Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-06-21
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright, 1900. by
A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Company
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNTINUED.

Inc snot tOld on Evelyn. In the pres
ence of her father she dreaded the dis
closure that Wrinkle, in his anger, might
make with regard to her intimacy with
Ronald; but the old gentleman paid no
heed to their innuendoes.
HE certainly is foolhardy," he Joined
in; 'but to save me I can but admire
the fellows courage. Why" the colone!
snapped his fat fingers, IF he keeps
that sort of thing up, or tries to inter-
tere when the man is caught, I wouldn't
give pinch of snuff for his life. Some
chap like sgd Hart would draw bead
on him, and be proud of it till the end
of his days"
Then Mrs. Lancaster came and pm"
her arms round Evelyn's waist.
Don't act hastily, my DEAR was her
whispered warning; and she drew the
girl to the other end of the veranda.
Don't you see what he wants?" she
asked; che is trying to rouse your IA
theirs suspicions.'
About five o'clock the occasional
shouts in the swamp grew louder and
nearer, and into them was suddenly
1.-THE hounds!" announced the
colonel, tragically.
"And they are out for business" glee
fully added the captain; they are
headed this way"
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster stood lean
ing against the baiustrade, their faces
towards the swamp.
Come inside, DEAR" said the latter.
sit will do no good to witness it,
But our young lady only shook her
head.
After few minutes the shouting and
baying of the hounds died down. The
colonel gave it as his opinion that they
were off the track, but that it was only
a question of time before they would
catch the scent again.
Two hours passed. The sun sank be-
hind the distant mountain peaks. The
sky beyond was as red as blood. The
wisps of clouds lying against the noun
tan-sides looked like glaciers. The
landscape took on a delicate veil OF
gray. Objects in the distance began to
assume vague shapes. The dark out
lines of the swamp were fast merging
into the night.
"They have been taking a zig-zag
course" proclaimed Hasbrooke from
his end of the veranda. THE rascal
will be as timber as rag when he is
freed. There are no two ways about it;
it's all up with him; the darkness will
not be in his favor; nothing but blood
will satisfy the fury of that mob.'
do you mean that the sheriff will
not be able TO control them?" queried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nervously.
He'd have to have lot Of backbone
to even try it, answered her host.
"He'd be knocked out like a straw in
hurricane; murderers of old women
stand no chance with these crude An
glo-SaXons.'
Ithad grown dark, save forthe light of
the moon, which had just risen and
doomed up like huge contiagration be-
yond the tree-tops. For yet half an
hour only an intermittent shout or the
sudden outburst of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as II
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
"a good idea," approved the colonel;
gentlemen, we might as well get near
er. I think 1 know where they will
come out.
"By all means.!" cried the captain,
with enthusiasm. He was the first to
get a seat in the vehicle, and was fol-
lowed by his host and Mr.. Hardy.
When the trap had gone, Miss Has
brooke retired to her room with some
complaining allusion to her nerves, ana
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster renamed on
theverarda, guarded only by the old ne
gro, who stood like a sentry on duty at
the foot of the steps.
"Oh, Mrs. Lancaster" exclaimed EV-
elyn, II feel as if he is going into DAN
oer-that they will kill him.
For a. moment the Old woman made
no response, and when she Gid II was
with evident emotion.
II pray God that he may not be
harmed" Her tone was almost
prayer in itself. e.
The baying and shouting were 70"
very near. Half mile away torch
lights like frefies began to fit along
the swamp. The line of men was now
in the open. They seemed to be headed
in one direction. and it was not many
minutes before all the lights had run
together. Evelyn knew that the prls-
oner was in the center OF that cluster OF
torches. The shouting had died down
to a far-off murmur. Then into the yei-
low, smoky glare the two observers sa"
white horse rearing and plunslns.
Presently the frightened animal
seemed under the control OF its rider,
and loud, ringing voice like that OF an
experienced open-air speaker, broke
the stiffness.
ut is he!' gasped Evelyn, and her
ewes seemed set in their sockets as
she peered through the gloom. Zoo
have mercy on him.
Mrs. Lancaster's arm frightened round
the girls waist, but her voice lay dead
in her throat. The distance was TOO
great to distinguish the words OF the
sneaker. but his stentorlan tones
seemed to cut the dark Intervening
snace like 4 knife. At times tempest
Of cries and wells would rise from the
mob and drown the leading voice; Dut
gradually, persistently, it would strus-
gle uo to mastery again. inns went
cn for about ten minutes. and then the
two on the veranda heard several loud
voices raised in threatening tones ana
NJ u