The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-07-22
CHAPTER xvn-continued

Whats the use?" he answered hot
fy. They didn't go through that gap,
and you know 1t. There hasn't been
any tracks through that gap since the
rain"
"Mmmm! So l hear. And you hain't
house? Pretty efficient sheriff we've
got In this county. What have yeh
been dom? Consulting the authorities
on ~pow-wowin'. l swami, l believe
III run for sheriff myself next fall"
There was the sound Of brisk foot
steps: a large man was approaching
rapidly.
1t was Allen Farthing.
Lem Fisher started from his seat and
stole into the back store as IL the devil
had come. The sheriff arose. but said
nothing. All looked with hanging jaws
as If the man held a cooked revolver
In either hand.
II understand, gentlemen" he began
at once, that you have been in search
Of me. l was W in the Wild
Meadows until s o'clock. When 1 got
home / learned about your visit and
came down as soon as l could get
away. Now. gentlemen. what "a I
do for your"
IT'S a lie!" The words came from
the Squire in a smothered heap. We've
got a dozen men right here who saw
you In the gap this afternoon, and saw
you run over the ridge. That talk
don't go here"
law said the sheriff theatrically.
Hold out your hands"
There's no need of irons, Mr.. Sher-
If; I shall not resist or try to escape."
"Hold 'em out" he ordered sharply.
The mar obeyed without a word, and
the sharp ''click-click" was distinctly
heard by all.
Sn{d 7 ,r1erStord wa, tp saw that
you was not with the boys this after
noon when they u over the ridge?"
ask ed Amos. elbowing his way to the
prisoner. d
mo, sub, I was not. YOU scared my
wife almost to death, but she a sand
enough to follow the mob, and she said
the boys and somebody else that looked
to her to be a woman ran down into
Roaring Run and got through h gap.
/ don't know a thing more'n that" The
sheriff squirmed uneasily at the men
ton OF the escape through the gap.
What did the boys III for7" cross
examined Amos.
Il don't know more'n you do. They
probably got into a panic, and from
what my wife says there was reason
for it. They'll ONE back; they'll be
here in time for the hearing. And
here, Squire Hartswick, I demand a
hearing tomorrow morning. And I
wish somebody'd be kind enough to run
up and stay with my wife. She's all
alone and frightfully neryed up. Won't
somebody do it?"
TIL CO." volunteered Amos quickly.
Glad to go. Don't you worry one mite.
Mr.. Farthing."
II won't forget this, Amos" said the
ma feelingly. Amos arose and left
the store.
Got a place for him Squire? I've
got a guard" There was a business
ring in the sherif's voice.
so,, Hes; ,, oni yes o,,t TN, This tn wa y rkn The
followed by the sheriff and his pris-
oner. The men from Sugar Valley
arose and fell In behind.
For q time there was silence among
h little group huddled abou the store
door. Then the voice of Lem Fisher
was heard from behind.
II see 1t. It's clearer'n mud now. Al
Tarthfng wants to get into hat house
still. He's gotn' to spend the night
there. Jest you mind what comes Of
it. S'pose you IAN tie a hacker with
handouts? Nosuh. The devils In it.
against tomorrow still. You notice
what / say"
It was fully 10 o'clock when Amos
finally started UP the turnpike for the
Farthing place. The summer night lay
and sultry upon the valley. There
was the threat Of q thunderstorm; the
heat lightning played in ghostly flick
ers across the south; and the clouds
lay In snaky swaths, with here and
there liyid patches where the stars
struggled feebly through. Save for the
ervou notes OF q whip-poor-will In
the near meadow. and the steady drone
OF the waters In the Run, the night was
silent.
Then Amos caught another sound.
and Strengthened up to listen-the sound
of q horse and buggy approaching at
furious rate. The horse was evidently
speeding as on a race track, and he
was coming nearer every instant. Au-
tomatically Amos stepped into the
ditch and held up his lantern. "A mo-
ment and the Wild whirlwind was right
upon him. then 1t was gone, and the
hoof-beats and roaring wheels came
fainter Inc fainter from the distance.
It was daredevil riding in a night like
that, The lantern had showed him q
single figure In the buggy. but whether
who could u be plunging into the
night In that mad fashion? Life In
deed was becoming strenuous In the
little valley.
He poked ahead again. AS he came
near to tho Farthing place he caught
the CLINT OF a light In the yard. and
made cut 2 figure beside tia woman,
suringly. Its me, Amos Hardin. Don't
you go to work and get acairt."
.Oh.Sitso you. Amcs2. Mrs. Farthing'i
voice. I'm awfully glad you've come
I'm worried most to death. Where's
Allen? Is he all right?' She came
close and looked into his face.
"Snug's q bug he explained jovial-
|ly. They up and arrested him, bui
he's Jest az safe as I em,-jest exactly
Don't youworry about him. Hi,
CHEEKY manner was ~reassuring.
81 CANT understand 1T" she went OF
RAPIDLY. Jim came in Jest minut,
ago on the run after the colt. He sail
ne was going to Gum Stump after Doe
ltor Kuack. He said Tom was all right
but must 80 quick as I could dow
to. Mlller's. for Loney was Jest alive
Then he htched up the colt and drov
Lon the next minute
#sSho What srose he meant? Say
lid better harness. right up, hadn't +?
e.. think you had. III run Al an,
get my medicine box; TN be read
vixen you are He BUSTED Into tn
barn and In Ave minutes they wer
driving down III pike.
van, Ms. Farthing. he begaT