Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-07

noise without. Above the voices of ex.
cited men and the din of trampling feet
came the cries of prisoners locked in their
cells and uncertein what was happening.
Some shrieked FIRE in mortal terror. all
pounded the cell doors and begged to be
let out to die like men. To the horror OF
all this footsteps in the private hall added
for Mrs. Ballsntyne the thrill OF personal
fear. but it was only Barnett Crane. come,
he explained, 10 stay with her and the
baby"
A fierce. wild animal cry went up from
the waiting crowd outside. The murderers
were being brought out-one sbTieking
like a maniac, one silent and obedient.
They were dragged across the yard to a
maple tree which shaded the side windows
Of the sherif's parlor. 1t was near the
electric light. and, gently shaken by the
night breeze, all its tender new leaves
twinkled and shone. 1t was q beautiful
tree-a little peculiar in form because OF
the great size OF two lateral ranches
which spread its shadow widely and recon-
mended it tonight as a natural gallows.
The leaders Of the mob halted under II,
and a boy climbed II with a rope in his
hand. Barrett Crane watched them from
a little balcony which hung under the side
window. Then he went in to Mrs. Ballan-
tyne.
Cant you singY'' he asked. ut might
put them OF a moment or two"
at is too late" she whispered in de-
spair.
"Twouldn't be II Steve could get here"
he nswered confidently.
His faith in her husband gave her cour-
o~o Chn .3111 .1,E-.t a.. 49,, -.ttf-- 90
the balcony with little Stephen in ler arms.
while Barnett Crane called out over the
heads of the crowd:
Boys, stop a moment! You've got those
fellows and can do what you please with
them; give them a minute or two to repent
in, for Mrs. B~allantyne's sake"
From the street came a voice.
Don't give them an instant! We don't
want them to repent"
But there were others who were faith
full to the mother and child.
Five minutes. boys! Give Fem that
long!"
But 1t might not have been done had not
Alice begun to sing. Her voice was the
pride Of the county. Many in that crowd
had heard 1t before at public meeting and
entertainment, from the church choir or
at funerals. and tonight its glorious notes
were more thrilling than ever before. The
sheriff, riding breathlessly oward his duty.
heard it swelling on the soft night air and
recognized It.
The boy who had taken the rope up the
tree with such a lively sense Of the honor
slid down the dark side OF the trunk and
disappeared. The masked desperados lis
tened to the heart searehing melody
Jesus. lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom ny
and more than one of them brushed away
the tears.
BY some occult power the singer knew
that she was melting them and sang On as
by angelic inspiration. And, thrilling with
triumph, she saw, already inside the yard
and making his way ~impetuously to his
prisoners, Stephen.
BY the time her song was finished he had
taken his place. His back was against the
tree; his right hand extended over the
murderers. who grovelled at his feet, held
a revolver. The leaders saw in his blue
eyes that startling FIRE which shows the
man at white heat. the point beyond which
death may lie-but never surrender. He
faced the seething mob without a doubt Of
his power to control II.
Those are my prisoners" he said. quiz
city. II command you in the name OF the
law to disDerse."
Already many had slipped away. and
the mob was every moment diminishing.
But the desperate and the criminal re-
manned, and they rallied the waverlng
leaders.
Don't be cowed by one mani" they cried.
Get out OF the way, sheriff; you're too
%latel"
Don't act like a fool, Steve: you're one
-, 49,, - - $500 -, h1nr.a
He can't hold out more'n . minute any
how"
III be sheriff Of this county for that
minute. all right" he answered, grimly.
Whoever lays his hand on one Of these
prisoners dies right here!"
Perhaps II was the sherin's reputation
for Workmanship. perhaps II was his per-
feet confidence in his own mastery of the
situation; at any rate, no man approached
the prisoners. On the contrary, the circle
round them quietly widened. The burly
Kentuckian broke the silence.
Boys" he cried. ~joVially. Reckon we
amt needed heah. This county's pretty
we'll fixed to get alOng-:he sheriff can
shoot neatly as wells his wife can sing.
Less be gettin' ovah the rivah."
sherii BallAntyne's face Frightened and
his boyish laugh rang out.
"Tra-lal gentlemen" he said. You
Kentuckians are the best judges OF shooting
in the world. and I'm iattered."
I'VE know a fine woman. too. sab. We
surrendah to the song, sab. not TO tn,
gun" And with gallant lifting OF slouel
hats toward the balcony he and his com.
rades-twenty or more-turned into tbs
black throat OF Main street, where Il de,
sends between the HUNS OF the Ohio.
After this the mob melted rapidly away
Twenty minutes later the streets we're de-
serted. and the summer night so still thai
Mrs. B~sllantyne heard the K~entuekians
singing Jesus. Lover OF Ny Sod" 81
they T0weA homeWard across the river.