The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-16
CHATTER KIM.
~, noer ctnUes.

The Doef Closes.
Totally exhausted, the two men
dropped their heavy burden on me
Earth Mason sWore as the blood be-
"A dripping again from IFS wound,
which had been toVa afresh IN his -
forts to bear Hamproa 70 safety. just
below them q mounted trooper caught
sight Of them and came forward. He
failed To recognize his oficer In the
,begrlmed person before him, Huh
called to attention b. he voice q
command
"simS, Il there Il any WAaor IN geur
canteen, hand q over. Good; here,
Marshal use this. Now, Sims, nOte
what / say carefully. and delS waste
. minute Tell the first sergeant 30
send q hle Of men up here with some
sort Of litter, on the run. T1A yon
ride to the Herndon house-the gelloI
house where the roads fork, gou re-
member-and tell Miss Naida ellis
don't forget the namel that ME.
Hampton has been seriously Reundeds
and we are taking him to the hOtel.
Can you remember that7"
Eyes, Iir."
"Then Oh with you, and don't spare
the horse"
He was gone instantly, and Braut
began bathing the pallid, upturned
face.
%You'd better lie down. Marshal"
he commanded. You're pretty weak
from loss Of blood, and l can do all
there Is to be done until those fet
lows get here"
In Is minutes they appeared, and
FIVE minutes later they were toiling
slowly down to the valley, Brant walk
ing beside his still unconscious rival.
Here and there down the street, but
especially about the steps of the occi-
dental, were gathered the discounted
.vigilantes, busily discussing the affair.
and cursing the watchful, silent
guard. AS these caught sight of the
little party approaching there were
shouts Of .derision. The sight and
sound .angered Brant.
Gary Hampton to his room and
summon medical attendance at once"
he ordered. II have a word to say to
those fellows"
Seeing Mr.. Wynkoop on the hotel
porch, Braut said to him: miss
Spencer informed me that you saw a
man leap from the back window Of the
Occidental. Is. that true?"
The missionary nodded.
Good; then come along with me.
I intend breaking the back Of this
lynchlng business right here and
now"
He sgode directly across the street
to the steps of The Occidental, his
clothing scarcely more than smolder-
ing rags: The crowd stared at him
sullenly then suddenly a reaction
came, and the American spirit; of fair
play, the frontier appreciation Of bull
dog courage, burst forth into con.
fused murmur, that became half a
cheer Brant did not mlnce his
words.
'How, look here, men! Hyou want
any more trouble, we're here to &C.
comuofate you. Fighting is our
trade, and we don't mind working at
It. But Z wish to tell you right now,
and straight on the handle, that you
are simply making a parcel Of fools
Of yourselves. SlaYin has been killed,
and nine out OF ten among you are
secretly glad of 1t. He was curse
to this camp, but because some Of his
friends and cronies-thugs, gamblers
and dive keepers-accuse Bob Hamp-
ton Of having killed him, you start in
bilndly to lynch Hampton, never even
waiting to find out whether the charge
is the truth or a lie. You act like
sheep, not American citizens, Now
that we have pounded little sense
into some of you, perhaps you'll listen
to the facts, and II you must hang
some one, put your rope on the right
man. Bob Hampton did not kill Red
slayin. The fellow who did kill him
climbed out of the back window OF
the Occidental here, and got away,
while you were chasing the wrong
man, Mr.. wynkoop saw him, and so
did your school teacher, Miss spen'
GER"
Then wynkoop stepped gamely to
the front. IAN that is true, men. !
have been trying ever since to tell
you, but no one would listen. Miss
Spencer and 1 both saw theman jump
from.the window; there was blood on
his right arm and hand, He was a mis-
shapen creature whom neither Of US
ever saw before, and he disappeared
on a run up that rayIne. ] have NO
doubt he was slayinls murderer
NOV. you fellows, think that over,
sSid Btant u intend to post Q guard
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