Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05

4
swamp yii. Me an these fellows is to
watch this road. an Ratcliff's gone
| round t'othcr side TO stir up the peo-
| pie. They'll drive i'm this way before
long. an then the fun will begin"
What do you mean by the fun %"
broke in Ronald sharply
The gaunt giant on the horse
shrugged his shoulders and bent a
critical. half-aggrcssi glance on the
questicrer.
"Oh. | reckon the boys won't want
to wait fur them blamed thicvish law
yers in town to get whack at i'm an
finally git i'm turned loose. We hain't
got much book larnin', but VIC know
when a mans guilty, an we know
what lawyers is
A murmur Of approval rose from the
group, even Mrs Fanshaw, who sat
rocking between her two daughters on
the porch, grunted as if sgd Hart had
furnished the key TO problem which
involved the welfare of the nation.
Ronald's face was flushed. look of
determination was in his eyes.
NO. he said firmly; they must
give him trial"
Sydney Hart leaned back IN his sad
Gle and laughed tantaizingly.
"Oh, YOU want to get a chance at
him, Ell: You are stuGyin' to be a law
yer. an you've already begun to look
after thc intrust Of your gang. We'll.
YOU won't make anything out of this
job If can help it,
1--WE shall see" answered Ronald.
"IIe may not be guilty and YOU shall
not lynch him.'
The rider of the horse leaned towards
Ronald and snapped his fingers, a white
ook Of fury unbridled on his sinister
face.
BAH" he said. contemptuously. "1f
couldn't thwart you I'd cut my throat.
It's a go. then; YOU are a-goin' TO give
the scamp trial an I'm a-goin' to let
the boys have Their fun. liza. ha. you
make me sick
Ronald said nothing and Hart
wheeled his horse and. followed by the
crowd, he started towards the edge of
the swamp. Dave fingered by the side
Of his brother.
Don't stick yorc head in the ire.
Rom" he counseled: mo human power
can balk sgd when he once makes up
his mind. Besides. you'll make dan
gcrous enemy out o him, an every thing
points to the fellows guilt. What did
he break an run fur if he was inno-
cent?"
"That's what | want Ia know" in
terposcd Jade Fanshaw. in surly tone,
end his wife and daughters nodded APP
provingly.
Because" was Ronald's reply. she
perhaps knew that the law is not up
held in these mountains and was afraid
he would be lynched.'
Il believe he killed Mrs. Telplay."
affirmed Mrs. Fanshaw. AN AS FUR as
I'm concerned. they may take i'm off
an hang i'm. The way Justice is cheat
cd in court is enough to di>edtisfy any
body"
Ronald did not carry the argument
further He went up 10 HI, room. and
from his window watched sydney Hart
placing his men along the road which
led by the eGge of the swamp. IN
about an hour Dave came upstairs and
leaned in the doorway, an air of in
decision on him. 81 have been studvin'
over this. Rom" he said. sneepishly,
AN I'm mighty sorry | cant go the
whole hog with you. but | jest can't
look at ii like You do. | have decided
10 make ii a draw-I'll not line Hart 5
crowd nor yoreS nuther. ! mought be
with you eff ! could see a ghost of a
chance o. winnin'. but them fellers
would shoot us down like black eats on
white fence"
Ronald locked him over with steady
eye. - could never feel like patriotic
American again If | do not fight for
this fellows life" he said. "Wiil YOU
lend ne your revolver again?"
Dave slowly drew it from his hip
pocket.
Il feel like you are a-goiu' to git
yorese'f in a awful fin" he said. Il
wisht you would think better Of it,
You nur me, nur no one man can't run
the universe"
"Hou are right replied Ronald but
we can help do it. Our father, Dave,
was an outlaw up in Tennessee during
the war and am going TO Try to atone
for his conduct by UNFOLDING the law
down here to the best of my ability"
David sat down in a chair near Ron
aids bookstrcwn table.
"I've been powerful afraid somebody
down heer would git hold o. all that"
he said, with some concern. II wish
we had never located so near his old
amping-Ground as this
There is TO use trying TO escape the
consequences of crime" responded
Ronald. IL believe he thinks of hi,
past night and day. ] have seen him
jump out of bed in the middle Of the
night as if he thought some one was
trying to Kill him"
"And ! think ma is as much afccrd as
he is" answered Dave. "Sometimes | |
think she took hand in all of it,"
10 this Ronald made no answer.
CHAPTER VII.
mat morning the negroes on Col. |
Enrnnlxpg la ,tnti ion, l,fi . |,