, 1908-09-24

He was gone instantly, and Bran.
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
nve n later they were toilinz
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,
n 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.
Garry Hampton to his room and
summon medical attendance at once"
he ordered. Il 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 nat true"
The missionary nodded.
Good; hen 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; hen suddenly a reaction
came, and the American spirit of air
play. the frontier appreciation of bull
dog courage, burst forth into a con-
fused murmur, that became half a
cheer. Brant did not mince his
words.
Now. look here. men! II you want
n 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 on 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
Inc dive keepers-accuse Bob Hamp-
ton of having killed MIN. 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 you1l listen
to the facts, n IL 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 I
have bee trying ever since to tell
you, but no one would listen. Miss
Spencer and | both saw the man 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 ravine. ! ave no
doubt he was Slavin's murderer"
Now, you fellows. think that over"
said Brant. Il intend to post a guard
until | find tut whether you are going
to prove yourselves fools or men. but
II we sail in again those of you who
start the trouble can expect to get
hurt, and pay for the piper. That's
all"
n, In front of the hotel porch he met
his first sergeant coming out.
What does the doctor say about
Hampton"
"A very bad wound, sir; but not nee
essariiy fatal: he has regained ON
sciousness."
"HasEMiss Gillis arrived
II don't know. sir; there's q young
woman cryin' in the parlor."
5 The lieutenant leaped up the steps
and entered the house. But is was
Miss Spencer. not Nadia, who sprang
to her feet.
"Oh, Lieut.. Brant: can 1t be truly
you.-How perfectly awful you look!
Do you know II Mr.. Hampton is really
going to def i came here Just to
md, out, about him. and tell Nadia
Shea is almost frantic, poor thing"
Though Brant doubted Miss Spen-
GERS honestyrsof statement. his reply
was direct and unhesitating. Il am
informed that he has a good chance
to live, and l nave already dispatched
word to Miss ellis regarding his con-
dition. / expect her at any moment"
How very nice 1t was OF you! oh.
l. trembled so when you first e to
face those angry men! / don't see
how you ever dared do It. I did wish
that either Mr.. Moffat or Mr.. Mcneil
could have been here to go with you.
L A- n.a.a aa,,la nonl,r hin atAnnAE..a