Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-28


SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER John Harkless, fresh
from college, buys the bankrupt Car
low County Herald, at Plattsvil!e. Ind,
and starts il to reform things. Has
first triumph is to compel Rodney NC
Cune TO withdraw from the candidacy
for congress under pain of exposures.
He reclaims a drunken college pro-
lessor named F'risbee and takes him on
his staff. Gossip tells him OF strange
young woman named Sherwood who Is
visiting the daughter of Judge Briscoe.
II-Miss Norwood deeply interested
in HAIRLESS. She hears of the White
Caps, al Six Crossroads, whom he mas
attacked in he Herald. They threaten
vengeance, and the editor IS shadowed
every night by Plattsville friend, on
guard. HI-Earkless gets vague
hint thru E'risbea that he may nave
met Miss Sherwood at Winter Harbor
in his college days. He goes at night
to call on her, followed by William
Todd his guard. HAIRLESS is fired on
at Judge Briscoe's door. Miss Sher-
wood rushes out and refuses to retire
until he does. He carries her indoors.
Visiting on bench in Judge brls-
Goes garden, HAIRLESS and Helen Sher-
wood talk sentiment in the moonlight.
but barely break the ice of acquaint-
ance HAIRLESS jokes at the White Caps
but thanks Helen for saving his life.
With Helen and the Briscoes Hark-
less views the circus parade. He res
cues Hartley Bowlder, another drunk
ard reformed by his efforts, from the
clutches CT two skin gamblers, ana
aided by Eph Watts. gambler he mas
driven into honest courses, gets the
pair arrested. He is again assailed py
White CAPS VI-Harkless and Helen
discover that they have met and danced
together years before at Winter Har-
Dor. She is the cousin OF Tom Mere
dith, HAIRLESS college chum. At night
Harkless sets out for Judge Briscoe's s,
accompanied by his guard, Lige VIII
let's the beau of Minnie Briscoe. VII
Helen wants to stay in Plattsville and
work on the Herald. Her people are
going abroad, and she is required to
leave Bri,coe's next day and join them
on the TRIP. Harkless betrays his love
for herr then abruptly starts alone for
his office during thunderstorm Helen
sees ghostly white figures in the fields.
Harkless can not be- found. VlH-The
country aroused to find Harkless. The
two gamblers have broken Jail and dis
appeared Minnie tells how she and
Helen sew White Caps during the
storm. 'rhe mob gathers to march on
Six Crossroads.
As the flames began to spread there
was rapid fusillade from the rear of
the house, and hundred men and
more, who had kept on through the
fields to the north, assailed it from be-
hind. Their shots passed clear through
the film ~ partitions, and there was a
screaming like beasts howls from with
in. The front door was thrown open,
and a lean, fierce eyed girl, with case
knife In her hand, ran out in the face
of the mob. At sound of the shots in
the real they had begun to advance on
the house second time, and Hartley
Bowlder 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 ut him again and
again, and in her anguish of hate and
fear she was so extraordinary specta-
Gle that she gained for her companions
the seconds they needed to escape from
the house. AS she hurled herself alone
at 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.
'sDorl't let 'em fool your he shouted.
"Look to your left! There they go!
Don't let 'em get awayw
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
as soon as they, were, and the three ran
in single file. the girl last. She was ell
Their lnagnificently sacrificial and fear
less or she cunningly calculated that
the regulators would take no chances
Of killing woman-child 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. Shoots"
Willetts and Ross Schofeld were still
standing on the roof at the edge out
IF the smoke, and both fired ut the
same time The fugitiyes did not turn.
They kept on running, and they had
nearly reached the other side of the
field when suddenly, without any pre-
gesture, the elder Skillet
dropped fiat on his face. The Cross
'oaders stood by each other that day,
Tor four or five men ran out of the
leaiest shanty into the open, lifted the
,rostrate figure from the ground and
began to carry it back with them. But
Skillet was alive. His curses were
heard above all other sounds. Lige
md Schofield fired again, and one OF
he rescuers staggered. Nevertheless
Is the two men slid down from the roof
he burdened Crossroaders were seen
o break into run, and at that, with
mother yell. fercer, wilder, more joy
JUS than the first, the Plattville men
The yell rang loudly in the ears Of
Id Wilkerson, who had remained back
n the road. and at the same instant
ne heard another shout behind him.
Ie had not shared in the attack; but,