Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-23
CHAPTER NVu-CoNTINUEp.

Its the gal at Pratt's," said a voice,
which ! recognized aS Long Macs
The ghost WAS laid. The committee felt
somewhat easier Still this was a serious in
terruption To business
Mis- we rin't agoing TO do the young
man any hurt, said one Of the committee,
the readieSt at recovering his wits We're
only here for sociable little time and"
That's "a lie" came from Blanches lips
with a vigor which savored Of her piratical
uncle
Miss. now you'd better go home said
Long Mac, in the tone he would have as
sumed toward child This is no place for
you l wonder you dare resk yourself in
these woods, where there's bears and Cali
forny lions"
Bears answered Blanche, contempt
uously "Al bears are not grizzlies
know you mean that man some mischief.
Now, release him"
''Shan't do it, roared a gruff voice. go
home yourself IF you was my wife or
darter I'd start We blamed quick where ye
belong. Go about yer bizness!"
That's just what l am doing" replied
Blanche.
She had weapon from the folds of her
dress in a twnkling, its shining barrel flash
ing by the freight before the eyes Of the as
tonished yarty below.
The first man of Won that moves his hand
for his weapon and III fire into the crowd, !"
said she Il think can handle this pistol
we'll enough for that. They called me a good
shot at the gallery in New York, and had
smaller targets and much farther off than
those have now"
sb,r Ia a,,NS hall
do as she says" muttered one of the com
mittee, who now seemed TO feel uncomfOrt-
able: Its in her eve"
As the party stood with the fire burning
behind them. their figures were thrown III
bold relief against its light, and the least
movement was visible 10 Blanche.
Now, gentlemen" she continued, "husi
ness, you know. l suppose You think this is
all very wrong for woman. But there
seems no man here to take a defenselesS
mans part, why. a woman had to do it.
Whatever John Holder has done, whether he
be guilty or not of the charges against him,
is not to be found out by taking him from
his bed at night and carrying him into these
woods TO maltreat and torture him. That
neither justice, fairness, nor decency,
and you gentlemen know it now
that you take a moment to think it
over. Would YOU do what you propose
TO do to him before his mother
Would you do it before your own mothers'
You have forgotten yourselves, gentlemen.
Kick over that kettle of tar and go home.
and you will feel more like men to-murrow.
The committee were irresolute. Blanche
stood there rigid, her eye upon them and her
pistol ready.
The tension was becoming painful. No
jurys verdict WAS ever more eagerly
awaited.
Come, gentlemen, YOU will take the gag
from that mans mouth and then leave him.
she said, m accents more winning than those
in which she had first spoken. You will, I'm
suref7
Let the gal have her own way." said one
This expression Of opinion WAS as the first
crack in the dam to be undermined
Don't believe in helm humbugged hv a
woman, was the remark from the commit
teeman, who had previously hruached his
rigorous views as to marital and family dis
cipline.
Won't she rouse the whole Bar whether
We go or not: Anyway, I've got enough for
one night" WAS the reply
She did not stir from her post or uncock
her pistol Evidently she held herself in
readiness either for war or persuasion.
Some one pulled the gag from my mouth
The committee filed slowly out of the hol-
low. One hastily returned, remarking as he
glanced up at Blanche, 'Scuse ME, miss. but
we forgot this" He seized the demijo
and bore it of
Mr.. Setter! Mr.. Setter" called out
Blanche
Setter forgot his disguise and stopped.
why, it is really you, Mr.. Setter" said
Blanche Setter pulled himself up for an
other start, as il he was anxious to get away
from the locality of so many laundering self
revelations Mr. Setter, when next YOU
organize a conspiracy remember that the
walls of cloth houses near together have very
large ears-that is, when a womans inside
one of them" was Blanches parting remark
"Yes'm," answered Setter in the tone OF a
corrected child, as lie went stumbling off
with the demijohn.
They were gone. blanche and mvself stood
facing each other. The situation was emhar-
raising Perhaps some lingering fiend Of like
spirit with the committee popped into my
head the thought: Should now exclaim in
the gush of the old fashioned novel MY pre-
server! How can | thank your etc | was
irritated now at being saved" by Blanche
Seton
But had soon TO do something ! noticed
that Blanche was unsteady on her feet She
caught at a sapling, stood there a moment,
and then sat down
She was suffering from the ordeal she had
undergone and the nervous relaxation that
must follow such extreme tension.
l gained the cliff summit. She was weak
almost unable to stand, and said on my proffer
OF assistance: You must see me home,
believe"