Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-08
aue next woro was 'Duslnessy' was or
dared to take of my clothes.
"What are you going to do with that
msp2" The voice was that of q It

-
1E
What are you going to do vith that
mani"
( came from the top of the cliff opposite the
fire. There, clad in white and thrown by
the blaze in full relief against the dark back
! ground Of foliage, stood a female figure.
My own first thought was, A ghost! A
similar thought prevailed with the party.
\ Not a word was spoken fer soma seconds.
They stood there silent and staring.
"What are you going to do with that
mani" again demanded the apparition.
"Who-who are your asked one. He had
forgotten his assumed voice. It was Bill
Setter.
mo matter who I am, now, Mr.. Setter, ]
demand your release Of that man." was the
reply.
otis the gal at Pratt'sl' said a voice,
which I recognized as Long Macs.
The ghost was laid. The committee felt
somewhat easier. Still this was a serious in
t%erruption to 'sbusiness."
"Miss, we amt agoing to do the young
man any hurt" said one Of the committee,
the readiest ut recovering his wits. "We're
only here for a sociable little time and"
SSThokf, n Let ~ nn-o foo~o p1nrolofp Tn,
with a vigor which savored Of her piratical
uncle.
"Miss, now you'd better 20 home," said
Long Mac, in the tone he would have as
sumed towarda child. "This is no place for
you. I wonder you dare resk yourself in
these woods, where there's bears and Cali
forny lions"
"Bears," answered Blanche, contempt
uously. "All bears are not grizzlies! l
know you mean that man some mischief.
Now, release him."
"Shan't do it" roared a gruff voice. "Go
home yourself. Eff you was my wife or
darter I'd start We blamed quick where We
belong. Go about yer bizness!'
"That's just what l am doing" replied
Blanche.
She had a weapon from the folds Of her
dress in a %twinkling, its shining barrel fash
ing by the freight before the eyes of the as.
tonished party below.
1.-THE first maj of you that moves his land
for his weapon and I'll fire into the crowd
said she. II think I can handle this pistol
well enough for that. They called me a good
shot at the gallery in New York, and 1 had
smaller targets and much farther off than
those I have now"
BY she's got the drop on us, an she'll
do as she says" muttered one Of the com.
mittee, who now seemed to feel uncomfort-
able; ''it's in her eye"
As the party stood with the fire burning
behind them, their figures were thrown in
bold relief against its light, and the least
movement was visible to Blanche.
Snow, gentlemen" she continued, "busi
ness, you know. suppose you think this il
all very wrong for a woman. But as 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's
neither justice, fairness, nor decency
and you gentlemen know it nov
that you take a moment to think il
over. Would you do what you propos
, 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 tomorrow.
, The committee were irresolute. Blanche
stood there rigid, her eye upon them and hel
a pistol ready.
The tension was becoming painful. NJ
jury's verdict was ever more eagerly
+ awaited.
) "Come, gentlemen, you will take the gas
D from that mans mouth and then leave him,
she said, in accents more winning than thos
r in which she had first spoken. You will, Tn
9 sure"
y LET the gal have her own way,' said one
This expression of opinion was as the frs
y crack in the dam to be undermined.
q "Don't believe in bein' humbugged by
, woman" was the remark from the commit
o teeman, who had previously broached Iii
rigorous views as to marital and family dis
! cipline.
won't she rouse the whole Bar whethe
y we 60 or not? Anyway, I've got enough 70
/ one night" was the reply.
She did not stir from her post Or uncocl
v her pistol. Evidently she held herself il
Q readiness either for war or persuasion.
Y Some one pulled the gag from my mouth
q The committee filed slowly out of the ho]
e low. One hastily returned, remarking as Ii
4 glanced up at Blanche, "'Scuse me, miss, bu
we forgot this" He seized the demiiohl
and bore it off.
! "Mr. Setter! Mr.. Sefter!" called on
I Blanche.
' Setter forgot his disguise and stopped
"Why, it is really you, Mr.. Setter" sal
Blanche. Setter pulled himself up for al
other start, as if he was anxious to get ava,
from the locality of so many laundering sell
revelations. "Mr. Setter, when next yo
g organize a conspiracy remember that til
= walls of cloth houses near together nave yer
! large ears-that is, when a woman's insid
/. one of them" was Blanche's parting remark
i. "Yes'm,' nswered Setter, in the tone of
O corrected child, as he vent stumbling of
with the deihijohn.
They were gone. Blanche and myself stoo
4 facing each other. The situation was emba1
RAISING. Perhaps some lingering fend of lik
d spirit with the committee popped into III
Y head the thought: Should l now exclaim i
q the gush of the old-fashioned novel, "My Or,
. server! How can l thank youF' etc. We
irritated nov at being Saved" by Blanch
Il Seton.
@ But I had soon to do something. notice
It that Blanche was unsteady on her feet. 81
1 caught at a sapling, stood there a momen
b and then sat down.
v She was suffering from the ordeal she LA
undergone and the nervous relaxation thu
70 must follow such extreme tension.
gained the cliff summit. She was weak
is almost unable to stand, and said on my profile
2 of assistance: You must see me home,
= holiava