The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-04-06
CHAPTER TX.

Mr.. Winter, he found himself at once
in the midst of u mob of bowling, an
CRY men, who Surged over the lawn
and tramped the light snow that was
falling into muddy mass over the
walks and up the veranda steps. \
large electric lamp out in the street in
front of the house threw light over
the strange scene.
Philip wedged his way in among the
men, crying out 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 l4adies of men, yielded to his re-
quest There were cries of LET him
have a minister if ne wants one?'
Groom here for the priest!' Give the
preacher a chance to do some praying
where it's needed mighty bad!' and so
on. Philip found a way opened for
him as he struggled toward the house,
and he hurried forward, fearing some
great trouble, but hardly prepal ed for
what he saw when he finally reached
the steps of the veranda.
Half dozen men had the mill owner
III luS
ged him out of his dining room. Ills
coat was half torn off, as if there had
been a struggle. Marks of bloody fin
gers stained his collar. His face was
white, and his eyes filled with the fear
of death. Within, upon the floor, lay
his wife, who had tainted. a son and
a daughter, his two grown up children,
clung terrified to one of the servants,
who kneeled half fainting herself by
the side of the mill owners wife. A
table overturned and fragments of
late dinner scattered over the side
board and ON the floor, broken plate,
the print of a muddy foot on the white
tiling before the open fire-the whole
picture flashed upon Philip like d 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 mean? 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 mer'
'Who talks of killing or taking hu-
man life contrary to lawY exclaimed
Philip, coming up closer and placing
his hand on MI Winters arm. Men,
what are you doingT
For a moment the crowd fell back a
little from the mill owner, and one of
the men who had been foremost in the
attack replied with some respect. al
though in sullen manner: Mr.
Strong. this is not case for your in
terference. This man has caused the
death of one of his employees, and he
deserves hangingw
"And hanging he will get!' yelled an
other. \ great cry arose. In the midst
of it all Mr.. Winter shriekcd out his
innocence. at is all a 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 were under the
influence of liquor. The situation was
| critical. Mr.. Winter clung to Philip
with the frantic clutch of man who
| sees only one way of escape and clings
| to that with mad eagerness. Philip
| turned around and faced the mob. He
| raised his voice, hoping to gain hear
| ing and reason with it, but he might as
| well have raised his voice against a
| tornado. Some one threw a handful
| of mud and snow toward the prisoner.
In an instant every hand reached for
the nearest missile, and a shower of
stones, muddy snowballs and limbs
| torn from the trees on the lawn was
rained 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. He
thought if he could only plead with
| them to let the man go he could slip
| with him around the end of the veran-
da through side door and take him
| through the house to a place of safety
He also knew that every minute was
! precious, as the police might arrive at
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 the
| way.
We don't want to harm you, sir
Better get out of danger" said the
same man who had spoken before.
Philip for answer threw one arm
about Mr.. Winter, saying: 'If you Kill
him, you will kill me with him. YoU
shall never do this great sin against al
innocent man. In the name of God,
call on every soul here to-
But his words We're drowned in the
noise that followed. The mob was in
sane with fury Twice Mr.. Winter
was dragged off his feet by those dowI
on the walk; twice. Philip raised hin
to his feet, feeling sure that If the
crowd once threw him down they
would trample him to death. Once
cnunn ono tbraU a rnnp oynr thn Nyratch