Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-08-10
CHAPTER XIII.
81 - Nt

gan dripping again from his wound.
which had been torn afresh In his er-
forts to bear Hampton to safety Just
below them mounted trooper caught
sight Of them and came forward He
failed to recognize his officer in the
begrimed person before him, until
called to attention by the voice of
command.
Sims, If there is any water in your
canteen, hand it over Good here.
Marshal, use this. Now, Sims, note
what l say carefully, and don't waste
a minute Tell the first sergeant to
send file of men up here with some
sort Of a litter, on the run. Then you
ride to the Herndon house-the yellow
house where the roads fork, you re-
member-and tell Miss Nadia ellis
(don't forget the name) that Mr.
Hampton has been seriously wounded,
and we are taking him to the hotel.
Can you remember that?"
Eyes, sir"
Then off with you, and don't spare
the horse"
He was gone instantly, and Brant
began bathing the pallid, upturned
face.
you'd better lie down, Marshal"
he commanded. You're pretty weak
from loss of blood and / can do all
there is to be done until those fell
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
vgilantes, 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.
Carry Hampton to his room and
summon medical attendance at once"
he ordered. 81 have a word to say to
those fellows"
Seeing Mr.. Wynkoop on the hotel
porch, Brant 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.
intend breaking the back of this
lynching business right here and
now"
He strobe 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 a con.
fused murmur, that became half z
cheer Brant did not mince his
words.
NOW, look here, men! If you want
any more trouble, We're here to ac
commodate you. Fighting is our
trade, and we don't mind working at
it, But I wish to tell you right now,
and straight off the handle, that you
are simply making a parcel of fools
of yourselves. Slavin has been killed,
and nine out of ten among you are
secretly glad of it. He was a 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
blindly 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 a little sense
into some of you, perhaps you'll listen
to the facts, and if you must hang
some one, put your rope on the right
man. Bob Hampton did not kill Red
Slavin. 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. 'All that is true, men. l
have been trying ever since to tell
you, but no one would listen. Miss
Spencer and l both saw the man jump
from the window; there was blood on
his right arm and hand. He was mis-
shapen creature whom neither Of us
ever saw before. and he disappeared
on a run up that ravine. l have no
doubt he was Slavin's murderer"
Now, you fellows, think that over,
said Brant. Il intend to post a guard
until find out whether you are going
to prove yourselves fools or men, but
if we sail in again those of you who
start the trouble can expect to get
hurt, and pay for the piper That's
all"
Continued in Next Issue)