Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-13

could she speak. She only pointed again to the thing beside her.
 Judith understood. The women had a task to share. and in silence they be gan it. The lynchers had done their work all too well. Again and again the women strove with all their strength to take down the dangling parody of man, which in its dead weight resistance seemed in league with the forces against them. At last the thing was done. Down to pale world that in the haggard gray Of morning seemed to bear in its coun- tenance something of the pinch of death Judith lowered the thing that bad so lately been man. She cut the rope away from the neck. she straight ened the wry neck that seemed to wag in pantomimc representation of the last word to the lynchers. They'd have to reckon with him on dark nights and when the wind walled like a fanished wolf and when things not to be explained lurked in the shadows of the desert.
 The morning stiffness came flooding into the cup shaped valley like soft, resistiess wave. Something had come to the gray old earth-another day, with all it's human gift of joy and woe and the earth welcomed it, though it had known so many. The sun burst through the gold tipped aureole of cloud, scattering far and wide lavish promises of a perfect day. The earth seemed to respond with a thrill. No longer was the pinch of death in her countenance. The valley, the noun tains, the invisible wind, even the dead cottonwoods, seemed endowed with tArobbing life that entrusted fear somely with the terrible nullity of this thing that once had been Jim Rodney.
 Aida had ceased to take any part ill the hideous drama. She sat on the ground, crouched thing, with glitter ing eyes. It was past comprehension that the, sun would shine and the world go on With her man dead before her. Judith had become the force that planned and did to save the family pride. While her hands were busy with preparations for the Gead she re-
  and that one to account for Jim's ab- sence. The silence of the men who had done this thing would be as steadfast as their own
 And there were the children. Through all her frantic search for things ill the house Judith remembered that she must step softly and not waken the al, 4,1v >f% %J,D as her numbed consciousness rallied and responded afresh to the hideous realization of this thing, there came no- release from the tyrannous hold of pet ty detail. She remembered that she must be back at noon to hold post office, and there would be the endless comedy to be played once more with her cavaliers. They must never sus- pect from word or look of hers. And there was the dance tonight at the Benton ranch She hid her face in her hands. An, no, she could not do this thing. And yet they must not suspect Sine must contrive to give the impros sion that Jim had cheated the rope Yes. she must go and dance and if
 
 CTS. Jim's children were to have the clean start' that he intended, and they would have to get it here. There was no money for an exodus and a be- ginning elsewhere.
 Aida still crouched beside the long. even tarpaulin roli that Judith had pre- pared with hands that knew not what they did But now Judith gently rous' eu her and put in her hand spade. Already she herself had begun. Bat Aida stared at it duly. as if she d.t. not understand Then Judith pointe.. to something black that had begun t. wheel in the sky, wheel and with eacl' circular swoop come closer to the TO of tairaulin. Then Al;aa knew, ant. taking the spade, she and Judith bega. to dig the grave.
 CHATTER XVIII.