The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-24

around winch gdCneItu lOuu. 1e1lhlaS
and gesticulating men, even when the
clouds dissolved in drops OF cold rain
as the day wore on.
Mrs. Kent began to feel uneasy
about Mandy's non-appearance. At
length she saw George sitting on a
dry-goods box, with his hat pulled
down over his eyes.
Where's Mandy, George! she
cried. s'Why doesn't she come up to
Mrs. Blake s?''
He slowly raised his dulled eyes to
hers as he answered, thickly. "She
stayed behind. I couldn't wait, you
know
Mrs. Kent turned away, feeling
horribly dizzy. She knew that the
coward had been indulging extern
sively in sstreats," and forebore to
waste the fulness of her wrath upon
him. She had taken but a few steps
when she met old jeff Sands, a
gray headed Samson, who, with his
two sons, owned and worked prom
Using mine in Gopher gulch. She told
him the state of the case.
"Th--e devilu' he gasped, thought
fully.
1t was the only opinion he could
give on the spur of the moment, and
stronger language than he had ever
before used in Mrs. Kent's hearing.
For, be it known. that old Sands
thought the ground she walked on
sanctifed thereby, and she, oh, wicked
little widow, was not totally uncon-
scious of the fact.
swell, if wouldn't like to shake
that fellow out of his skin!' he NUT
tered savagely. His nearer had no
call to reprove his profanity. She
was in that state of mind when
woman needs some man to 90 the
swearing for her.
"But, O, Mr.. Sands, what can we
dog she exclaimed.
"Do?" he returned. "Why, get a
posse and go for the red devils as light
as we can lick. It's queer they amt
in sight Already he reflected. :" But
I s'pose like as not they're trying to
kill 'emselves on your oyster soup. l
wish we'd thought to put strych-
nine in it,
Poor Mrs. Kent was quite beyond
making or taking interest in plans.
He went to the post-office and set
forth in a few strong words that he
wanted body of men to go to Mandy
Kent's rescue. They were ON fire.
They were ready to follow Captain
Sands to the North Pole, or a hotter
place if necessary.
When, however, there is a woman
in the case a kind of wild romance
Eliminates the peril. Go? Indeed
they'd go, and didn't they long to take
, universal philanthropist with them,
was the general murmur. Sands:
unanimously elected captain, would
i not wait a moment. So they all
, started out. Night soon came upon
t them, binding sleet and rain drove
{ across their track, and they were
obliged under penalties of losing thei1
way to camp in the stockyard OF 9
deserted rancho. 1t was with dismay
that their leader perceived that his
| men were, getting into fighting
humor, and if he did not soon show
t them Indians to fight, would probably
) end by fighting him. Some of the
rear members of the undisciplined
brigade quietly deserted at convenient
| points, while the rest rode sulkily
over mud and stone. A Westerner
; unless absolutely destitute, never
: walks.
n 1t was now time to return to the
forsaken mansion. At the yer!
o moment that jeff Sands was address
o ing an excited crowd, that Mand.
g Kent was shivering in mortal dread
t and wondering if she would hav'
II strength enough to strike when tn
y time came, a party of white peopl'
n within were indeed testing the SOU
II and discussing the roast chickens will
e the hearty enjoyment only possible t.
IS a disturbed state of society.
i If a timid voice protested at TIN
o free-and- easy banquet, some one in
!, stantly vowed to set it all right
e Hadn't they money to pay for wha
they took! What business had people
q to leave the house open and the tabl
y set if they didn't want to be hOspit
s able! They had come to the place,
d large body Of campers, driving befor
re them herd of ponies, to seek shelte
Il during the coming storm for woma
s, with a weakly child. Finding
e, deserted feast, the holder spirit
lie guessed the truth, and, treating tn
lp matter as a huge joke, coolly helpe
k. themselves, inviting all to participat
lie in the fun. In spite of considerab]
le hesitation, they did so, unable to n
id sist the temptation of stolen frui
Every moment the nervous wome
er expected to see the rightful owner
i put in an appearance; every mome1
er they raised fresh scrnples, tinall
I'd starting a cheerful theory of poison
as if they had some occult knowlede
le of jeff Sands amiable regret.
er Perhaps the people of the hous
De were robbers, who had enticed the
8, all into their power. They had rea
if of such things. What if they were a
IS. ready hopelessly entangled in son
Mt border mystery? It was too like {
er enchanted house for these simpl
up minded folk to feel quite easy in
a If it's owners had fled from Indian
nd was the danger not as great for then
ng 0 these men, these men, they new
lin ,Oould take anything seriously. Wi
their travel-stained garments, the
or weather beaten faces. and weary eye
he these women gathered around tt
rer 6vino mharS T,OOEinp into n