeasaaTal roa?,
said I had' a face thai would stop.? Ba
elook.
He ('?almlyl?So 1 did Aay assil??..
ratiniate?! .lock would pause aad holot
np It? Kinds in admiraiion at sight Ct*?
your lovely face.?Chicago Daily Nsiaaag,
lati itr-iii lion ?.f Inlcrrst.
"Teacher la interesied in you, pa??"**
"Ho? -o?"
"Win ?? day. afo-r she tolti" tct>
sev. ? i'.rr.<< to sit ttown antl behar-sa
myself ?h? said ahi wo m ???red wha?
sort of a fa: tier I had.**?Clev-elia,???
Plain Dealer,
Mnr.T's ? I.?tic?.
"Farmer Sawyer what is ywrm
?ianghter Mary gota?, to ?lo when ?????*?,
fin::!:.* si '->ilepe?"
"Wall r kinder reakon i-hr'u teseti
schon: sh.-j thlaka ihe*d like the v**x
? a; ?on.- "' ? Harper'? Itamar.
??? ri????!? jr.
"Lft's go out and tei whnt's buraia'."**?
Bald PJti to Mike at the theatar.
"Wl a ?I've tr,r-?u'>"
"Tl??-? 'wo n.? n hfhind us ?-?Id tfc?*?*r
wer* g In' u> th?? foyer"' Bet rati TTrewt.
B*p-eaa
?% RRtMSO ?"\ ?? t? ?;.
"What ????? ? be need an oil.? ?? for? estua
narrer dna? aa] work."
"Will be*a not to go somewhere whilai^
riis wiii ?.o. s the housework."?Chisagts^
Chrot*;? i? 2
\ ?? < ???itili for lllaa.
Wh. ?: BtltVan had -i "i'i?h ha>- '
W'l?- ? ,:?! to ?.rink it? ????iff????.
??: ? ? tar he's bui <!. ?
!" ? '.? ?? nid*?
???; ????? rouKh up hit essaajh l'a??.
-Jim?-.? ?
\t It \ it ? la.
Larel) Li:'u- S<" my new snfsaR??-,?.
mei t rlngl Doa'trot thin? (*%BJriBt?sBBtw
? otiti t
Barras tic Sue He certain!* ' ?
the si belici, nl a rug. < .. > uaaaa>a?aaB
quirer
\ I.on? ?UaaUflMPli
"! wrote yot a ???? h tter y-asterda?."*?
"Wh>. it was only five w.-irds."?
"Put it was in I lenta tu ? ?lops?,?"??t
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. /
\ |)'lTri-**nrr in Ilot; r.??
Art?Now money is r-eklly a atiafl-tai
consideration.
Hen With me it's a minns c-ossfdr?!
?ration. Va!? Record.
<????? f??r ?tut*. ITamll?;.
Bacon -?!an you tel! a smoker ?rors??
on? who dot | BOI flaaa?ha*?
itlhail Some!ime.- l < an.
"llow?"
''Well, at ? dinner, when the cigars ?
are passed around, th?? Btaa who take?
one cigar at a 'ira.* la a smoker, the
nata who takes twn Hgart i.s? not a?
atnoker, but has aaaokera in his fare?,... v
iiy."?Tfoabera Stataaniaa ,
>??? lini<-n tut.
Office Roy -Pieuse. Miss Dais?'..
would yer mind wri'in' a buie -jloweri?,
aben I'm un ?d?
r pewritar - w ay?
OfBce Boy*??Buracas wry time your.
pretto tii era tow I ate heart
thanapa, aad anlas*, ron ?.?educes yourc
i-pted ?'?? BaTraid I'll gli a cart disease;?
- -Chicago ? ?n ?; ena
Tim >luoit I n ?I ?linen???.
"?low did you like L?r Kour.hlr la^t.
Sunday inorili::?.'.' a?*' ? ! Mrs. Old<*s?iV
tie. "Duri'l rea think he indulged.)
rathe? freelj m mixed mi ;aphor?"
"(c.ioiir:. .??! I didn't BOtlCU. Did ha?
have ?? before uo?ii?; Into the pulpit?*?
This . ?!, be ? terrible blow to Joslab-,
He think? so much of the dori. or. "??-??
lit-Bita.
It ?-??rut?.?? la Sittrl.
"The people in the flat ahove bougbvv
a pianola, ?nd I alniosi went erara?..
trying to think boa to ?set even withf
them." ^
"And did yon?"
"Oh. yes. ladead; I've .aught little?,
Bobby to plaj 'Bedel?a* with his f?^re-v
Anger and the loud pt da] ? Town Top???
I.-?,_-?*
r??n*na?s?il. J
??Henry rVaaecker,** observes blrf
wife as they all at the bappy breakfaal
table, "you arata certainly in a sad eea>
?it ion when you e.tme home last night?*v
"Wiiy, my ?ar," stammers Hanry.
"h?iw ?an \(>u say su? h a thing? I re*??.
antsaher dkttlnctly thai when I cajneia,?
you asked BM Ul wind t lie clock, put on*
the dog, and light th<* nij^ht-lamp."
"Yes; and this morning I found the? ,
nipht-Iamp with all the wick wound us>
In the chimney,and Fido'stail perfectly
bare where you had touched him with
a match, ami the clock lying on the haoa>
porch."?Judge. - --'