The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-09-06
The Manager Of
the B. { A.
BY VAUGHAN KEsTER
Copyright. 1901, by Harper & Brothers

All previous NdlllSuSu luSIuuL-
ly. 1t was agreed on all sides that they
We're probably acting on private infor-
nation and had gone to bring in the
prisoner. So strong was this conviction
that number of young men whose
teams We're hitched about the square
promptly followed, and soon an anX-
ious cayalcade emptied itself into the
dusty country road.
just bevond the corporation line the
North street, as 1t was called, fOrkeQ.
Mr.. Brown and his companion had talk
en- the road which bore to the west and
led straight to Barrow's Sawmills.
Those who We're first to reach the forks
could still see the road cart black
dot in the distance
The afternoon passed, and the dusk
of evening came. Those of tine towns
people who were still hanging about
the square went home to supper. I'm
less a man could hire or borrow horse
there was not much temptation to start
off on wild goose chase, which, after
ALL might end only at Burrows Saw
mills.
Fortunately for him, Dan Oakley had
gone to Chicago that morning. intend
ing to see Holloway and resign. In
view of what had happened it was im-
possible for him to remain in Antioch.
nor could General Cornish expect him
to.
Milton McClintock was at supper
with his family when Mrs. Stapleton,
who lived next door. broke in upon
them without ceremony, crying eN-
citedly.
They've got him, and they're going
to lynch hin."
Then she as suddenly disappeared.
McClintock from where he sat, holding
a piece of bread within an inch of his
lips and his mouth wide open to re-
ceive it, could see her through the
window, her gray hair disheveled and
tossed about her face, running from
house to house, a gaunt rumor in flap
ping calico skirts.
He sprang to his feet when he saw
her vanish around the corner of Lou
Bentick's house across the way. you
keep the children in, Mary he said
sharply. Don't let them into the
street" And, snatching up his hat and
coat, he made for the door, but his
wife was there ahead of him and threw
her arms about his neck.
For Gods sake, Milt, stay with the
boys and mel" she calculated You
don't know what may happen!"
Outside they heard the trampling of
many feet coming nearer and nearer.
They listened breathlessly.
you don't know what may happen!"
she repeated
Yes, do, and they mustn't do it,"
unclasping her hands. "Jim will be
needing help" The sheriff was his
wifes brother. He's promised me
he'd hang the old man himself or no
one else should"
There was silence now in the street.
The crowd had swept past the house.
But the towns full of strangers.
You can't do anything, and Jim can't"
I'VE can try. Look out for the chill
dren.'
And he was gone.
Mrs. McClintock turned to the boys,
who were still at the table. go up
stairs to your room and stay there until
/ tell you to come down." she COM
manded peremptorily There, don't
bother me with questionsn For Joe.
the youngest boy, was already whim-
pering The other two, with white,
scared faces, sat bolt upright in their
chairs. Some danger threatened They
didn't know what this danger was,
and their very ignorance added to their
terror.
do what say.' she cried. At this
they left the table and marched toward
the stairs. Joe found courage to say:
"Ain't you coming too? Georges
afraid" But his mother did not hear
him. She was at the window closing
the shutters. In the next yard she
saw old Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Stapletons
mother, carrying her potted plants into
the house and scolding in shrill
querulouS voice.
McClintock, pulling on his coat as
he ran, hurried up the street past the
little white frame Methodist church.
The crowd had the start of him. and
the town seemed deserted except for
the women and children who were ev-
erywhere, at open doors and windows.
some pallid and plying. some ugly
with the brutal excitement they had
caught from brothers or husbands.
AS he passed the Emorys' he heard
his name called. He glanced around
and saw the doctor standing on the
porch with Mrs. Emory and Constance.
will you go with me, N1cClintoclS?"
the physician cried. At the same mo-
ment the boy drove his team to the
door. McClintock took the fence at
bound and ran up the drive.
There's no time to lose,' he painted.
But with a sudden, sickening sense
of helplessness. II don't know that we
can stop them"
at least ne will not be alone
1t was Constance who spoke She
was thinking of Oakley as struggling
single handed to save his father from
the bowling, cursing rabble which had
rushed up the street ten minutes be-
fore