The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-15
"GRBSSY.
ny BRET HARTE,
Author Of "Thc Luck Of iloarlng Camp" "Tales
OF The ATonntlts" "lu the Carquincz
Mnnh.n "MnTninn Etr.

Of the AHouhnlS,' "Iu the ClrqulncL
woods." "Mnruja," Etn.
copyrighted ISIS, blythe Au,hor.
suddenly ne heard shout aud the
tramplirg Of horse. The sides ofthc lott
were scan,ily boarded to allow the ex-
tension of the pent.up grain, aud be-
tween the intersticcs Ford, without be-
Ing himself seen, had an uninterrupted
view Of the plain between him and the
line of willows. AS he gazed, five men
hurriedly issued from the extreme left
and ran towards the barn! -6tcKiDstry
and his followers simultaneously broke
from the same covert further to the right
and galloped forward to intercept them.
But although mounted, the greater dis
lance they lad to traverse brought them
10 the rear OF the building only Us the
Harrison party car;le TO n sudden halt
before the closed and barTiraded doors OF
the usually deienceess barn. The dis
comfiture Of the latter was greeted by Il
dprisive shout from the Mckinstry party
albeit, equally astonished. Butin that
brief moment Ford recognized in the
ealer OF the HarFiseRs the we'll known
figure OF the Sheriff OF TuOlumne. 1t
needed only this to cap the climax OF
the fatality that seemed to pursue him.
lie was no longer q lawlcss opposer Of
equally lawless forces, but he was
actually resisting the law itself. He UNI
derstOOd the situation now. II was
some idiotic blunder OF Uncle Ben's that
had precipitated this attack.
The helligerents had already cooked
their weapons, although the barn was
,uil II Rampant between the parties. But
an adroit TANKER OF McKinstry's, creep.
ing through the tall mustard, managed
to take up an enflading position as the
llarris0ns advanced TO break in thcdOor.
A threatening shout from the ambus-
caded partisans caused them to hurried
" fall back towards the rear Of the
barn, There was pause, and then be-
gan the usual HOmeric chat. With this
Western difference that it was cunning
| " intended 10 draw the others fire.
"Why don't you blaze away at the
door, YOU --i itwon't hurt yer
Giles afraid the bolt will shoot back!"
Laughter from the McKinstrys.
"Come outer the tall grass and show
yourself, you black, indicating gopher.
ale can't. He's dropped his grit and
is archin' for it." Goahing laughter
from the HarrisOns.
Eacir man waited for that single shot
which would preCipitate the fight. Even
in their lawlessness the rude instinct Of
the ducIlo swayed them. The officer OF
the law recognized the principle as well
as its practical advantage in collision,
but he hesitaied to sacrifice one Of his
men in an attack on the barn, which
would draw the fire Of McKipstry ut
that necessarily fatal range, As brave
mun lie would have taken the risk hiu.
sell, but as a prudent one, he reflected
that his hurricdly collected posse werealI
partizanS, md il he fell the conflict
would resolve itselfintoa purely partizan
struggle without single unprejudiced
witness to Justify his conduct IN the pop
uIar eye. The master also knew this; il
had checked his first impulse to come
forward as a mediator; his only reliance
now was on Mrs. MCKinstry's restraint,
and the shGrili's ioTbeannce. The next
instant both seemed to be imperilled.
"Well, why don't you wade in|
sneered Dick McKinstry, "who do you
rcckou's hidden in the barnW
an tell ye," said harsh passionate
voice from the hill side. tits Greasy
McKinstry and the schoolmaster hidin'
i'll the hay"
Both partics turned quickly towards
: the intruder who had approached them
, unperceived. But the speech was follow.
ed by more startling revuision OF SEN
ument rs Mrs. McKnstry's voice rang
) ont from the barn, "Tou lie, Seth Davis!
The brief advantage offered to the
sheriff i'll Dayis's advent as neutral
witness, WIS utterly lost by this unlocked
for revelation of Mrs. McKinStFy's pres.
I Fence in the barn The fates were clearly
against hint A woIuQu in the fight,
and an old one ut that A white woman
to be iorcibly eicctedl In the whole
unwritten code OF South Western
chivnlry there was no such precedent.
"Stand buck" he said disgustedIy to
his followers, stand back and let the
id barn slide. But you, Hiram Nc.
Kinstry, III give you five minutes to
shake Yourself clear Of your wife's petit
coats and Eit," His blood was up now
l-the quicker from his momentary weak.
ness and the trick OF which he thought
himself a dupe. Again the fatal signal
scented imminent; again it was delayed,
For Hiram McKinstry with clanking
spurs and rifle in hand stepped from be-
| hind the barn, full in the presence OF
his antagonists.
''Ez to my gitten in i've minits, me
began in his LATEST, drowsiest, manner,
"we'it see when the time'sup, But Jest
now words hev passed betwiXt my wife
and Seth Davis. Afo1e anythin' else
goes ON yer, he's got TO take his back.
MY wife allows he lies; allow he lies
too, and | stan here to say it."
The right Of personal insult TO pre-
ctdeuce Of redress was too old frontier
principle TO be gaiBsaid now. Both par
ties held back and every eye was turned
10 where Seth Davis had been standing
But he had disappeared.
When Mrs. Mckinstry hurled her de-
nial from the barn, he had taken adj
vantage 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 scantling to the in
terror. Themaster 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 q single flash Of rsge,
but before Seth could utter an cutlery,
the master had dropped his gun, seized
him around the neck aud crammed q
thick mindful of the soft hay, be had
huFricdly snatched up, into his face and
gaspiug mouth. A furious but silent
struggle ensued; the yielding hay on
which they both fell, deadcned all sound
Of n scutlle and concealed them from
view; masses OF it, already loosend by
the iutrudcr's entrance, and dislodged
in their contortionsb began to slip through
the opening to the ground The master
still nppermost aud holding Seth firmly
down, allowed himselft to slip with them,
showing his adversary before him; the
maddened Miss0urian detecting his pur-
pose, made desperate attempt to
change his position, and succeeded in
. Al 81