Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-04

~ JuSt us 0dy, DilSSoS udSNci-
| ed. "Our folks are sort of used to
/ them. expect we do about all we
can. The boys look after him nights,
but the main trouble is that we can't
make him understand he ought to be
more afraid of them. II he'd lived here
all his life he would be. If they get
| him there'll be trouble of an illegal ma
/ ture" He broke of suddenly and nod
ded to a little old man in buck
board turning Off from the road into a
farm lane which led up to trim cot
| tage with a honeysuckle vine by the
door. That's Mrs. Wimbys husband
said the judge in an undertone.
! Miss Sherwood observed that Mrs.
! Wimby's husband was remarkable for
the exceeding plaintiveness Of his ex-
preston. He was weakened, blank,
pale eyed little man. with a thin white
mist of neck whisker, and he was
dressed in clothes much too large for
| this feeble little old man could be I'm
agined, yet his was the distinction Of
having received hostile visit from his
neighbors Of the Crossroads. A vaga-
bonding tinker, he had married the one
respectable person Of the section, a
widow, who had refused several gen.
tlemen at the Crossroads, and SO COM
plete was the bridegrooms insignifi-
canoe that to all the world his own
name was lost The bride continued to
be known by her former name as Mrs.
Wimby," and her spouse was usually
called "Widder Woman Wimby's hus-
band" or Mr.. Windy" The bride sup
piled his wardrobe with the garments
OF her former husband, and, alleging
this proceeding as the cause of their
anger the White Caps broke into the
farmhouse one night, tore the old man
| from his bed and before his wife's eyes
dashed him with sapling shoots till he
was near to death. A little yellow cur
that had followed his master on his
wanderings was found licking the old
mans wounds. and they deluged the
dog with kerosene and then threw the
poor animal upon bonfire they had
made and danced around in heartiest
enjoyment.
The man recovered, but that was no
palliation Of the offense to the mind of
a hot eyed young man from the east
who was besieging the county authori-
ties for redress and writing birthstone
and saltpeter for his paper. The pow
ers of the county proving either lack
adaisical or timorous, he appealed to
those Of the state, and he went every
night to sleep at a farmhouse the own
err of which had received a warning
from the White Caps, and one night it
| befell that he was rewarded, for the
raiders attempted an entrance. He and
/ the farmer and the farmers sons beat
off the marauders and did satisfacto-
~ amount of damage In return. Two
of the White Caps they captured and
bound, and others they recognized.
| Then the state authorities hearkened to
the voice Of the Herald and its owner.
There were arrests, and In the course
/ of time there was trial. Every pris
oner proved an ahbi-could have proved
dozen-but the editor Of the Herald,
after virtually conducting the prosecu-
ton. went upon the stand and swore to
/ man after man. Eight men went to
the penitentlary on his evidence, five
of them for twenty years The Platt-
vile brass band serenaded the editor OF
the Herald again.
| There were ne more raids, and the
Six Crossroads men who were left Kept
! to their novels, appalled, and shaken.
but as time went by and left them I'M
molested they recovered measure OF
their hardness and began 70 think ON
what they should do to The man who
had brought misfortune and terror up
| on them. For long time he had been
publishing their threatening letters and
warnings IN column which he headed
"Humor Of the Day
When the Briscoe blackboard had left
| the Crossroads far behind and had
| come in sight Of Plattxille Mr.. Bris-
GOES visitor turned to Fisbee with a
/ repetition Of the sHver that the laugh
/ ter Of Mr.. Skillet had caused her and
| said half under her breath, Il wish-I
half wisb-that we had not driven
through there" She clasped Mr.. Fis-
bees hand gently. His eyes shone. He
touched her fingers with strange, shy
reverence.
you will meet him tomorrow" he
said softly.
She laughed and. pressed his hand.
''Im afraid not / was almost at his
side last night when Minnie asked him
I to call on me. He wasn't even inter-
ested enough to look at me-"
! (To be Continued.)