Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-15

watch This road. IN 1satcliff's gone
round t'other side to stir up the peo-
pie. They'll drive i'm this way before
long. an then the fun will begin"
What do you mean by the fun ?"
broke in Ronald sharply.
The gaunt giant on the. horse
shrugged his shoulders and bent
critical, half-aggressive glance on the
questioner.
"Oh. l reckon the boys won't want
to wait fur them blamed thievish law.
yers in town to get whack at i'm an
finally git I'm turned loose. We hain't
got much book l'arnin'. but we know
when mans guilty, an we know
what lawyers Is"
A murmur of approval rose from the
group, even Mrs. Fanshaw, who sat
rocking between her two daughters on
the porch, grunted as if sgd Hart had
furnished the key to a problem which
involved the welfare of the nation.
Ronald's face was flushed, look of
determination was in his. eyes.
NO. he said,s firmly; "they must
give him a trial"
Sydney Hart leaned back IN his sad
die and laughed tantalizingly.
"Oh, you want to get a chance at
him. Ell? You are studyin' to be a law
Yer, an you've already begun to look
after the intrust Of your gang. Well,
you won't make anything out Of this
job if can help it,"
1--WE shall see" answered Ronald.
"He may not be guilty and you shall
not lynch him!"
The rider of the horse leaned towards
Ronald and snapped his fingers, a white
look of fury unbridled on his sinister
face.
"Bah!" he said. CONTEMPORARY. "If
l couldn't thwart you I'd cut my throat.
It's a go, then; you are a-goin' to give
the scamp a trial an I'm a-goin' to let
the boys have Their fun. Ha, ha! you
make me sick"
Ronald said nothing and Hart
wheeled his horse and, followed by the
crowd, he started towards the edge Of
the swamp. Dave fingered by the side
of his brother.
Don't stick yore head in the fire,
Rom" he counseled; mo human power
can balk sgd when he once makes up
his mind. Besides, you'll make dan
gerous enemy out O. him, an everything
points to the fellows guilt. What did
he break an run fur if he was limo
cent?"
That's what want to know" in
terposed Jade Fanshaw, in surly tone,
and his wife and daughters nodded APP
provingly.
Because" was Ronald's reply, che
perhaps knew that the law is not up
held in these mountains and was afraid
he would be lynched."
II believe he killed Mrs. Telplay,'
affirmed Mrs. Fanshaw, "an' as fur as
I'm concerned, they may take i'm off
an hang i'm. The way justice is cheat
ed in court is enough to dssatisfy any
body"
Ronald did not carry the argument
further. lie went up to his room, and
from his window watched Sydney Hart
placing his men along the road which
led by the edge of the swamp. In
about an hour Dave came upstairs and
leaned in the doorway, an air of in
decision on him. II have been studyin'
over this. Rom" he said, sheepishly.
IAN I'm mighty sorry l can't go the
whole hog with you, but [ jest can't
look at it like you do. ! have decided
to make it draw-l'll not jine Harris
crowd nor yores nuther. l mought be
with you eff could see ghost of a
chance o winnin', but them fellers
would shoot us down like black cats on
a white fence"
Ronald looked him over with steady
eye. II could never feel like patriotic
American again if do not fight for
this fellows life," he said. "Will you
lend me your revolver again?"
Dave slowly drew it from his hip
pocket.
III feel like you are a-goin' to git
yorcse'f in awful fix," he said. II
visit you would think better of it.
You nur me. nur no one man can't run
the universe"
you are right" replied Ronald, "but
we can help 90 it. Our father. Dave,
was an outlaw up in Tennessee during
the war and am going to try to atone
for his conduct by upholding the law
down here to the best of my ability"
David sat down in chair near Ron
AIDS book-strewn table.
I've been powerful afraid somebody
down heer would git hold o. all that"
he said, with some concern. ~ wish
we had never located SO near his old
stamping ground as this"
There is no use trying to escape the
consequences of crime" responded
Ronald. II believe he thinks of his
past night and day. have seen him
jump out of bed in the middle of the
night as If he thought some one was
trying to kill him.
And think ma is as much afeerd as
he is" answered Dave. Sometimes
think she took a hand in all of it,
To this Ronald made no answer.
ITO be continued