The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-22
cHAPrER xvII-contlnued.

"Mmmmi So / hear. And o halnt
J go nobody up round the Farthing
house? Pretty efficient sheriff we've
been dom? Consulting the authorities
on pow-wowin'. I swami ! believe
I'll run for sheriff myself next fall
There was the sound OF brisk foot
steps; a large man was approaching
rapidly.
1 II 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 IL the man held a cooked revolver
in either hand.
IT understand. gentlemen" he began
at once, that you have been in search
of me. / was oyer in the Wild
Meadows until 6 o'clock. When l got
home 1 learned about your visit and
came down as o o as l could get
away. Now, gentlemen, what a l
do for you?"
TITS 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"
'T arrest you. sir. in the name Of the
law" said the y sheriff theatrically.
Hold out your hands,
.T - uO nGtu " lIOllD II 4 liz -
If; I shall not resist or try to escape"
Hold 'em out" he ordered sharply.
The man obeyed without q word, and
the sharp 'click-click' was distinctly
heard by all.
"Did understand you to say that
you was not with the boys this after
noon when they run over the ridge?"
asked Amos, elbowing his way to the
prisoner.
mo, sub, I was not. You scared my
wife almost to death, but she had sand
enough to follow the mob, and she a
the boys and somebody else that looked
to her to be a woman, ran down into
Roaring Run and got through the gap,
I don't know q thing more'n that" The
sheriff squirmed uneasily at the men
ton of the escape through the gap.
What did the boys run for2" 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 II. They'll come back; they'll be
here in time for the hearing. And
here, Squire Hartswick, / 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 nerved up. Won't
somebody do it,"
"Tll go" volunteered Amos quickly.
GLAD to go. Don't you worry one mite,
Mr.. Farthing."
II won't forget this, Amos" said the
man feelingiy. Amos arose and left
the store.
Got a place for him Squire? I'VE
got q guard" There was a business
ring in the sherifr's voice.
Yes; oh. yes. This way" The
Squire hustled out into the darkness
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
the little group huddled about the store
DOR Then the voice Of Lem Fisher
wal heard from behind.
IT see 1t. It's clearer'n mud now. A
Farthing wants to get Into that mouse
still. He's gotn' to spend the night
there. Jest o mind what comes Of
It. S'pose you can tie a hacker with
handouts? Nosuh. The DEVILS In 1t
against tomorrow still. You notice
what / say"
1t was fully 10 O'Clock when Amos
finally started up the turnpike for the
Farthing place. The summer night lay
dark and sultry upon the valley. There
was the threat OF "a thunderstorm; the
heat lightning played in ghostly flick
ers across the south; and the clouds
lay in snaky swaths, with here and
there livid patches where the stars
struggled feebly through. Save for the
notes of a whip-poor-wil 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 a horse and buggy approaching al
furious rate. The horse was evidently
speeding as on q 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 II was gone, and thu
hoof-beats and roaring wheels came
fainter and fainter from h distance
1t was daredevil riding In a night Xix
that. The lantern had showed him {
single figure in the buggy, but whether
q man or woman he could not tell
Who could 1t be plunging into tn
night In that mad fashion? Life In
deed was becoming strenuous In thu
! little valley.
He poked ahead again. As he cam,
near to tho Farthing place he caugh
the CLINT Of a light In the yard, anC
made out q figure beside tia woman
suringly. TITS me. Amos Hardin. Don
you go to work and get scairt."
"Oh, it's you, Amos2" Mrs. Farthing,
voice. I'm awfully glad you've come
!, I'm worried most to death. Where
Allen? Is he all right?" She cam
! close and looked into his face.
! "Snug's a bug" he explained Jovial
ly. They UP and arrested him, bu
I he's Jest as safe as I em,-Jest exactly
4 Don't you worry about him." Hi
CHEEKY manner was reassuring.
n 81 can't understand It," she went OF
4 rapidly. Jim came in Jest q minut
= ago on the run after the colt. He sal
he was going to Gum Stump after Doc
tor Kuack. He said Tom was all right
? but I must go quick rs ! could dow,
!, TO Mller's, for Loney was Jest alive
Then he hitched up the colt n drov
= off the next minute"
. "ShoI What 'spose he meant? Say
. Pd better harness right Ut, hadn't I?
: Yes, I think you had. I'll run In an
: get my medicine box; I'll be read
|. when you are" He hustled into tn
: barn and in five minutes they wer
driving down the pike.
= II van, Ms. F~arthing," he began