Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-03

was a rapid fusillade from the rear Of
The house, and hundred men and
more, who had kept on through the
fields TO the north, assailed 1t from be-
hind. Their shots passed clear through
the flimsy partitions, and there was a
screaming like beasts bowls from with
in. The front door was thrown open,
md a lem, fierce eyed girl, with n case
knife in her hand, ran out in the face
If the mob. At sound Of the shots in
The rear they had begun to advance on
The house second time. and Hartley
Bowldcr was the nearest man TO the
girl. With awful words and shrieking
inconceivably she made straight at
Hartley and attacked him with the
knife. She struck Mt him again and
again. and in her anguish Of hate and
fear she was so extraordinary specta-
rlc that she gained for her companions
the seconds they needed to escape from
the house. AS she hurled herself alone
nj the oncoming torrent they sped from
the door unnOticed. sprang over the
fence and reached the open lots to the
west before they were seen by Willetts
from the roof.
Don't let em fool you" he shouted.
Look TO your left. There they go.
Don't let 'em get away"
The Crossroaders were running across
the field. They were Bob Skillet and
his younger brother, and Mr.. Skillet
was badly damaged. He seemed to be
holding his jaw on his face with both
hands. The girl turned and sped after
them. She was over the fence almost
us soon MS they were, and the three ran
In single file, the girl last. She was el.
Their magniiicently sacrificial and fear
less or she cnnningly calculated that
the rcgula tors would take no chances
NJ killing womanchild. for she kept
between their guns and her two com.
panions. trying TO cover and shield the
latter with her frail body.
"Shoot, Lige." called Watts. "If we
fire from here We'll hit the girl. Shoot"
Willctts and Ross Schofield were stir
standing on the roof at the edge out
Of the smoke, and both fired ut the
same time. The fugitives did not turn
They kept on running. and they had
hearty reached the other side of the
field when suddenly without any pre-
monitory gesture, the el1cr Skillet
dropped fiat on his face. The Cross
readers stood by each other that day,
for four or five men ran out of the
nearest shanty into the open, lifted the
PROSTATE figure from the ground and
began to carry it back with them Bnt
Skillet was alive. His curses were
heard above all other sounds I.ige
md Scho6cld fired again, and one of
the rescuers staggered. Nevertheless
as the two men slid down from the roof
the burdcned Crossroaders were seen
TO break into n run, and at that. with
another yell, fierccr, wilder, more Joy
Gus than the first, the Plattvilc men
followed
The yell rang loudly in the cars of
old Wilkerson. who had remained back
In the road, and at the same instant
he heard another shout behind him.
lie had not shared in tie attack; but.
greatly preoccupied with his own his
tri0nic affairs, was proceeding alone
up the pike, except for the unhappy
yellow mongrel still dragged along hy
the rope, and alternating, rs was his
natural won't from one fence To the
other, crouchilg hchind every bush to
fire an imaginary rifle ut the dog and
then sprineiLg out with triumphant
helowincs to fall prone upon the terri
fled animal. 1t was after one of these
victories that q shout of warning WAS
raised behind him. ANA Mr.. Wilicrson.
by gvace of the god BacchuS, rolling
out Of the way in time to save his life,
saw u horse dash by lin. big. black
horse whose polished TANKS were drip
ping with lather. Warren Smith was
the rider. He was waving Il slip of vel
low paper high in the air.
lie rode up the slope and drew rein
beyond TIE burning buildings just
nhcad of those foremost in ;hc pursuit
He threw his horse across the road to
oppose their Progress, rose in his stir
rups and waved the paper over his
head. stop he roared Give me
Dne minute! Stop" lie had grand
voice, and he was known in many
parts of the state for the pupnt bass
roar with WHICH he startled his iurios.
To he heard at Il distance most men
LIT the pitch of their voice. smith
lowered his an octave or two. and the
result was like an earthquake playing
nm organ in n catacomb.
stop" lie Numbered. stop
In answer one of the flying Cross.
readers turned and sent IL bullet whis-
Ting close 10 him. The lawyer paused
long enough to bow deeply in satirical
response; then, fouriShing tho paper,
he r0ared again: stop \ mistake
have news. stop, say. llorner has
got item
70 make himself heard over that
tonpcstuouS advance was feat; for
Linn, moreover. whose couuscls had so
lately been derIdcd. to interest the pur.
tucrS ut such Il moment enough to
mako them listen to find the wore.
was II greater. and by the word and
by gestures at once vchcmcntly i'm.
p'TiouS and imploring to stop them
WAS still greater But he did it, lie
had come at just tn" moment before
the moment that would have been 100
late, They all heard him. They all
knew, too that he was not irving to
save the Crossroads as Il matter Oh
duty. because he had given that UP be.
fore the moi, left DEttNilln IpIcaI II