The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-14

IAN SAW was the crowd blocking
the doorway Iknew they had caught
me lying on slayin; with my hand
graspIns the lnife;hilts and, somehow,
/ couldn't think Of anything Just then
but how to get out Of there into the
open. ne seen yigtlantes turn loose
before and knew what was likely to
happents
Sure Recognize anybody in that
flrst btnehg's Il y
eBig Jim, the bartender, was the
only one knew; he had a bung,start-
er Ii his hand"
Mason nodded thoughtfully, his
mouth puckered. Its him, and half
dozen other fellers Of the same
stripe who are hckin, up all this fra:
cas The most Of 'em are yonder
now an II It wusn't fer leayin' a pris-
oner unprotected, darn me II / wudn't
like 70 mosey right down thar an
pound d little boss sense into that
bunch O cattle. Thet's bout the only
thing We kin do fer a plum fool, SO
long as the law won't let ye Kill
him.
Tmreally sorry that You got mixed
up n this Buck said Hampton,
atoriiklooks to me about nine chances
out Of ten against either Of us getting
away from here unhurt"
ION; 1 don't know. It's bin my ex.
perietce thet there's alters chances II
you only keep yer eyes skinned. II
We kin5 only manage to hold 'em back
iii after dark we maybe might creep
aWaythrough the bush to take hand
M thls little game. Anyhow, it's up
70 IL to play It out to the limit. Bless
nv eyes. II those lads amt a.comin'
np Hight now!"
Ahalfdozen men were starting to
climb the hillside, following dim
tran thfouehs the tangled underbrush.
Mason stepped up to the ore dump
where he could see better, and watch
ed their movements closely.
an therei,t he called, his voice
harsh and strident. you fellers are
not invited to this picnic, an there'll
sc somethtn, dom il you push along
any higher
The little bunch halted instantly
lust without the edge Of the heavy
timber. turning their faces up toward
ne sneaker. 4,ss.-.s,
NOW, see here, Buck, answered
one taking a single step ahead of the
others. and following his hand as a
trumpet to speak through, ut don't
look to us fellers as II this affair was
any, Of your funeral, nohow, and we've
come long ahead Of the others Just
on;pufpose to give you fair show to
begins. SabeP
Is thet sol?
The little marshal was too tar away
for them to perceive how his teeth
set beneath the bristly mustache.
You. bet! The boys don't consider
tibet It's hardly the square deal your
taktn' up agin 'em in this way. They
lected you marshal OF this yere camp,
but 1t Tarn't expected you'd ever taKe
noisides long with murderers: Thets
too stiff fer;us to abide by. SO come
on down Buck, an leave us 10 at
tend to the cuss.
f you mean Hampton, hes my
prisoner; VIII you promise to let me
take him down to Cheyenne FER
trial"
wal, ! reckon not, old man. We
hin give him trial well nousn mere
IN Glencatd, roared another voice
from one OF the group, whlch was ap-
parently growing restless over tne ae'
10y But We amt inclined 70 40 you
no harm onless ye ram In too tar'
socome on down, Buck, throw up yer
cards; we've got all the aces an ye
can't blum this whole durn camp
Mason spat into the dump contemp'
ed you're a tine.loohn' lot o law
abidtn, citizens, you are! Blamed II
Won Amt, This yere man, Bob Hamp.
ton. Is my prisoner, an I'll take him
d cheyenne If / have ter brain every
tough in Glencaid to do 1t, Thet's
ma oents.1 HaR
anb come Of: YOU can't run your
notions agin the whole blame moral
Sentiment Of this camp
'Moral sentiment! I'm backin' up