Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-22

INTO the night.
They lave been taking zig-zag
course" proclaimed lIashrooke from
his end of the vcrant!a. "'rhe rascal
will be as Timber rs n rag when he is
freed. There arc no two ways about ii;
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 thcm?" qucried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nevonsly.
He'd have to have lot of backbone
to even try it," answered her host.
"IIe'd be knocked! out like a st raw in
hurricane; murdercrs of old women
stand no chance with these crude An
glo-SaNons."
1tlad grown dark, save forth light of
the moon, which had just risen aud
doomed up like u huge contlagration be-
yond the tree-tops. For yet half an
hour only an intermittent shout or the
sudden outburs, of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as if
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
"a good idea" approved the colonel;
gentlemen, we might as well get near
er. think L know where they will
come out.
by all means!" cried the captain,
with enthusiasm. He was the first to
| get 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, and
| Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster emaincd on
theveranda, 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
ger-that they will kill him!"
For moment the old woman made
no response, and when she did il was
with evident emotion.
II pray God that he may not be
harmed" Her tone was almost a
prayer in itself.
The baying and shouting were now
very near. Half a mile away torch
lights like tireflies 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 pris-
oner was in the center of that cluster of
torches. The shouting had died down
to far-off murmur. Then into the yell
low, smoky glare the two observers saw
a white horse rearing and plunging.
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.
at is he'll" gasped Evelyn, and her
eyes seemed set in their sockets as
she peered through the gloom. God
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
| speaker, but his stentoran tones
seemed to cut the dark intervening
space like a knife. At times tcmpes,
of cries and yells would rise from the
mob and drown the leading voice; bu'
gradually, persistently, it would strug
gle. up TO mastery again. This went
on for about ten minutes, and then the
two on the veranda heard several loud
voices raised in threatening tones and
there was sharp ringing report of q
pistol. The cluster OF lights widencd
and the white horse was seen to plunge
away from the crowd, the beat of his
hoofs being the only sound in the still
air,
| "ugh' Somebody hit dat time"
grunted old Ephraim. ''My Lawd,
wbut a pty!'
Evelyn gazed into the white face of
her friend. her terrified eyes seek
ing confirmation of her own fears.
She could not frame the words for the
Iqucstion In her heart. Mrs. Lancas ter
did not know what to make of it all,
but She was afraid some calamity had
befalien Ronald Fanshaw.
II could not see if anyone was on
the horse as it broke away" she fall
tered.
81 thought l saw him fall Off" said
Evelyn. "Oh, tiff he is dead"
Evelyn's voice broke. They were
both silent for few minutes and tEtn
they saw the torches going out one
by one. The people We're going home.
There could be no doubt now. Some
thing had happened. Ronald's voice
was heard no more; could it be stlled
forever? Then they heard the trap re-
turning. The two women advanced
to the steps as the horses were relncd
in at the door, The occupants alight-