Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-14

I Iug. DrandisAing weapons and hurling l missiles. but these latter. having to be 1 hurled high. generally fell short. Many among Langdon's new command were | lads whose nerve" would long since have fled but for their leaders placid unconcern. He had backed them, as it were, up against the brown wooden walls of the freighthouse and then stood coolIy forth ten feet in front of them, facing the raging throng with out. sometimes quietly smiling as though he enjoyed the situation, some times slowly pacing up and down. At last as the clamor increased it became evident that the mob was bent on dash at the office building to their right, standing alone opposite the great wooden gates-gates which gave di- rectly on the buildings containing the most valuable local properties of the Big Horn road, excepting possibly the | locomotives in the roundhouse. It was a moment of excitement. No man in the little band of defenders | could estimate the extent of damage that would unquestionably result if that maddened throng broke through. It seemed asl though by this time all | the devilment of the disaffected was concentrated here at one spot, for the mob was vastly increased in size, and the jeers, howls and curses were now continuous. Small wonder that many a young state "guardsman" in the lit tie command felt nervous thrill as he gazed at the host of semisavage faces peering in between the brown slats and listened to the hideous threats of the leaders. ''We'll have your hearts blood, you liveried dogsr' "We'n Earn you tin soldiers lessonp' "Burn down the fencew "Kill the murdering houndsr' Gut their throatsw were ex- purgated samples of the yells. But still the company stood at ordered arms and '.at ease," for Langdon continued his cool promenade along the front. calmly eying the bowling mob, keeping wary watch upon the fence and gate, but ever and anon glancing up the yards in search of support or re-enforcement, for, to all outward appearance the cool est, most unconcerned person on the ground, his heart was filled with grave anxiety. His was by long odds the most critical position of any man, sol dier or civilian, that day in all Ne braska.
 For, now that he had time to face the l facts and consider the position in all | its bearings, he realized that he had no authority whatever in law or fact to enable him to discharge the grave duties of his position-not so much as commission in the state troops, not even a warrant as deputy sheriff. If the mob charged and to defend the ] lives of these men he was compelled to 1 order them to fire, an indictment for murder would doubtless lie at his door. It is one thing to do mans whole | duty with the law behind him; it is an- other to stand and face a thousand vot- CTS and realize that every drop of blood l that might be shed on either side would, in the event of success or failure, be charged up to him. And still he never seemed disturbed.
 But Langdon's heart beat quick when, just as it seemed probable that, neck or nothing, he should have to face the sit nation and fight, he caught sight of 1 Charming with the sheriff and brace l of deputies coming toward him on the run. The crowd having concentrated here, it was possible for the officials now to leave other threatened points. He strolled, as it were, with almost ex- aggerated quiet to the right flank of his men to meet them. The mob re- | doubled it's screams of defiance.
 Major Melville wants to know how you're getting along" panted Charming as he hastened up, red faced, anxious, but plucky.
 "Well, you see for yourself" said Eric, with nod of his head toward the fence. 'Those fellows mean to burst through in minute or two"
 Cant you scare 'em? Fire volley over their heads?' puffed the sheriff, eager and willing, but utterly inexperi- enced.
 That's murder" was the cool reply. "A mob gains tenfold in daring and devilment when it sees you're afraid to fire anything but blanks. You'll sim- l ply have to kill 50 then where five would have sufficed in the first place. Mo- sir. Ball cartridges or nothing. And here's another point. I'm not ar officer either of the troops or of the law" And now Eric had to raise his voice above the outer clamor. "I can give the necessary commands and at the proper instant, and I can drive those howlers back in one volley if they attempt to force the gates, but you, MT. Sheriff, must stand by my side and assume responsibility; otherwise a week from now you'll be around with a warrant for my arrest"
 My God, I can'tp' said the civil off, cial, wiping the sweat from his brow despite the cold wind from the west ward prairie. He gazed almost fear fully along that surging fence line. It resembled by this time nothing so much as one continuous cage of snarl- ing, roaring beasts. It was plain the poor fellow was losing his nerve. "Me and my family couldn't live in this community another week. Can't you say something to them, Mir. Channing" Like many another civil official, the sheriff was realizing that 1t was quite one thing to tackle a lot of tramps, friendless and desperate as they were down at Bridge Siding; it was quite an- other to think of letting drive deadly
 volley into the breasts of a mob that