The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-16

road. and they entered a sGualid settle
ment huilt raggedly about a black
smith shop and 4 saloon. I'D hate to
have a breakdown here" Briscoe re-
marked quietly.
Half dozen shanties clustered near
the forge. a few roofs scattered through
the shiftlessly cultivated fields. four or
five barns prcpped by fence rails. some
sheds with gaping apertures through
which the light glanced from side to
side. squad of thin raZorback hogs.
now and then worried by gaunt hounds.
and some abused looking hens cropping
about disconsoiately in the mire. a
J broken topped buggy with twisted
=3a5ei setting inIo The mud OF the
middle Of The road Ghere was always
abundant mud here in the driest sum
mer); a dim face sneering from a bro
ken window-Six Crossroads was for
bidding and forlorn enough by day
The thought Of what might issue from
it by night was unpleasant, and the
legends of the Crossroads. together
with an unshapen threat easily fancied
in the atmosphere Of the place, made
Miss Sherwood shiver as though a cold
draft had crossed her.
'sIt is so sinisterp' she exclaimed.
"And so unspeaka5ly mean! This is
where they live, che people that hate
him. is it? The White Caps?'
They cau themselves that" replied
Briscoe. Casually White Caps are 9
vigilance committee in region where
the law isn't enforced. These fellows
aren't that kind. They got together to
| wipe out grudges. and sometimes didn't
aeed any grudge-just made. their raids
for pure devilment There's feud be-
tween us and them that goes back into
pioneer days, and only few Of US old
folks know much about it"
And he was the first to try to stop
themy'
We'll, you see, our folks are pretty
long suffering" said Briscoe apologet-
ically. Wed sort of got used to the
meanness of the Crossroads. 1t took
a stranger to stir things up, and be
|, did. He sent eight Of them to the peni-
tertiary, some for twenty years"
AS they passed the saloon a man
stepped into the doorway and looked
at them. He was coatless and clad in
garments worn to the color Of dust.
His bare head was curiously malform-
ed, higher on one side than on the 9TH
er, and though the blackboard passed
rapidly and at a distance this singular
lopsidedness was plainly visible to the
occupants, lending an ugly significance
to his meager, yellow face. He was
tall, lean, hard, powerfully built He
eyed the strangers with affected Ian
guor and then. when they had gone by.
broke into sudden loud laughter.
''That was Bob Skillet, the worst Of
the lot,' said the judge. "Harkless
sent his son and one brother to prison.
and it nearly broke his heart that he
couldn't swear to Bob"
When they were beyond the village
and in the open road again Miss Sher-
wood took a deep breath. 81 think l
breathe more freely. That was hid
eous laugh he sent after U.S."
The judge glanced at his guests face
and chuckled. Il guess we wont
frighten you much," he said. young
lady, don't believe you'd be afraid of
many things, would you? You don't
look like it. Besides, the Crossroads
isn't Plattville, and the White Caps
have been too scared to do anything
much except try to get even with the
Herald for the last two years-ever
since it went for them. They're lay
ing for Harkless partly for revenge and
partly because they daren't do any
thing until he's out Of the way"
The girl gave low cry with sharp
intake of breath. "Ah, one grows tired
of this everlasting American patience.
Why don't the Plattville people Go
something before they
Its just as l say" Briscoe answer
ed Our folks are sort Of used to
them | expect we do about all we
can. The boys look after him nights.
but the main trouble is that we cunt
make him understand he ought to be
more afraid Of them If he'd lived here
all his life he would be- If they get
him there'll be trouble Of an illegal ma
ture." He broke off suddenly and nod
Ged to a little old man in buck
board turning Off from the road into a
farm lane which led up to a trim cot
tage with honeysuckle vine by the
door. That's Mrs. W'imby's husband"
said the judge in an undertone.
Miss Sherwood observed that Mrs.
Wimby's husband was remarkable for
the exceeding plaintiveness of his ex-
preston. He was a weazened, blank.
pale eyed little man. with a thin white
mist Of neck whisker, and he was
dressed in clothes much too large for
him. No more lnoffensive figure than
this feeble little cid man cousd be i'm