Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-16
Don't yo, interfere. You're dead mel,
II you do"
"Then all the worse for hlmr

"Then all the worse for himw
Ginger's hut was but a few yards
from the bell. Tom heard them enter
and held his breath. The door was
shut. and then he heard no more.
In the main building all was dark
and still. He watched it keenly, with
his ears, as 1t were, upon the hut be-
hind. At last the door rcopened, and
he heard the striking of lucifers, ac-
companied by another sound, rs Of
something being dragged from the hut.
He looked round, and it was Ginger's
bed. The overseer lay upon it, bound
and gagged.
Tom drew deep breath. lie had
expected worse.
Brummy and Roberts were now dis
patched to the conyicts' huts to tell the
rest at the right moment what was
happening and how they would all be
free men within an hour If they alb
stained from interference, but dead
men If they did not. Then the black
crept up close to the palisade. while
Hockey rode to one side and the other
two hid behind trees. Meanwhile the
overseer's hut was beginning to crackle,
and all at once Tom saw the shadow
of his tree leap out toward the palisade
upon ground of glazing red.
Ring! RingW cried Hockey from
his horse.
Almost with his words a terrific
clang, clang, clang, burst out from
amid the red gums leaves, and almost
with the alarm q couple of white fig
ures leaped out into the red glare be
hind the pallsade
Tom stood and watched like an actor
who has forgotten he Is on the stage.
himself.
He saw the white figures dash
through the gate and black one glide
In front of it next moment. He saw
Nat Sullivan stop running, seize his
fathers arm and point excitedly to
ward the burning hut. He saw them
both about to turn when the son was
lifted off his legs rs though he had
been an infant, and there were coal
black arms entwined about his night
shirt and snow white teeth grinning
over his shoulder. Hockey Simpson
galloped up. Slipper and Wall-eye dart
ed from behind their trees. All had
pistols In their hands and masks upon
their faces, and the masks reminded
Tom That he was looking on through
one himself and had no business to be
locker on at ALL
He had vaguely wondered why the
bell was still ringing. Now he let go
the rope and ran a step or two for
ward, but they were four to two with
out him. and the four We're armed, and
watch he must.
The Sulllvans were being dragged or
driven backward upon the palisade.
Tom could make little of the swaying,
struggling group, for Hockey Simpson
brought up the"rear on his horse, but
through the animals legs he had
glimpses Of futterlng calico and spar
king spurs as the glare grew more
and more intense. 1t was now as light
as day. Every board of the main
building stood out in abnormal detail
against the blackened sky, while the
shadows Of the palisade made glow
Ing gridlron of the yard within.
The scuffle was over. Something was
happening that Tom could not see
when fake of redhot bark lit upon
his ear. He was face about In time to
see the roof of the burning hut tumble
in and column of clean fame spout
high Into the night. Aid there was
the wretched Ginger writing In his
bonds within reach Of the burning
walls and with the fame Of a fallen
brand licking the very camp bed on
which he lay.
This time Tom did not forget his
part. He Ignored it and had the over
seer out Of harms way In few sec
onds. In two more his mask was
among the rest and his pistol pointed
with the others Mt the two white fig
ures that now stood side by side
against the palisade, with torn night
shirts and cllnched fists, defenseless,
but still defiant
Now, look you here, my fine gentle
men!" exclaimed Hockey from his sad
die. IF you've got any sense between
you, let's see you show it. You'll
only cut things shorter IL you don't