The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-06-14
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CHAPTER TX.

anu hSh' Sho" sbaN was
falling into muddy mass over the
walks and up the veranda steps. A
large electric lamp out in the street in
front of the house threw II light over
the strange scene.
Philip wcdged his way In among the
men. CRYING ont his name and asking
for room to be made so that he could
see Mr.. Winter. The crowd, under the
impulse which sometimes moves ex-
cited bodies of men, yielded to his re-
quest. There were cries OF Let him
have a minister IL he wants one!"
Room here for the priest" Give the
preacher a chance to do some praying
where it's needed mighty bad" and 50
ON. Philip found Il way opened for
him as he struggled toward the house,
and he hurried forward, fearing some
great trouble, but hardly prepared for
what he saw when he finally reached
the steps of the vcranda.
Half IA dozen men had the mill owner
in their grasp. having evidently drag
coat was half torn off, Us il there had
been Il struggle. Marks of bloody fin
gers stained his collar. His face was
white. and his eyes filed with the fear
of death. Within, upon the floor, lay
his wife. who lad tainted. a son and
daughter, his two grown up children,
clung terrified to one of the servants,
who kncclcd half fainting herself by
the side of the mill owners wife. A
table overturned and fragments of Il
late dinner scattered over the side
board and on the floor, Il broken plate,
the print of n muddy foot on the white
tling before the open 1irc-the whole
picture flashed upon Philip like scene
out of the French revolution, and he
almost rubbed his eyes to know if he
was awake and in America in the
nineteenth century. He was intensely
practical, however, and the nature of
his duty never for moment escaped
him. He at once advanced and said
calmly:
What does all this mean7 Why this
attack on Mr.. Winter!"
The moment Mr.. Winter saw Philip
and heard his voice he cried out, trem-
bling: rs that you, Mr.. Strong?
Thank God. Save me! They are going
to kill me"'
"Who talks of killing or taking hui
man life contrary to law?' exclaimed
Philip, coming up closer and placing
his hand on Mr.. Winters arm. Men,
what are you doing?"
For moment the crowd fell back a
little from the mill owner. and one of
attack replied with some respect, al
though in sullcn manner: "Mr.
Strong. this is not case for your in
reference. This man has caused the
death of one OF his employees, and he
deserves hanging!
"And hanging he will get" yelled an,
other. 4 great cry arose. In the midst
of it all Mr.. Winter shrieked out his
innocence. "It is all n mistake! They
do not know! Mr.. Strong, tell them
they do not know"
The crowd closed around Mr.. Winter
again. Philip knew enough about men
to know that the mill owner was in
genuine danger. Most of his assail.
ants were the foreign element in the
mills. Many of them We're under the
influence of liquor. The situation was
critical Mr.. Winter chung to Philip
with the frantic clutch Of Il man who
secs only one way of escape and clings
to that with mad cagcrncss. Philip
turned around and faced the mob. He
raised his voice. hoping to gain hear
Ing and reason with it. but he might rs
well have raised his voice against Il
tornado. Some one threw n handful
of mud and snow toward the prisoner
In an instant every hand reached f0r
the nearest missile, and a shower OF
stones. muddy snowballs and limbs
torn from the trees on the lawn was
rainrd upon the house. Most of the
windows in the lower story were bro
ken. All this time Philip was eagerly
demonstrating with the few men who
had their hands on Mr.. Winter. lie
thought if he could only plead will
them to let the man 90 he could slil
with him around the end of the veran
| da through Il side door and take hin
through the house to Il place of safety
He also knew that every minute wa:
precious, as the police might arrive Il
any moment and change the situation.
But in spite Of his pleas the mill own
er was gradually pushed and dragged
down off the veranda toward the gate
The men tried to get Philip out of th'
way.
I'VE don't want to harm you, sir
Better get out Of danger" said th'
same man who had spoken before.
Philip for answer threw one arm
about Mr.. Winter, saying: "If you xii
him. you will kill me with him. Yo'
shall never do this great sin against al
innocent man. In the name Of God,
call on every soul here to-
But his words were drowned in tn
noise that followed. The mob was in
sane with fury. Twice Mr.. Winte
was dragged off his feet by those dow