The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-02

gaze relaxed-she had been looking on as
eagerly as any chiid--and she turned to speak
to Harkless and discovered that he was no
longer in the room; instead, she found Minnie
and Mr. Willetts. whom he had summoned
from another window. @
HE was called away" explained Mge "He
thought he'd te back before the parade was
over, and said you were enjoying it so much
he didn't want to speak to YOU -...
Called away?" she said, sinquirnsly:
Minnie laughed ."Oh, everybody sends for
Mr.. Harkless.''' - s.E
1T was farmer, name of Bowlder," added
Mr Willetts. His son Hartley's drinking
again, and there amt any one but HAIRLESS
can do anything with him. You let him tackle
sick man to nurse or tipsy one to handle,
and tell you," Mr.. Willetts went on with en-
thusiasm, "he Is at home. It beats me-and
lots of people don't think college does a man
any good! Why, the way he cured old Fis
"see!" cried Minnie loudly, pointing out of
the window Look down there, Something's
happened"
There was swirl in the crowd below. Men
were running around a corner of the court
house, and the women and children were
barking after. They Went so fast, and there
were so many Of them, that Immediately that
whole portion of the yard became a pushing,
tugging, pulling, squirming jam OF people.
can see from the hall window. Come quick,
before these other folks fill 1t up
They followed him across tho building and
looked down on an agitated swarm of faces
Five men were standing on the entrance
steps to the door below, and the crowd was
thickly massed beyond, leaving little semi
circle clear about the steps Those behind
struggled to get closer, and leaped in the air
to catch a glimpse Of what was going on.
Harkless stood alone on the top step, his
hand resting on the shoulder Of the pale and
contrite and sobered Hartley. In the clear
space, Jim Bardlock was standing with sheep
ishly hanging head, and between him and
Harkless were the two gamblers of the walnut
shells. The journalist held in his hand the
implements Of their profession.
"Give it all up" he was saying in his
steady voice. you've taken $50 from this
boy. Hand 1t over"
The men began to edge closer to the crowd,
giving little, swift, desperate, searching looks
from left to right, and right to left, moving
nervously about, like weasels in trap.
"Close up there tight" said Harkless. sharp
ly. "Don't let them out"
IVY can'ts we git no square treatment
| here?" one Of the gamblers whined; but his
eyes, blazing with rage, belied the plaintlve
passivity of his tone. I'VE been running no
skin. Wy dye say we gotter give up our own
money? You gotter prove it was skin. We
| risked our money far,
| s.Prove It! Come up here. Eph Watts.
Friends" the editor turned to the crowd,
smiling friends, here's man we ran out of
| town once because he knew too much about
things Of this sort. He's come back to us
again and he's here to stay. He'll give us an
object-lesson on the she'll game"
"Its pretty simple" remarked Mr.. Watts.
'The best way is to pick up the ball with
your second finger and the back part OF your
thumb as you pretend to lay the shell down
| over It: this way" He illustrated, and
showed several methods. of manipulation with
professional sang g-froid; and as he made plain
! the easy ewindle by which many had been
duped that morning. there arose an angry and
threatening murmur. -
"You all see" said Harkless, raising his
voice a little, what simple cheat it is-anf
old as Pharoah Yet az lot Of you stoof
around and lost your own money. and stared
like idiots, and let Hartley Bowlder. los
eighty odd dollars on "a she'll racket: ane
not one of you lifted hand. How hard die
you work for what these two cheap crooks
took from you? Ah!'' he cried, "it is because
YOU were greedy that they robbed you 81
easily. You know it's true. It's when yo'
want to get something for nothing that th
| confidence men steal the money you swea
for and make the farmer a laughing-stock
And you, Jim Bardlock, town marshal!-you
who confess that you went in the game .
cents WOEtQ, yourself - AaiS SJoo WIZ -
with wrath as he raised his accusing han
and leyelled 1t at the unhappy municipal.
The town marshal smiled uneasily and de
precatingly about him, and, meeting onl
angry glances, hearing only words of con
demnation, he passed his hand unsteadll
over his fat mustache, shifted from one le
to the other and back again, looked up, locke
down, and then, an amiable ana pleasure
loving man, beholding nothing but accusatio
and anger in heaven and earth. and wishin
nothing more than to sink into the water
under the earth, but having no way I
reaching them, finding his troubles quiz
. unbearable. and unable to meet the manlfol
eye Of man. he sought relief after the un
, sagacious fashion of a. larger bird than M
His burly form underwent a series OF COZ
, vulsions not unlike sobs, and he shut his eye
tightly and held them soS presenting pic
: ure of misery unequalled in the memory.
a anv spectator. Harkless' outstretched han
began to shake "You!' he tried to cont1nv
: -"you, a man elected to"
There came from the crowd the sound of
: sad, high keyed voice, drawing: That's
0 nice vest Jfm's got on. but 1t amt haroly u
4 feathers f1tten for an ostrich, Is it,"
r The editors gravity gave way; he brol
!, into a ringing laugh and turned again to IL
r shellmen. "Give up the boys money. Hurry
d 'step down here and git it, said the OF
who had spoken. -; 81
l. There was a turbulent motion IN the crow
il and cry arose, run EN- out! Ride EN-
O a rail Tar and feathers! Run EN- out
| town!'' ~'
II "I wouldn't dlly-dally long II we're you
said Harkless and his advice seemed go'
~ to the shellmen.s *; A roll
q bills, which he counted ana turn
q over to the elder Bowlder, was sullenly plac
"a in his hand. The fellow who. had not y
IL spoken clutched the journalists sleeve wi
his dirty hand.
= 1--WE hain't done wit youse.'' he sal
= hoarsely Don't belief It, not Ter a minut
ia sect" =: 80
"a The town marshal opened his eyes brisk
| and placing a hand on each OF the gambler
said: II do hereby arrest your said person
~ and declere you my prisoners" The c
rose again, louder: Run 'em out! String e
upl Hang them! Hang them!" and>a fo
ia ward rush was made.
- This way, Jim. BE quick, said Harkle'
40 quietly, bending down and Jerking one of
gamblers half way up the steps. "Get throu
10 the hail to the other side and then run the
It, to the lookup. No one will stop you that We
ts Watts and I will hold this door, Bardlo
er hustled his prtsoners through the doorws
90 and the crowd pushed up: tho steps, VII
TIarkless struggled to keep the vestibule Gle
ed until Watts got the double doors clos
ir 'Stand back, here!" he cried; Its all ov
o. Don't be foolish. The law Is good enou