Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
arHosE ARE MY PRISONERS" he SAID QUIETLY

was arranged that she should take baby
Stephen and spend the week Of her hus-
bands absence with dear old friend living
about five miles out of town.
Aunt Charlotte Pulling was the most
generous and practiced hostess of the coun-
ty. and Mrs. Balantyne enjoyed her hearty
jovialty and constant mothering quite as
much as her husband his genial companions
and phenomenal luck on Anderson.
Lewis is a prosperous county In every
direction telephone wires are stretched
along the well-kept roads. and all day long
gossip and messages, grave and gay, flash
over them from one farm house to another
One morning 1t CHANGED that MIS- Ballan-
tyne being alone in the house, answered
call and received message SO horrifytng
that she paled as she listened. Uncle
Joshua Philipson, one Of the best known
and most respected farmers of the county.
had just been discovered lying dead In mis-
own house from knife wound and near
him, her old gray head crushed by some
heavy instrument. lay his wife-everybody's
Aunt Becky one Of the best beloved OF
the dear old helpful, trong-hearted hoosier
women OF the pioneer generation
After the first call the telephone bell kept
up constant ringing: neighbor or per-
haps some accommodating merchant in
town sending on every bit Of news or rumor
as it came out. By 10 o'clock it was known
that the murder had been committed by
two farm hands who had lived upon the
Phflipson place. BY In the afternoon one
of them had been found hiding in an empty
corn bin In the bottoms near town. At
he was safe in Jail at Blufftown, and there
was hope Of getting confession which
would lead to the arrest of his accomplish
About 4:3O o'clock Rose Rawdon. Mrs. Bal
lantyne's sister, called her from the tele-
phone exchange, where she was employed:
II am so glad you are out there, sne
said. 1.-The town is awful! They say there
are fifty men here from Kentucky, and
| more crossing the river all the time. And
ever 50 many down from Riverbend. and IN
from Athens. and the Fair Ftght neisA-
borhood. I guess every farmer for ten
miles round has come to town The l:3O
train from Spring Grove was crowded They
say when the packet gets in and the even
ing train there'll be two thousand strangers
on the streets. And. say. Alice
her voice-..rruman Wallace is trying to
swear in a lot of men to help guard the jail
"a mob, you know. am so glad you aren't
here! Yes, I'll keep you posted. Good
bye"
After supper that evening the PulHngs
and their guest sat on the front porch. Mr..
Pulling dozed; Mrs. Pulling jounced little
Stephen back and forth in a rockerless cnair
and sang the old camp meeting tunes that
had soothed eight lusty sons OF her own.
Some one called from the sitting room:
Mrs. Ballantynesn there's a long-distance
call for your on
She took up the. receiver In trembling
anxiety, and exclaimed fat once
'Oh. Stepheni where are your
"At Boone, he said; Just got here after
the hardest riding I ever did"
How did you know about III?
zone of the boys brought the news TO the
camp. Say, Alice, stay right where you
are. I'll send for you tomorrow"
You are not connang home, Stephen?
Hush; no one must know-by midnight.
think"
How can you? 1T is impossfble!"
But l VIII; only promise to stay where
you are. Get word 10 Truman that he must
hold out IL there Is trouble tia come.
bye! Id
Mrs. Ballantyne $entsback to the porch
and sat quiet. though her heart was torn
with anxiety. W
The birds were twittering among the ce-
OARS In the front yard. The first flrefiies
were darting over the meadows. the sweet
preathed quiet Of the country evening en-
Folded them. Suddenly it was torn away
IKE gauze by long, low, blood-curdling
SOUND MI. Pulling sprang toe his feet.
GOOD Lord! he gasped. they've got the
blood hounds after that fellowr
The telephone bell rang. Simon Martin,
living near town, called up the Pullings
to says: q
They're trailin' him with hounds. Com
ing right out the big road. Amt in sight.
way!' 80
George John Mason, still nearer neigh
Dor, called little later:
Tne hounds are in sight over Bacon's
hill, coming lickety-split! Must be twenty
men 1oilering IN buggies and horseback
Going myself. Be by your way pretty soon
Another ring, and Jake Dowdy, wheeling