Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-10-13


faint. manifold sounds. a waxing. H.
ereas;ns, mul.itudinous rumor.
The pike assembled long. slight slope
eading Yves. Up TO the Crossroads.
From Il thicset o: irenweed Q, the
foot of this slope was tirus; the visase
Of al unders!zad girl of fourteen. Her
fierce eyes examined the approaching
cloud of dust intently \ redness rose
under the burnt yellow skin and col
ored the wizened cheeks.
They We're coming.
She stepped quickly out OF the tangle
and dartel up the road. She ran with
the speed OF 4 heet little terrier. not
opening her lips, not calling out. but
holding her two thin hands high above
her head; that was all. Bu, BirnaI.
wood was come to Duosinanc 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 sickish white as the child
hew 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:
it was all as open as the light of day.
all done in the broad sunshine. Moth
ing had been determined as to what
was to be done at the Crossroads more
definite than that the place was 20 be
wiped out. That was comprehensive
enough; the details were quite certain
to occur. They were all on foot, march
ing in fairly regular ranks. In front
walked Mr.. Watts, the man Hark!ess
had abhorred in public spirit and be.
friended in private. Today be was a
hero and a leader. marching to ayense
his professional oppressor and personal
brother. Cool, unruned and to out
ward vision unarmed, marching the
miles in his brown frock coat and gen.
erous linen, he ed the way. On one
side Of him We're the two Bowlders. on
the other was Lige WillettS. Mr. Watts
preserving peace between tie you,:s
men with perfect tact and sang iroid.
They kept good order and Il s:,nli-
tude Of quiet FOR SO many except far 70
the rear, where old Wilke.>g:. VS.
bringin. up the tail OF The Procession,
dragging wretchel yellow dog Jy Il
rope fastened around IL poor cur
protesting neck. the knot carefully AZ
ranged Under Lis right car. In spite Of
every command and protest Wilsersoa
nd nod nc. -v.te Ic ~;
ously singing John Browns Body
The sun was III the West when they
came IN sight Of the Crossroads. ana
the cabins On the low slope stood out
ansuiarly against the radiance beyond
As they beheld the hated settlement
the heretofore orderly ranks showed :.
disposition 20 depart from the stead:
advance and rus.. the shant!es. VIII
let's. 1..a Bo.lders. Parker. Ross Scho-
field and dozen others d.d. in fac..
break away and SCI sharp pace e.
the slope
Watts tried to call them back.
"Wlat's the use your settin ki,led:"
he shouted
why not:" answered Lige. and. like
the others. was increasing bis speed
when Old "Winb:" rose up suddenly
from the roadside ahead Of then and
nosioned them franricallr TO 20 back.
They're laid out along the fence wait.
in fer re" he warned them. Cit out
the road. Come by the fields. Fer the
Lords sake. spread" Then as sudden.
u IS Ne lad appeared he dropped down
into tie weeds again. Lige and those
with him paused. and the whole body
came to q halt while the leaders con-
suited. There was q sound OF metallic
clicking and thin rattle Of steel. Froc1
far 10 the rear came the voice Of old
Wi,ke-son:
"Joha Browns body lies a-noid=-..g =,
tie ground,
John Browns body lies a-no.5=-:ag n
the ground"
A few near him as they stood wait
ing began to take up the burden OF the
song, singing it in slow tine like a
dirge. Then those farther away took
it up. 1t spread, reached the leaders.
They. TOO, began TO sing. taking off
their hats as they joined in, and soon
the whole concourse. solemn, earnest,
uncovered. was singing-a thunderous
requiem for John Harkless.
The sun was swinging lower, and
the edges of the world were enbroider-
ed with gold, while that deep volume
OF sound shook the air, the song of a
stern. savage. just cause-suog perhaps
as some Of the ancestors Of these men
sang with Hampden before the bris-
Ting walls Of a hostile city. It had
iron and steel in it The men lying On
their guns in the amtuscade along the
fence heard the dirge rise and grow
to its mighty fullness, and they SILVER
ed. One Of them. posted nearest the
advance, had his rife carefully leveled
at Lige Willetts, fair target in the
road. When be heard the singing be
turned to the man next behind him
and laughed mrshly, 81 reckon we'll
zee big jamboree other side Jordan
tonight, huh?
The huge murmur Of the chorus ex.
banded and gathered in rhythmic
strength and swe33ed to power and
rolled and thundered across the plain,