The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-04-19

'No. won't do it. BE couldn't
tell her that it was her coming that
had broken his hold on the crowd. He
turned to them again in appeal As
he spoke the crashing Of the sledges
began.
''For Gods sakel-am I alone? Amt
they any law-abidin' citizens in this
county, Where's the mayor Where's
eli the lawyers and judges?"
The crowd laughed.
"In bed, Dan, where you ought to
be-
"open the door, Annie. I'll face 'em
alone"
81 can't. left the keys inside"
WHAT holds itP the spring eatchP"
THAT'S ali"
he threw his great weight with ter
rible force against the heavy door
Once, twice,
Let US help, Dan" suggested the
ocular mob. But Annie's steady hand
kept them back. The door gave way.
They sprang through and threw it
shut; but could not hold It against the
mob.
They were too late, anyhow. The
main corridor was filled with a crowd
OF men hammering, wrenching at the
iron door that led into the corridor be-
fore the cells.
Dams heart swelled with grief and
rage till he nearly choked. Had he
been alone, such was the blind rage In
his soul, he would have emptied his re-
volver into the massed faces and then
assaulted them with his bare hands
20, if only stood on the other side
Of that doori" he moaned to his wife,
whose white, set face had not trace
Of fear.
He took his revolver by the barrel
and flung it through the grating at the
window Of the cell where the prisoner
covered.
Defend y'rselt, y fool" he shouted,
but the revolver struck crosswise and
fell to the floor outside the cell The
mob of densely-packed men turned up
on him with hell in their eyes: Kill
the damn foolr Dan presented his
other weapon to their eyes. Keep y'r
hands off US" They would have
crushed and trampled them both under
foot, only for circle Of friends who
saw death in the air, and struggled to
prevent shooting.
The gate gave way, and deafening,
reverberating shout went up. The
prisoners, whose pale faces had been
peering from the barred windows,
shrank back and shivered.
The assailants were at a loss. Which
is him9" they called, as they halted be-
fore the lower row Of cells. Tell US,
Dan"
Dan shook his, hand. mot by
d-n sight"
This is the fellowI' yelled big man
in spotted jacket.
The occupant Of the cell gave a
scream of fear, 'Oh, no, no! My God,
mol amt the mani It's that next
we'll hang every d-n man"
Next door to the left, said a calm
voice from one Of the upper cells. 1.-THE
man in red stockings"
Defend y'rself!" cried Dan again.
But the prisoner was powerless. The
revolver was out of his reach, and he
couldn't have used it anyway. He could
only cling to the bunk and to the door
as they wrenched him out; his dry lips
uttered no sound, and his eyes had the
wide-open look a hunted animal wears.
He made no other resistance than to
catch at everything in reach.
"Out with 'im"
Here he comes. Get out O. the way"
Everybody was as mad now to get
out as they had previously been to get
in. They swept Dan and Annie into
a corner by the door and held them
there; out as they went by he called:
"You amt done with me yet, John
Haynes, Nick Gootz, Sam Morris"
They were too intent on getting out
side to do more than glance at him. A
wild roar arose outside. For the first
time Annie weakened and Dan saw it.
go inside, Annie"
He took her revolver from her hand
and pushed her into the living room,
then turned and rushed to the door
way.
The sight made his hair tingle and
stir. Few men in their lifetime ever
see such a scene. Thousands of hui
man beings packed CLOSELY together.