The Red Cloud chief., 1905-02-10

and II nearly broke his heart that he
couldn't swear TO Bob
When they were beyond the village
and in the open road again Miss Slcr-
wood took II deep breath. IL think |
breathe more freely. That was a hid.
tcus laugh he sent after us"
The judge glanced ut his guests face
and chucklcd. ~ guess we won't
frighten you mucb,' he said. Young
lady. I don't believe you'd bc afraid of
many things. would you? You don't
look like IL. Besides, the Crossroads
isn't PIattvillc, and the White Caps
have been too scared TO do anything
much except try to get even with the
Herald for the last two ycars-evcr
since II went for them. They're lay
ing for HAIRLESS partly for revenge and
partly because they daren't do any.
thing until he's,out of the way"
The girl gave a low cry with a sharp
intake of breath. "Ah, one grows tired
Of this everlasting American patience!
Why don't the Plattville people do
something before they
TITS just rs | say" Briscoc answer
ed. "Our folks are sort of used to
them. I expect we do about all we
ram. 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. IT he'd lived here
all his life he would he. If they get
him thcrc'll be trouble of an illegal ma
ture.' He broke off suddenly and nod
ded TO II little old man in Il buck
board turning of from the road into n
farm lane which led up to Il trim cot
tage with n honeysucklc vine by the
door. That's Mrs. Wimby's husband
said the judge in an undcrtOnc.
Miss Sherwood observed that Mrs.
Wimby's husband was remarkable for
the exceeding plaintivcncss of his ex-
preston. He was u weakened. blank,
pale eyed little man, with n thin white
mist of neck whisker, and he was
dressed in clothes much too large for
him. No more inOffensivc figure than
this feeble little old man could be i'm
agiDcd, yet his was the distinction of
having received Il hostile visit from his
%nelghbors of the Crossroads. A vaga-
bonding tinker, lie had married the one
respectable person of the section, a
widow. who had refused several gen
tlemcn at the Crossroads. and SO COM
plete was the bridcgroom's %insigniti-
canoe that to all the world his own
name was lost. The bride continued TO
be kDown 10y her former name as Mrs.
Windy" 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 wifc's eyes
dashed him with sapling slloots till he
was near to death. A little yellow cur
that had followed his master on his
wandcrings was found licking the old
mans wounds, and they deluged the
dog with kerosene and then threw the
poor animal upon Il bonfire they had
enjoyment.
The man recovered, but that was no
pafliatiOn of the offense to the mind of
a hot eyed young man from the east
who was bcsieging 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 ut Il farmhouse the own,
or Of which had received Il warning
from the White Caps, and one night II
befeIl that he vas rewarded, for the
raiders attempted an entrance. lie and
the farmer and the farmers sons bcat
M the marauders and did n satisfacto
~ amount of damage In return. Tw,
NJ the White Caps they captured ant
lound, and Others they recognized
Then the state authorities hearkened (,
the voice of the Herald and its owner
There were arrests. and in the cours'
Of time there was a trial. Every pris
oner proved an a%libi-couid have prove,
a dozen-but the. editor of the Herald
after virtually conducting the prosecu
ton, went upon the stand and swore [
man after man. Eight men went t
the pe~nitentiary oil his evidence, fly
OF them for twenty years. The Plat
Vile brass band serenaded the editor o
the Herald again.
There were no more raids, and tn
six Crossroads men who were left kcp
10 their novels, appalled, and shaker
but as time went by and left them III
molcstcd they recovered a measure @
their hardness and began to think