The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-25

Neep "h ioohihg tili u does; tben, h
finished, with barely perceptIbI
scornful smile at the attorncy-'theI
we can decide on what had ought b,
done"
Blk Crossroads lay dark and steam
Ing In the sun that morning. The forg,
was silent. the saloon locked up. tn.
roadway deserted even by the pigs
The broken old buggy stood rotting II
the mud without single lean little old
man or woman-such were the chill
dren OF the Crossroads play abou,
II. Once. when the deputy sheriff rode
through alone, tattered black hound
more wolf than dog. half emerged
growing, from beneath one OF the
tumbiedown barns and was ierked
back Into the darkness by his tail, with
a snarl hercer than his own. while a
gun barrel sh0ne for second as 1,
swung for stroke on the brute's head.
The hound did not yelp or whine when
the blow fell. lie shut his eyes. twice
and skunk sullenly back to his place.
The shantieS might have received a
voliey or two from some OF the mount.
cd bands. exaaperated by futile search.
Ing. had not the escape OF Horner's
prisoners made the guilt OF the Cross
roads appear doubtful in the minds OF
many. An the morning waned the ad.
vocates OF the theory that the gam.
blers had made away with Harkiess
grew In number. There came a tele.
gram from the Rouen chief OF police
that be had clcw to their whereabouts.
He thought they had succeeded IN
reaching Rouen. and II began to b
generally believed that they had %
capped by the l o'clock freight train.
which bad stopped to take on some
empty cars at side track a mile north.
west Of town. across the fields from
the Briscoe house. Toward noon q
party went out 10 examine the rail.
road embankment.
Men began TO come back into the VII.
lage for breakfast by twos and threes,
but many kept on searching the woods. |
not feeling the need Of food or caring |
II they did. Every grove and clump |
Of underbrush. every thicket, was ran.
sacked. The waters Of the creek. shal.
low for the most part. but swollen
overnight were dragged at every pool.
was found. There was not
sign.
The bar OF the hotel was thronged
all porning as the returning citizens
rapidly made their way thither, and
those who had breakfassed and were
going out again paused for internal ~
we'll a. external reinforcement. The
landlord. himself returned from a long
hunt set out his whisky with q lavish
and.
"He was the best man we had. boys"
'aid lands as he poured the little
glasses full. "We'd ort OF sent him to
The legislative halls OF Washington
ong ago. He'd OF done US honor there.
But we never thought OF doln' any.
hing fer him. Jest set round and left
iim build up the town and give him
'mpty thankyes. Drink hearty, gon.
lemen," he finished gloomlly. II don't
Tudge no liquor today-except to Llge
Villetts."
He was a good man." said young
William Todd. whose nose was red, not /.
rom the whisky. "I'ye about give
p."
its goin' to seem mighty empty
round here" said Ross SchoHeld.
WHATS goln' to become O. the Herald
nd the party in this districtl Where's
he man TO run either OF 'em nowf
like as not" he continued desperately.
It'll go against us In the fall"
Dibb Zane choked over his four tln.
ers. I'VE nights well bust up the
ab busted ole town ef he's gone"
Il don't know what's come over that
'ynthy Tipworthy," said the landlord.
Shes waited table on him last two
ears, and her brother Bud works nj
no Herald office. She didn't say
ord, only looked and looked and
'ohad, like crazy woman; then her
nd Bud went OF together to hunt in
lie woods, They Jest tuck hold OF
lch others hands like
II reckon there amt many crazier
IAN them two Bowlders, father and
m" interrupted u patron, wiplng the
rops from his beard as he set his
ass on the bar. They rid into town
ke couple OF wild Indians, the old I
an beatn' that gray mare O. thelrn
U she was one big walt, and he amt
Itcherly no cruel man either. | ex.
'ct Lige Wllletts better keep out OF
artleys way"
Il keep out Of no mans way" cried
voice behind him. Turning, they saw
sc standing on the threshold of the
or that led to the street. In his hand
held the bride OF the horse he had
iden across the sidewalk and that
W stood painting, with lowered head
IL through the doorway, beside his
aster. Lige was hatless. splashed
th mud from head to foot; his jaw
Is set, his teeth ground together, his
es burned under red lids, and his
ir lay tossed and damp on his brow.
keep out OF no mans way" he re-
ated hoarsely. II heard you, Mr.