Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-25


north were in their hands, as they
thought, and there was not one to hesi-
tate. Glenister implored the chairman,
but the man answered him:
It's too late for further discussion,
and let me remind you Of your prom
lse: You're bound by every obligation
that exists for an honorable man"
"Oh, don't think that I'll give the
snap away" said the other; "but
warn you not to enter Stillman's
house."
He followed out into the night to
find that Dextry had disappeared, evil
IDENTITY wishing to avoid argument. Roy
had seen signs Of unrest beneath the
prospector's restraint during the past
few days, and indications of fierce
hunger to vent his spleen on the men
who had robbed him of his most scored
rights He was of an intolerant, vim.
dictive 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 bit.
terly, for, measured by the standards
of the frontier. they we're pirates with
their lives forfeit. Yet, he could not
countenance this step. If only the
Vigilantes would be content with max
ing an example-but he knew they
would not. The blood hunger of a mob
is easy to whet and hard to hold. Nc
Namara would resist, as would Voor-
hees and the district attorney, then
there would be bloodshed, riot, chaos.
The soldiers would be called out AMI
martial law declared, the streets would
become skirmish grounds The Vigil
lantes would route them without ques.
ton, 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-her?
He took down his Winchester, oiled
and cleaned 1t, then buckled on a belt
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 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 Vigilantes, but this change
that had mastered him-what was TT
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,
but no man should enter her house.
He found light shining from hel
parlor window, and, noting the shade
through, he discovered Strive and
Helen talking. He skunk back into the
shadows and remained hidden for 9
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 returned 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 neck
and shoulders in tumbled brown
masses. while her breast heaved tu
multuously at the sudden, grim sight
of him. She stepped back against the
wall, her wondrous, deep, gray eyes
wide and troubled, the blush of mod
esty struggling with the pallor of dis
may.
The picture panied him like knife
thrust. This girl was for his bitterest
enemy-no hope Of her was for him
He forgot for moment that she was
false and plotting, then, recalling 1t
spoke roughly as he might and stated
his errant. Then the old man had ap
peared on the stairs above, speechlese
with fright at what he overheard. II
was evident that his nerves, so sorely
strained by the events Of the past
week, were now snapped utterly A
human soul naked and panic-stricker
is no pleasant sight, so Gleniste1
dropped 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 inquiringly
What outrage is this, Mr.. Clients
teri"
The people Of Nome are up in arms
and I've come to save you. Don't stoI
to argue" He spoke impatiently.
Is this some r-ruse to get me ints
your power?''
Uncle Arthur" exclaimed the cir
sharply. Her eyes met Glenister's ant
begged him to take no offense.
II don't understand this atrocity
They must be mad!" walled the Judge
You run over to the Jail, Mr.. Clients
ter, and tell Voorhees, to hurry guards
here to protect me. Helen, phone K
the military post and give the alarm
Tell them the soldiers must come a
once"
Hold ont" said Glenister. There,
no use of doing that-the wires ar,
cut; and I won't notify Voorhees-h,
can take care Of himself came t,
help you, and If you want to escape
you'll stop talking and hurry up
| II don't know what To doo sol,