The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-25

ne mouse. AS size uUIlcO uSLSStl diOhe
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.
Don't let 'em fool you." be shouted.
Look to your left. There they go.
Don't let 'em get away"
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
ther magnificent! sacriflcial and fear
less or she cunningly calculated that
the regulators would take no chances
of killing a 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 "IS we
fire from here we'll hit the girl. Shoot"
Willetts and Ross Schofeld were still
standing on the roof at the edge out
Of the smoke, and both fired 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 fat on his face. The Cross
readers stood by each other that DAY,
for four or FIVE men ran out of the
nearest shanty into the open, lifted the
PROSTATE figure from the ground and
began to carry it back with tlsem. BIT
Skillet was alive. His curses were
heard above all other sounds. Lige
and Schofeld fired again, and one of
the -rescuers staggered. Nevertheless
as the two men Slid down from the roof
the burdened Crossroaders were seen
to break into run, and at that, with
another yell, fercer, wilder, more joy
Gus than the first, the Plattville men
followed.
The yell rang loudly in the ears Of
old Wilkerson, who had remained back
In the road, and at the same instant
he 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
fire an imaginary rife at the dog and
then springing out with triumphant
bellowings to fall prone upon the terri
fed animal. It was after one Of these
victories that a shout Of warning was
raised behind him, and Mr.. Wilkerson,
by grace Of the god Bacchus, rolling
out Of the way in time to save his life.
saw a horse dash by him. big, black
horse whose polished tanks were drip
ping with lather. Warren Smith was
the rider. He was waving slip of yel-
low 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
rups and waved the paper over his
head. Stop he roared. "Give me
one minute! Stop.s He had a grand
voice, and he was known in many
parts of the state for the great bass
roar with which he startled his juries.
To be heard at distance most men
lift the pitch of their voice. Smith
lowered his an octave OF two, and the
result was like an earthquake playing
an organ in a catacomb.
"Stopv' he thundered. "Stopr'
In answer one Of the flying Cross
readers turned and sent bullet whis-
ting close to him. The lawyer paused
long enough to bow deeply in satirical
response; then, Aourishing the paper,
he roared again: stop! A mistake.
I have news! Stop, say! Homer has
got themp'
To make himself heard over that
tempestuous advance was feat; for
him, moreover, whose counsels had SO
lately been derided, to interest the pur-
suers at such a moment enough to
make them hsten-to find the word
was q greater, and by the word and
by gestures at once vehemently i'm
perious and impIoring to stop them
was still greater But he did it He
had come at just the moment before
the moment that would have been too
late. They all heard him. They all
knew, too, that he was not trying to
save the Crossroads as matter Of
duty. because he had given that up be-
fore the mob left Plattville. Indeed. it
was a question if at the last he had
not tacitly approved. and no one feared
indictments for the days work. 1t
would do no harm to listen to what he
had to say. The work could wait. 1t
would keep" for five minutes. They
hecan to gather around him, excited.