Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01


made for the door, with face set and
eyes watchful and alert, knowing that
hairs weight might shift the bal
ence and cause these men TO rive him
like wolves.
Lees Indignation at this miscarriage
Of Justice had him so by the throat as
TO strange cxpostulation for a mo-
ment TIL be saw the soldier actually
bearing off his quarry.
"Stop that" he beloved. "To HI
with your lawl We're goin' accordir'
70 our own An omlnous echo arose,
and In the midst Of 1t the miner In his
blind fury. forgetting this exalted posi-
ton, took a step too near the edge OF
the bar and fell off into the body Of
the meeting. With him fell the dig.
uity OF the assemblage. Some one
laughed, another took it up, the nerv-
Gus tension broke, and a man crlcd
The soldier Is rlCIt! Iuu can't
blame dinge for stealing" And an
other: Sure, Hogs and chickens are
legitimate prey"
Lee was helped back to his stand
and called for order, but the crowd
poked fun Mt him and began moving
about restessy till some one shouted
a motion TO adjourn and there arose 81
chorus OF secoCdcrs.
As Pcleon ard Gale walked home the
Frenchman said, Dat was nervy ting
to do
The trader made no answer, and the
other continued, "stark Is goln' for
klll I'm sure"
'It's a cinch," agreed Gale, unless
somebody gets Stark first"
When they were come TO his door the
trader paused and, looking back over
the glowing tents and up at the star
sprlnkled heavens. remarked. as II con
Guiding some train Of thought, "if that
boy has got the nerve to take Il nicCcr
thief ont Of miners meeting and hold
him against this whole town he
wouldn't hesitate much at taking
white man. would heE'
"Naal," hesitGteL the other, "mebbe
dat would Deepen on de crime"
Suppose 1t was murder?"
"Ha, We ain got no men LAX dat
IN Flambeau."
They said good night. and the old
man entered his house to find Alluna
waiting for him.
Burrcll took his prisoner to the bar
racks, where he placed him under
guard. giving Instructions to hold him
ut any cost not knowing what wild
and reckless humor the new citizens of
Tlambcau might develop during the
night, for 1t Is men who have always
llvcd with the halter Of the law tight
upon their necks who run widest
when It is removed.
After he had taken every prccaution
be went out into the night AGAIN and
fought with himself as he had fought
oil that day and all the nioht before
in fact, ever since old Thomas had
come to him after leaving Nicola and
had so cunnInsly shaped his tall, that
IUrrcn never suspected his object un-
I'll lie perceived his position in such a
clear light that the young man looked
back upon his work with startled eyes.
Tho corporal haG spoken CarrulOuslv
Of his officers family. of their pride
and of their love for his profession;
had dwell enthusiastically upon the
lleutenant's future and the length he
was sure to 20 and finally driflcd into
the same story he had told Necia Bur
rel at last sensed the meaning Of the
crafty old soldiers strategy and dis
missed him, but not before his work
lad been accomplished.
When BuTell drove his reason with
firm hands he saw but one course to
follow, but when his mind went slack
for q moment the old desire to have
her returned more strongly than ever.
and he heard voices arguing. pleading.
rersuading. She was the equal of any
woman in the world. they said in
mind. N purity ana in innocence. He
lated himself for hostatinc. he rallied
at his own indecison, and then when
h had justified his love and persuaded
himself that he was right in seeking
this union there would rise again the
picture Of his people. thei, chagrin and
what would result from such mar
riage
lie had wandered far during this de-
bate. clear past the town and out
~