The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-22


and audacity born Of unqualified sCOrl
for his antagonists, with n feminines sharp
ness OF tongue. In voice which as
tonished even himself by its contempt
uous distinctness, he said, My namt
is Ford, but as only suppose your namt
is Harrison perhaps you'll be fair enough
to take that rag from your face and show
it 20 me like man."
The man removed the mask from hi
face with aslight laugh.
THANK you" said Ford. Now, per
haps you will tell me which one OF you
gentlemen broke into the schOol-house
forced the lock OF my desk and stole my
papers. II he is here wish to tell him
he is not only thief, but a eur and q
coward, for the letters are woman's-
whom he neither knows nor has the
ri hit TO know"
II he had hoped to force personal
quarrel and trust his life to the chance
OF u single antagonist, he was disappoint-
ed, for although his unexpected attitude
had produced some effect among the
group, and even attracted the attention
OF the men ut the windows, Harrison
strobe deliberately toward him.
"That kin wait" he said; 'jest now
we propose to take you and your letters
and 'em and you outer this yer town.
ship OF Injin Springs. You kin take EN-
back to,the woman or critter you got 'em
of. But We kalkilate you're little too
handy and free in them sorter things to
teach school round yer, and we kinder
allow We don't keer TO hev our gals and
boys dedicated up to your heightened
standard. So Of you choose to ken
along easy we'll max you comfble on Il
boss we've got waitin' outside, an escort
you across the line. Ef you don't we'll
take you anyway"
The master cast rapid glance around
him. In his quickness OF perception he
had already noted that tue led horse
among the cavalcade was fastened by
lariat to one OF the riders so that escape
by flight was impossible, aud that he had
not single weapon to defend himself
with or even provoke, in his desperation,
the struggle that could forestall ignominy
by death. Nothing was left him but his
voice. clear and trenchant as he faCrd
them.
"You are twelve to one, he said calm
ly, but II there is u single man among
you who dare step forward and accuse
me OF what you only together dare do,
1 will tell him lie is u liar and coward,
and stand here ready to make it good
against him. You come here as judge
aud Jury Condemning me without trial
and confronting me with no accusers;
you come here as lawless avengers OF
your honor, and you dare not give me
the privilege OF us lawlessly defending
my own"
There was another slight murmur
among the men, but the lender moved
forward. "We've had en-.
Ough o. your preachin': we want you,
he said roughly. "Come."
stop" said u dull voice.
1t came from mute figure which had
motionless amongth others.
Every eye was turned upon it ms it arose
and lazily pushed the cloth from its face.
"Hiram McKinstry!" said the others
in mingled tones OF establishment and
suspicion.
CHATS mel" said McKinstry coming
forward with heavy deliberation. 81
joined this yer delegation Mt the cross
roads instead o. my brother who had the
call. Ireckon cts all the same-or meb.
be better. For perpose to take this yer
gentleman off your hands,"
He lifted his slumhrous eyes for the
first time to the master, and ut the same
lime put himself between him and Har.
rison. ~ perpose," he continued "to
lake him at his word perpose ter give
him chance to answer with gun.
And ez reckon, by all accounts, there's |
no man yerez hcz IL betterright than me,
perpose to be the man to put that
question to him in the same way. Et
may not suit some gents" he continued
slowly facing IN angry exclamation from
he lank figure behind him, "ez would
prefer to hev eleven men to take up
heir private quo'lls, but even then
reckon that the man who is the most in
ured hez the right to the first say and
hat mans me"
With Il careful deliheration that had |
louble significance to the indictments,
he handed his own rifle TO the master
md without looking at him continued,
4 reckon, sir, you've seen that aiore, but
# it amt quite to your hand, any OF
hose gents, kalkilate, will be high
.Oncd enutf to givyo the chyce O. theirs
And there's no need O. trapsin' beyon'
he township lines, to fix this yer affair;
| perpose to do it in ten minutes i'll the
brush yonder"
Whatevermight have been the feelings
md intentions of the men around him,
he precedence OF McKinstry's right to
lie ducllo was principle too deeply |
'ooted in their traditions to deny; ii any
existence to it had been contemplated |
oy some OF them, the fact that the master
vas now armed, and that Mr.. McKin-
TRY would quickly do battle at his side
With revolver in defence OF his rights,
checked any expression. They silently
lrew back us the master and McKinstry
lowly passed out OF the school-house
ogether, and then followed in their rear,
IN that interval the master turned to
and said in q low volce-"l
ICcept your challenge and thank you for
I. You have never done me q greater
iindness-whatever have done to you
yet want you to believe that neither
low nor then-I meant you any harm"
"Ef you mean by that, sir, that We
'eckon We won't return my fire, ye're
blind and wrong. For it will do you no
,ood with them" he said with sig
liicent wave OF his crippled hand to-
wards the following crowd, "nor me
neither"
Firmly resolved however that he
would not fire at McKinstry, and cling
ny blindly to this which he believed
was the last idea OF his foolish life, he
continued on without another word. un..
ilthey reached the open strip OF chemiSGt
hat flAnked the clearing.
lTo HgcoSTrSUED.l