The Holly chieftain., 1909-05-07
6. The Barrier
BY =
Rex Beach
,xalo.1. 80. W MAaeea 8 aRorMgaA

$g&A 0o
an exa mpte NJ WA eseyate rne ni"rai
tone Of our community f0g u year
What yah aim to dor" whined the
thief.
Were goin' to try yos.' announced
the one eyed miner .'apd II you're
found guilty. as you certainly are goin
to he. yOu'll be fogged. after which
perdicament you'll have nice ride
downstream on a saw log without
your laundry"
But the mOsquItoeS''-
Too bad yon didn't think Of them
before Let's get Ut this. boys. and
have 1t over with
A miners meeting WAS called Oh the
spot and messenger sent hurrying
to the post for the book In which was
recorded the laws OF the men who had
made the camp. The crowd WAS de-
gally and as prescribed BY ancient GUS
tom up and down the river There
was no defense for culprit. and he
offered none. being too scared TO do
more than plead. The proceedings.
were quiet and grim and were well
nigh over when Lieutenant Burrell
walked into the saloon. He had been
in his quarters all day. fighting II fight
with himself. and In the late evening,
rebelling aga inst his war with his con-
science, he had sailed out and. drawn
by the crowd In stark's place. had en-
tered.
A man replied to bis whispered Iues-
tion, giving him the story for the
meeting was under Lees domination,
and the miners maintained M orderly
and businesslike procedure. The mai
ter Of fact. relentless expedition oeths
affair shocked Burreli inexpress!bly,
and. seeing Poleon and Gale near by lie
edged toward them. thinking ttist Whey
surely could not be In sympathy with
this barbarous procedure. Al.:sa
You don't understand. lieutenant"
said Gale in ! low yoicss This niggeA
II : thief!'' +, s.,,-... !, q. ss
..Gentlemen,. a,iilHoui1ted .Burref.
standing near the ashen gray wretch
and facing the tentfui of men. This
man IL a thief. but YOU can't kill him"
Stark leaned across the bar. his
eyes blazing. and touched the lieuten-
ant on the shoulder
''Do you mean to take y hand ip al
Of my affairs?"
This isn't your affair. Its mine."
said the officer. This IL what was
sent here for. and It's my particular
ksva tn <spl.,n
ed that important fact"
He stole my stun, and he'll take his
medicine
Il say hs WON'T"
For the second time In their brief
acquaintance these Two men looked
fair into each others eyes. Few Jnep
had dared to look at Stark thus and
live. for when man has once shed
the blood Of his fellow mania ob-
sesses him. y disease obtains that ~
lncurable
The two men battieA with their eyes
for an opening. Lee and the others
mastered their surprise at the inter-
ruption and then iiegan to babble un.
III Burrell turned from the gambler
and threw up his arm for silence.
There's no use arguing" he told
the mob. "You can't do 1t. III hold
him till the next boat comes; then III
send him down river to It. Michael's,"
He laid his hand upon the negro and
made for the door, with face set and
eyes watchful and alert. knowing that
q hairs weight might shift the bal
ance and eaHse these men To rive him
like wolves.
Lees indignation vt this miscarriags
Of Justice had him 40 BY the throat as
to strangle "xlNstulation for ,pu-
ment till he saw the soldier actually
hearing off his quarry.
"stop that" he bellowed. ITO hll
with your lnR. We're goin' accordin'
to our owny" An oininphs echo arose,
and in the midst Of 1t the miner in bis
blind fury, forgetting this exalted posi-,
tiou. took a step too nenr the edge Of
the bar and fell Of into thc body Of
the meeting. With him fell the dig
ptty Vt the assemblaga. Some One
taugbc.i, smother took Il mp, the nery.
ogs tension broke, and man cried:
"TiW so.ficY " right: You can't
blame ii dlnge fcr stcaliDg" And an-
Other: Sure! Eogs and chickens afe
lcgl innate prey
Lee WAS helped l'ack to hisS stand
ard rnI,ed for order, hut the Srowi
ro!.cd fra vi him and began moving
sb"ut rcs:,ess!y ~ some ane shouted
. mnti'a t,ni urn aud there arose
ci!cr,, \, Sc or.rrs.
AZ iGIet,ii nnl Gu,l, walked llnmp the