The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-02

course, wishing to save him from the in
evitable consequences of his crime, and
the Hawkinses to inflict the punishment
which they feared the dilatory court
would postpone indefinitely. 1t was, OF
course, the duty of the militia to pro-
tect Hodge from both parties. This II
was plain, would require a desperate
struggle on our part with the chances
strongly in favor of a crushing defeat,
for it did not seem possible that body
of youngsters like ourselves could hold
out against two bands of hardy fighters,
1t was sickening to think of Hodge
fate in the event of our being over
powered. The Jail was a crumbling,
one-story brick building that did not
appear to have strength enough to with
stand a strong gale of wind, much less
an onslaught from hundreds of desper-
ate men, and in the hand to-hand con-
hict which was bound to ensue, once
the Jail doors We're broken open, the
likelihood was that Hodge would be
torn into shreds
1.-THE night was clear and an oppressive
stiffness had settled down over the
mountains. About II o'clock we heard
the tramping of many feet coming up
from the south. So accurately had the
two mobs timed their movements that
almost at the same moment the sound
was echoed from the north. Fifteen
minutes later both militiamen and Jail
were surrounded. When the Captain of
the militia looked round upon the squad
| of angry men and realized that the
gravity of our situation had been mini
mixed rather than exaggerated, he lost
his head completely. For Gods sake,
he said to me in a whisper, say some
thing to them. Argue with them; ex-
carnage that now seems inevitable, can
not be averted This is terrible.
II pitied the fellow yet despised him
for his weakness. For a wonder, I.
myself, was cool and collected, and
could afford to show contempt for those
who knew fear. Don't be a fool I
said, gruffly. You are the one to do
the talking. Do it. Extemporize with
them I have an idea. If you can hold
off the attack say for. five minutes, L
think perhaps we can save Hodge, the
Jail and ourselves
Urged on by this advice, the Captain
began to shout out some reply to the
demands of the men. AS for me, ran
back into the Jail and into Hodges cell.
Since the day my mule had brushed
noses with this man. he had seemed to
vest me with the authority and wisdom
of a second-rate divinity and 1 felt that
if it came to a test my influence on him
was unbounded. At any rate, our only
hope lay in making a trial of my pow
81 f,1
great ugly giant was crouched down
by the window when I entered, trying
to peer out through the bars into the
swaying, jostling crowd. When he saw
me he sprang up and grabbed me by
the arm. Who is it, kid? he asked.
What are they doing here? Have they
come to set me free?'
II shook his heavy hand and held
my lantern up close to his face. Part
of them have I said, and part of
them have come to kill you. They who
would kill are greatly in the majority
Like a flash his bravado vanished
He covered against the wall like kick
ed cur. Don't let EN- get at me- he
whispered. Theyll--theyll kill, me, you
say? Yes, yes, / know they will.
They'll hack me into pieces They'll
silver me up so that the Lord himself
won't be able to find all Of me and put
me together again at the Resurrection
Day.
Yes, said / that's about what !
they'll do.
HE hid his face behind his arm and
howled with terror. But you won't let |
'em get at me, will your, he implored.
That's what militia is for, amt it, to
perfect innocent people?'
Yes said L. that's what we're here |
for--to protect the innocent and the
guilty. The question is, can we do it? |
In this case I'm quite sure we can't. |
If the fighting point is reached here to-
night that mob will have you out of |
here in less than no time, and then you
will be nothing more or less than bone |
of contention between the two gangs of |
wolves fighting for supremacy You'll |
be rddled. There is one way to save |
you. and only one. | have heard many |
reports from your men. | know how |
they feel about you You have had
them under your power. They may be |
when guided by you, but at
heart they're not bad and-they hate
a wife murderer. They have said-and
they meant it, too-that if they knew
positively that you We're guilty they |
turn a hand over to rescue
you from Jail. They wouldn't turn fair
and and square and go against you, con-
sidering how long you have been their
leader, but they wouldn't help you.
Therein lies your chance Are you
guilty? If you are, say so, and let me
go out and assure them that you are,
and then your adherents will withdraw
rom the field and leave the militia and
he Hawkinses to fight it out We can |
whip the Hawkinses and save the Jail
and incidentally yourself, but we can't
lold out against both parties What
will you do? Are you guilty or not
,uilty?'
Il poured my words out merciessly.
The man gasped as though he were
choking. But what if I say I'm guilty.?
lie cried. What then? The court will
lang me. I've got to die anyway
We'll I returned heartlessly, and
What if you have? In the latter case
-ou won't be slaughtered like hog
Il saw that l had read his character
fright He was, at bottom, buffer
md a coward, and instead Of standing
,ame as many less pretentonus rascals
would have done, he quailed and begged