Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-05-18

do about Il horse.
Again Ann stood alone in the door
way, watching group of men crouch
ing ON the fiat roof of two story
building opposite. Two of them had
rifles in their hands, and some man
was shouting from the walk, keep
them guns out O sight!'
The girl began to Jingle with fore
knowledge of violence. AS she listened
a wild cry went up from the roof tops
"Here they come"
The throng below uttered answering
shouts. Men began to run to and frC
aimlessly. filing the street facing to
the south. In the hands Of hotheads
guns began to glitter. Their action was
unreal, spectacular; but their voices
shook her, benumbed her.
Raymond came hurrying back, his
lips set and reSOlute, his brow frown-
ing with anxiety. Il cannot find a
horse that you can ride. have ordered
q team. We will have to go the back
way to reach it,
A wilder yell arose. The leaders be-
gan to run down the street which led
to the south. Ann took hold OF Ray
mond's arm with nervous clutch.
"What are they going to do?'
Its hard TO tell. wish we were
r. safely out of this
Cant we rum"
Run! Dear girl, you couldn't walk
four blocks in this altitude. IL you will
come with me we will cross to the barn
and get our carriage there"
Unconsciously clinging to his arm,
Ann went down the back street as in
dream.
They were already too late. The
cross street was packed with men, and,
looking down the hill, they saw the
sheriff and his posse coming six abreast
like squad of cavalry, riding slowly
ND between the walls of stern and
silent citizens of the great camp. Each
deputy carried q rife across the POM
mel of his saddle, and at their head,
preceding even the sheriff, rode Mat
thew Kelly. His head was bare, and
in his hand long revolver cleaned.
There was something in his face, in the
lift of his head, that awed men. AS he
came he called out, not loudly, but
every word could be heard:
"Aisy now, boys! Respect the law.
Aisy, say! This is no fight of yours.
Down with your guns. There are wo-
men and children to think Of. Kape the
peace"
RAYMOND looked at Ann with eyes
whose light amazed her. "By the Lord,
I wish | were by his sidew He spoke
through his set teeth.
Cor she said. "Do not mind me.
Go help him."
Her voice recalled him.
mo, my place is here" and bis look
meant more than any word he had ever
dared to speak to her.
In the square Kelly halted, and the
sheriff, throwing up his hand, COM
manded silence. He was ylsibly trem-
bling. but he clustered to his purpose
"Where is your mayor and your chief
of police?"
The chief stepped forth. "Here am!
What do you want Of me?"
81 want you to deliver to me the
men who assaulted Mackay."
The chief waved his hand toward the
hills. '"They are up there; go get
themw and a roar Of derisive applause
went up.
Kelly raised his hand. "BOys, hear
me! This is the sheriff, the properly
constituted authority of this county
Be quiet, now, and listen to reason"
The sheriff, gaining courage, took up
the theme. 81 have no war with
Bozle," he said. II came to get the
men who abused Mackay and who de-
fled my authority"
''Wel, go get them," repeated man
in the crowd. what are you doing
here? You came here to intlmidate us,
and you can't do it,"
The crowd. moved by some sinister
impulse, closed round the sheriff and
Kelly, cutting them off from the main
body of deputies. This movement
opened a way Of escape, and, expect
ing each moment to hear the crackle
of guns, Raymond hurried Ann across
the street and into the musty waiting
room of tie livery barn.
"Where Is that teamY" he shouted to
q hostler who was looking out Of a
side door.
''The boss took It,"
"Whose horse is this with the saddle
on?''
The hostler looked down for mo-
ment. superintendent Of Loadstone."
"May nard'S?
oYcp"
II thought SO. Well, you tell him
that Rob Raymond borrowed him for
q lady" He turned to Ann. Come;
we must get out of this"
She obeyed like child, all her i'm
perious nature in subsection to his WIKI
Lifting her to the saddle, he led the
horse out the back way and through an
alley into the main street and so to the
hills. AS they reached a fairly level
spot in the trail he turned and looked
back over the roofs Of the houses.
1.-THE sheriff is retreating-wherein
he shows good sense" He pointed
above them, where on Pine mountain
Munro's vedettes stood waiting, back
ed by thousand miners, jOcular with
battle hunger, shouting faint defiance.
Il am sorry to be such burden to
YOU" said Ann. II know you longed
to be there with Matthew Kelly, and
I have forced you to flight"
81 will be honest. / had that I'M
pulse. You see, I've been so In the