Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-12-24

Roy had seen signs of unrest beneath
the prospector's restraint during the
past few days. and indications Of n
fierce hunger to vent his spleen on the
men who had robbed him of his most
sacred rights. He was OF an ntolerant,
vindictive nature that would go to any
length for vengeance. Retribution was
part of his creed.
On his way home the young man
looked at his watch to find that he had
but an hour to determine his course.
Instinct prompted him to join his
friends and to even the score with the
men who had injured him SO bitterly.
for, measured by standards of the
frontier, they were pirates with their
lives forfeit Yet he could not coln-
tenance this step. II only the vigi-
lantes would be content with making
an example-but he knew they would
not. The blood hunger of mob is
easy to whet and hard to hold
Mcnamara would resist, as would
Voorhees, and the district attorney,
then there would be bloodshed. riot,
chaos. The soldiers would be called
out and martial law declared the
streets would become skirmish grounds.
The vigilantes would rout them with
out question, for every citizen Of the
north would rally to their aid, and such
men could not be stopped. The judge
would go down with the rest Of the
ring, and what would happen to-her7
He took down his Winchester, oiled
O1n oh HN1,o f~l y,
Of cartridges. Still he wrestled with
himself. He felt that he was being
ground between his loyalty to the vigi-
lantes and his own conscience. The
girl was one OF the gang, he reasoned
she had schemed with them to betray
him through his love, and she was
pledged to the one man in the world
whom he hated with fanatical fury.
Why should he think Of her in this
hour? Six months back he would have
looked with jealous eyes upon the right
to lead the yigilantes, but this change
that had mastered him-what was it?
Not cowardice, nor caution. No. Yet,
being intangible, it was none the less
marked, as his friends had shown him
an hour since.
He slipped out into the night. The
mob might do as it pleased elsewhere
bat no man should enter her house. He
found light shining from her pnrlor
window, and, noting the shade up a
few inches, stole close. Peering
through, he discovered Strive and
Helen talking. He skunk back into
the shadows and remained hidden for
considerable time after the lawyer
left, for the dancers were returning
from the hotel and passed close by.
When the last group had chartered
away down the street, he turned to the
front of the house, and mounting the
steps, knocked sharply. As Helen ap-
peared at the door. he stepped inside
and closed 1t after him.
The girls hair lay -upon her necl, and
shoulders in tumbled brown masses.
while her breast heaved unanimously
at the sudden, grim sight of him.
She stepped back against the wall, her
wondrous, deep gray eyes wide and
troubled, the blush Of modesty strug-
Cling with the pallor Of dismay.
The picture panied him like knife
thrust. This girl was his bltterest
enemy-no hope Of her was for him.
He forgot for a moment that she was
false and plotting, then, recalling 1t,
spoke as roughly as he might and stat
ed his errand. Then the old man had
appeared on the stairs above, speech
less with fright at what he overheard.
It was evident that his nerves, SO sore
" strained by the events of the past
week, were now snapped utterly. A
human soul naked and panic stricken
is no pleasant sight, SO Glenister drop
ped his eyes and addressed the girl
again:
Don't take anything with you. Just
dress and come with me-"
The creature on the stairs above
stammered and suffered inquirtngly:
"What outrage is this, Mr.. Clients
ter?'
"The people of Nome are up in arms,
and I've come to save you. Don't stop
to argue" He spoke impatiently.
els this some r-rlse to get me into
your power?"
Uncle Arthur" exclaimed the girl
sharply. Her eyes met Glenister's
and begged him to take no offense
II don't understand this atrocity.
They must be madw walled the judge.
You run over to the jail, Mr.. Glen
lister, and tell Voorhees, to hurry
guards here to protect me. Helen,
phone to the military post and give
| the alarm. Tell them the soldiers must
come at once"
Hold on!" said Glenister. There's
no use Of doing that-the wires are
cut; and won't notify Voorhees-he
can take care of himself. came to
help you, and If you want to escape
you'll stop talking and hurry up"
Il don't know what to do" said Still
man, torn by terror and indecision.
you wouldn't hurt an old man, would
you? Wait! I'll be down in min.
| ute"
He scrambled up the stairs, tripping
on his robe, seemingly forgetting his
niece till she called up to him sharply:
"Stop. Uncle Arthur! You mustn't
run away" She stood erect and deter.
mined. You wouldn't do that. would
you? This is our house. You ronrA.
sent the law and the dignity Of the
government You mustn't fear mob
OF ruffians. We will stay here and
meet them, Of course
Good Lordy' said Glenister. THAT'S
madness! These men aren't rufaans.
They are the best citizens of Nome.
You don't realize that this Is Alaska