The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-09

fear she was 30 extraordinary a 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. sprsng over the
fence and reached the open lots to the
west before they were seen by wllletts
from the roof.
Don't let EN- fool your be shouted
"Look TO your left! There they gol
Don't lot 'em get awayr'
The Crossroaders were running across
the neld. They were Bob Skillet and
his younger brother. and Mr.. Skillet
was badly damaged. He seemed to be
holding bis jaw on bis face with both
hands. The girl turned and sped after
them. She was over the fence almost
as soon NJ they were. and the three ran
In single nie. the girl last. She was Ell.
tber magnidcentiy sacrincial and fear
less or she cunningiy calculated thst
the regulators would take no chances
Of killing woman-chlid. for she kept
between THAR guns and her two COM
panions. trying to cover and shield the
latter with her frail body.
shoot. Lige," called Watts. "If we
Ore from here we'ii hit the girl. Shoot!'
willetts and Ross SchoHeid were still
standing on the roof at the edge out
Of the smoke. and both fred at the
same time. The fugitives did not turn.
They kept on running. and they had
nearly reached the other side OF the
field when suddenly. without any pre-
monitory gesture. the elder Skillet
dropped hat on bis face. The Cross
roaders stood BY each other that day.
for four or avs men ran out Of the
nearest shsnty into the open. lifted the
PROSTATE Agure from the ground and
begnn to carry II back with them. But
Skillet was alive. His curses yer
heard above all other sounds. Lige
and schoneld fired again. and one OF
the rescuers staggered. Nevertheless
80 the two men slid down from the roof
the buriened Crossroaders were seen
TO break into q run. and at that. with
another yell. nercer. wilder. more Joy.
GUS than the first. the Piattville men
followed.
The yell rang loudly In the ears Of
old Wilkerson. who bad remained back
N the road. and at the same instant
be heard another shout behind him.
He had not shared In the attack: but,
greatly preoccupied with his own his
trionic Affairs. was proceeding alone
up the pike. except for the unhappy
yellow mongrel still dragged along by
the rope, and alternating. as was his
natural wont. from one fence to the
other, crouching behind every bush to
tire an imaginary ride at the dog and
then springing out with triumphant
bellowings TO fall prone upon the terri |
tied animal. II was after one OF these |
that shout OF warning was
raised behind him, and Mr.. wiIkerson,
by grace Of the god Bacchus, rolling |
cut OF the way In time to save his life,
saw a horse dash by him. big. black
horse whose polished tianks were drip
ping with lather. Warren Smith was
The rider. He was waving a slip Of yel.
ow paper high In the air.
He rode up the slope and drew rein
beyond the burning buildings Just
ahead OF those foremost In the pursuit.
He threw his horse across the road to
oppose their progress. rose In his stir.
ups and waved the paper over his
lead. Stop" he roared. "Give me
'ne minute! Stop" He had a grand
1oice, and he was known In many
,arts OF the state for the great bass
oar with which he startled his juries.
10 be heard at a distance most men
lit the pitch Of their voice. Smith
owered his an octave or two and the
esult was like an earthquake playing
IN organ In catacomb.
Stop" he thundered. "StOpr"
In answer one Of the flying Cross.
oaders turned and sent a bullet whls-
ling close to him. The lawyer paused
ong enough to bow deeply in satirical
espOnse: then, fourishing the paper,
'e roared again: Stop A mistake!
have news! Stop, say! Horner has
ot them"
To make himself heard over that
advance was a feat: for
I'm. moreover. whose counsels had 20
ately been derided. to interest the pur-
uers at such moment enough to
lake them llsten--to find the word
Tas a greater, and by the word and
y gestures at once yehemently i'm.
erIous and imploring to stop them
gas still greater But he did It. He
ad come at just the moment before
he moment that would have been too
tie. They all heard him. They all
new, too, that he was not trying to
ave the Crossroads as a matter Of
uty. because he had given that up be-
bro the mob left Plattville. Indeed, 1t
as a question II at the last he had
OF tacitly approved, and no one feared
'dlctments for the days work. II
'ould do no harm to listen to what be
ad to say. The work could walt. II