CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1904-04-07


ually rolled nearer. Dimly behind it
could be discerned darker. moving
nucleus that extended far back upon
the road.
A heavy tremor began to stir the air:
faint. manifold sounds, waxing. in
creasing, multitudinous rumor.
The pike ascended a long. slight slope
leading west up to the Crossroads
From thicket of ironweed at the
foot of this slope was thrust the visage
of an undersized girl of fourteen. Her
fierce eyes examined the approaching
cloud Of dust intently. A redness rose
under the burnt yellow skin and col
ored the wizened cheeks.
They were coming.
She stepped quickly out of the tangle
and darted up the road. She ran with
the speed of fleet little terrier. not
opening her lips, not calling out. but
holding her two thin hands high above
her head; that was ALL But Birnam
wood was come to Dunsinane at last.
and the messenger sped. Out Of the
weeds in the corner OF the snake fence.
In the upper part of the rise. silently
lifted the heads of men whose sallow-
ness became a sickish white as the child
flew by.
The mob was carefully organized.
They had taken their time and had
prepared everything deliberately, know
ing that nothing could stop them. No
one had any thought of concealment;
II was all as open US the ieht Oh uay'
all zone IN the proau SUNSHINE No'h'
Ing hau oeeh ueterihileu as ~ "h"'
was 10 De done at the Crossroaus more
denhlte thah thht the piace was :" pe
wiped out mat was coinprehehsi'e
enough; the details were quite certain
to occur. lhey were all on 1901, hareh'
ing IN falriy regular rahhs' IN irohl
walked Mr.. watts 'the man Harkiess
mad abh"red IN pupnc spirit anu oe'
1riended IN priVate. ioaay ne was
hero ana ieauer' marching 10 aVenee
his professional oppressor ana persohai
brother' Cool, uhruineu anu 10 OUT
ward vision unarmed. marching the
miles in his brown frocR coat ana gen
Irous linen, he led the way. On one
side OF him wei'' the two Bowiders, on
the other was Lige Willetts, Mr.. Watts
preserving peace between the young
men with perfect tact and sang froid.
They kept good order and simili-
tude of quiet for so many except FAR to
the rear, where Old Wllkerson was
bringing up the tail OF the procession.
dragging wretched yellow dog by
rope fastened around the Soor cur
protesting neck, the knot carefully ar
ranged under his right ear In spite of
every command ana protest Whkersoh
had marched the whole WAY uDrOaTl-
ously singing John Browns BODY
The sun was in the west when they
came IN sight OF the Crossroads' ana
tne caDins on the low slope s'oou ON
ahsu ui"iis aEaihs' .ne iauiahee onu
AS they Deneld the hated settlemen.
the heretofore orderly ranks showed
dispositjon IN denart from the stendy
advance and rush the shanties. VIII
let's. the Bowlders. Parker. Ross scho-
field and a dozen others did, in fact.
break away and set a sharp pace up
the slope
Watts tried to call them back.
"What's the use your gettin' killed."
he shouted
"why not?" answered Lige. and. like
the others. was increasing his speed
when old "Wimby' rose up suddenly
from the roadside ahead of them and
motioned them frantically to go back.
"They're laid out along the fence wait
in fer ye." he warned them. "Git out
the road Come by the fields Fer the
Lords sake. spreadr Then as sudden
ly as he had appeared he dropped down
into the weeds again. Lige and those
with him paused, and the whole body
came to halt while the leaders con
suited There was sound OF metallic
clicking and thin rattle of steel From
far to the rear came the voice of old
Uillyaraou.