The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-30
% r E S S "
BY BRET EARTE.
AUTHOR OF 1.-THE LUCK OF ROARING
CAMP" TALES OF THE ARGoNAUTs,n
SIN THE CARouINEz WOODS
''MARUJAM,n Ere.

Suddenly he heard shout and the tramp
ling Of horse. The sides of the loft were
scantily boarded to allow the extension of
the pent-up grain, and between the inter-
stices Ford, without being himself seen, had
an uninterrupted view of the plain between
him and the line of willows. As he gazad,
five men hurriedly issued from the extreme
left and ran toward the barn. McKinstry
and his followers simultaneously broke from
the same covert further to the right and
galloped forward to intercept them. But
although mounted. tho greater distance
they had to traverse brought them to the
rear Of the building only as the Harrison
party came to a sudden halt before the
closed and barricaded doors of the usually
defenseless barn. The discontinue of the
latter was greeted by derisive shout from
the McKinstry party-albeit, equally as
tonishd. But in that brief moment Ford
recognized in the leader of the Harrisons
tie well-known figure of the sheriff OF
Tuolumne 1t ne ded only this to cap the
climax of the fatality that seemed 10 pur-
sue him. He was no longer a lawless OPP
poser of equally lawless forces, bu5 he was
actually resisting the law itself. Ho under
stood the 81 uation now. It was some idiotic
blunder of Uncle Ben's that had precipitated
this attack.
The belligerents had already cooked their
weapons, although the barn was still ram
part between the parties. But an adroit
tanker of McKinstry's, creeping through
the tall mustard, managed to take up an en-
filading position as tbs Harrisons adj
vanced to break in the door. A threatening
shout from the ambuscaded partizans
caused them to hurriedly fall back toward
IL, 10. q
and then began the usual Homeric chaff,
with this western difference that it was
cnnningly intended to draw the others
fire
"Why don't you blaze away at the door,
you ---! 1t won't hurt vel"
Hes afraid the bolt will shoot backl"
Laughter from the McKin,t rys.
Come outer the tail gra S and show your
self, you black, indicating gopher"
''He can't. He's dropped his grit and is
sarchin' for it.n
Goading laughter from the Harrisons.
Each man waited for that single shot
which would precipitate the figh,. Even
in their lawlessness the rude instinct of the
duello swaged them. The officer of the law
recognized the principle as well aslt its prac-
teal I'D antsge in collision, but he hesi-
tated to sacrifice one OF his men Ill an at
tack on the barn, which would draw the
file OF McKinstry at chat necessarily fatal
range. As brave man he would have
taken the risk himself, but as prudent
one, he reflected that his hurriedly collected
posse were ali partizaus, and if he fell the
conflict would resolve itself into a purely
partizan struggle without single unpreiu-
diced witness TO justify his conduct in the
uoplllar eve. The master also K lew this; it
had checked his first impulse to come for
wa 4 as mediator; his only reliance now
was on Mrs. McKinstry's restraint, and tue
sherl fis forbearauce The next instant both
seemed to be imperilled.
''Wen. why don't you wade in!" sneered
Dick McKiustry, who do you reckon'S hid
dem in the barnN
''rll tell ye," said harsh passionate
voice from the hill side. Its Greasy
McI<lnstry and the schoolmaster hldin' in
. the nay"
Both parties turned quickly toward the
intruder who had approached tn IN upper
ceived. But the speech was followed BY a
more startling revnlsion of sentiment as
Mr.. McKinstrys voice rang out from the
barn:
You lie. Seth DavisIn
The brief advantage offered to the sheriff
i'll Davis advent as 4 neutral witness, was
utterly lost by this uplooked-for revelation
of Mrs. McKinstry's presence in the barn !
The fates were clearly against hinl A
woman in the fight, and an old one at tnatl
A white woman to be forcibly elected! In
the whole unwritten code of southwestern
clivalry there was no such precedent.
Stand back" he sand, disgustedly, to
his followers, ''stand back and let the -
barn slide But you, Hiram McKinstry,
III - ou five minutes to shake yourself
Gle your wife's petticoats and gtm
lood was up now-the quicker from
hi. mentary weakness and the trick of
w a he thOuyht himself q dune.
Main the fatal signal seemed immine t,
III it Was delayed. For Hiram Mckin-
~ " with clanking spurs and rife in hand
.epped from behind the barn, full in the
presence of his antagonists.
s'Ez TO my gitten in five minits," be be-
gan in his LATEST, droS manner, well
See when TIE times up. But Jest now
words hev passed betwixt my wife and
Seth Davis. Afore anything else goes on
yer. he's got to take his back. My wife al
lows he lies: allow he lies 100, and STAN
here to say it.
The right of personal insult to precedence
of redress was too old frontier principle
to be gainsald now.
Both parties held back and every eye was
turned to where -eth Davis had been stand
lug B the had disappeared.
Wherei
When Mrs. McKinstry hurled her denial
from the barn, he had taken advantage Of
the greater surprise TO leap to one of the
trusses of hay that projected beyond the
loft and secure a footing from which he
quickly scrambled through the open SC ant
ling to the interior. The master who,
startled by his voice, had made his way
through the loose grain TO the rear, reached
it as Seth half crawled, half tumbled
through. Their eyes met in a single flash of
rage, but before Seth could utter an out
cry, the master had dropped his gun, seized
him around tae neck and crammed a thick
handful of the soft hay, he had hurriedly
snatched up, into his face and gasping
mouth. A furious but silent struggle en-
sued the yielding hay on which they both
fell d adened all sound Of a scufh and con-
cealed them from view; masses OF it, al
ready osened by the intruders entrance,
and dislodged in their contortions, began to
slip through the opening to the ground. The
master still uppermost and holding Seth
firmly down, allowed himself to slip with
them, showing his adversary Lefore
him: the m ddened Missourian, detecting his
purpose, made a desperate attempt to
change his position, and succeeded In rails
ing his knee against the masters chest.
Ford, guarding against what seemed to be
only a wrester's strategy contented him
self by locking the bent knee firmly IN that
position, and thus unwittingly gave Seth
the looked-for opportunity of drawing the
bowie knife concealed in his boot leg. lie
knew his mistake only rs Seth violently
freed his arm, and threw IL upward for tho
49, III haard tha steal eiftnar like