Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-09-20
on. Save me, Mr.. Ca'ington.' he gasp


the meadow. He turned to the suppl
ant:
''You deserve to swing, and you may
yet; but I'll give you a chance"
Five or six rough-looking white men
galloped up, their horses covered with
foam, dismounted, and left them blowing.
well, we got him." cried one, land
good long chase it was We routed the
old fox out of his hole in the night, but
he got away. Jim Ca'ington's chasing
him down at the other end of the county
now. Got the rope, Jack? done heerd
he'd killed you, Mr.. Ca'ington."
A slouching fellow in a red shirt I'M
tied a plough line from his saddle, and
they came nearer.
Hold on"' cried Hugh, you're near
enough"
They halted, in sheer establishment.
More men joined them, and still others
appeared in the distance squirting their
horses up the slope.
"How long you been sheriff, Jack
Sparks?' Hugh said, pleasantly, to the
man with the rope.
''Im sheriff enough for this yere job"
the man answered.
gasping horse to the front. Hugh recog
nized Terry, a fox-hunting planter of the
neighborhood, and the first gentleman
that had yet appeared. He turned to
Darlington. whats the row, Hugh?
Who's got a roper
Several men stepped forth with the G.
quired article. The tall planter jumped
from his horse and moved towards the
negro, who still covered at Hugh's feet.
The crowd was increasing every minute,
and two more men rode up whose faith
ers, at least, had been gentlemen.
Hugh threw his gun across his body.
keep your distance, Mr.. Terry" he
said, as quietly as he could. Il cap
tured this negro"
"Well, you aren't going to celebrate all
by yourself, are you?" Terry said, impa
tiently. Joined the church, Hugh?
You'll be paying me back that money
you won from me at poker last stock sale
day. Why, man." he continued that
fellows broken all the commandments in
the prayer book. Don't be fool, Car
rington."
"The man shall have a trial, if 1 can
give it to him." Hugh answered, logged
ly.
The crowd was shouting threats and i'm
precautions, and was coming towards him.
Hugh's six feet two and the higher
ground on which he stood raised him
above the crowd, and ne swept the hills
for sign of aid. The mob was keen af-
ter blood, and he realized that blood
would soon flow from one source or an
other. Suddenly a new champion APP
peared in Mrs. Darlington, hurrying to-
wards them as quickly g. ne could. The
men parted respectfully as she came on,
and she stood beside Hugh, with pink
checks and flashing eyes, her gray hair
flying in the light air.
Shame on you, cOwards!" she cried.
do you call yourselves men? Would
you send the viest soul to it's Maker with
out a hearing? Whatever the man has
done, give him a fair trial; and if he
must be punished, punish him as the law
demands, in decency and cool blood"
The crowd fell back before her, and
there ensued a silence. The men shuf1led
their feet unasily. This slight womaa
had done as much as a file of soldiers
could have done.
"This is my plantation" she said. MY
friends are always welcome How many
of you can claim acquaintance with me?
Leave this place at once. | will have the
man secured"
The mob melted away towards their
horses. At this instant Hugh espied five
men in the big pasture that stretched
away from the meadow to the fat-woods
coming towards him at a gallop.
"See, gentlemen, the sheriff. he cried.
Everybody turned at his words and
they saw one of the riders point at them,
ard then start towards them.
1t was a smooth stretch of n mile or
better across the bluegrass of the pas
ture. There We're two tumble-down
fences and one stiff post-and-rail to be
jumped, and several small creeks. The
crowd about the negro watched them
tearing along, almost forgetting their err
rand in the delights of a horse race.
The sheriff leads on Chunk" called
one, delightedly. Look at him burn the
ground.'
1.-Two to one on the sheriff. called Ter
ry, climbing on fence. Come on,
Chunk! See him take that branchn
Wells of delight from the crowd min
gled with shouts for one rider or another
sheriff's bushy whiskers bobbed, as his
horse rose Close behind him, with a
tremendous sweep and quick recovery.
Hugh recognized Maude's chestnut sorreI
Buckingham. his white stockings shining
in the sunshine.
1.-TWO to one on the sheriff." cried Ter
nv again. There can't no horse beat old
Chunk"
Take you for any amount" Hugh
called, loudly.
Done for fver' answered Terry.
"Chunk wins!'
Across the rough land by one of the
small creeks the sheriff and Maude pull
ed up, and a diversion was created by a
horse in the ruck sailing by and making
the running, to the intense satisfaction of
the crowd as they recognized the very
popular planter and fox hunter from near
the court house.
Major Sykes has got emf yelled sew