Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-24
sares RsashIratt Masslallnu,t auna. April - 1909
by the crowd in stark's place, had en-

A man replied TO MS whispered QueS-
ton, giving him the story, for the
meeting was under Lees domination,
and the miners maintained an orderly
and businesslike procedure. The mat
ter Of fact, relentless expedition Of the
affair shocked Burrell inexpressibly,
and, seeing Poleon and Gale near by, he
edged toward them, thinking that they
surely could not be In sympathy with
this barbarous procedure.
"You don't understand, lieutenant
said Gale in low voice. '"Ihis Niger
is thief"
Gentlemen" announced Burrell
standing near the ashen gray wretch
and facing the tentful Of men, 'this
man is 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 hand in all
Of my affairs?"
"This isn't your affair. It's NINE
said the officer. "This is what was
sent here for, and it's my particular
business. You seem to have overlook.
ed that important fact"
"He stole my stuff, and he'll take his
medicine
II say he WON'T"
For the second time in their brief
acquaintance these two men looked
fair into each others eyes. Few men
had dared to look at Stark thus and
live, for when a man has once shed
the blood Of his fellow a mania OBJ
sesses him, disease obtains that is
incurable.
The two men battled with their eyes
for an opening. Lee and the others
mastered their surprise at the inter
ruption and then began to babble un-
til 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 it. I'll hold
him till the next boat comes; then I'll
send him down river to st. Michael's."
He laid his hand upon the negro and
made for the door, with face set and
eyes watchful and alert, knowing that
hairs weight might shift the bal
ance and cause these men to rive him
like wolves.
Lees indignation at this miscarriage
Of justice had him SO by the throat as
to strangle expostulation for mo-
ment till he saw the soldier actually
bearing OFF his quarry.
"Stop that" he beloved. ITO HI
with your law! We're goin' accordin'
to our ownw An ominous echo arose,
and in the midst of 1t the miner in his
blind fury, forgetting this exalted posi-
ton, took step too near the edge of
the bar and fell off into the body of
the meeting. With him fell the dig.
nifty Of the assemblage. Some one
laughed, another took 1t up, the nerv-
Gus tension broke, and man cried:
"The soldier is right! You 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 at him and began moving
about restlessly till some one shouted
motion to adjourn and there arose q
chorus of seconders.
As Poleon and Gale walked home the
Frenchman said, "Dat was nervy ting
to do"
The trader made no answer, and the
other continued, "Stark is goin' fol
kill i'm sure"
cts 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 stal
sprinkled heavens, remarked, as If con
Guiding some train Of thought, "If that
boy has got the nerve to take Niger
thief out Of a miners meeting and hold
him against this whole town he
wouldn't hesitate much at taking 6
white man, would hep
'Waal," hesitated the other, "mebbe
dat would depen' on de crime"
Suppose 1t was-murderw
"Ha! We aim got no men lax da,
In Flambeau."
They said good night, and the OLD
man entered his house to find Alluna
waiting for him.
. =
Burrell took his prisoner to the bar
racks, where he placed him under
guard. giving instructions to hold hin
at any cost, not knowing what wild
and reckless humor the new citizens OF
Flambeau might develop during the
nightA for it is men who have always
lived with the halter Of the law tight
upon their necks who run widest
when 1t is removed.
After he had taken every precaution
he went out into the night again and
fought with himself as he had fought
all that day and all the night before
In fact, ever since old Thomas had
come to him after leaving Necia and
had SO cunningly shaped his talk that
Burrell never suspected his object un.
til he perceived his position in such a
clear light that the young man looked
back upon his work with startled eyes
The corporal had spoken garrulously
OF his officers family, of their pride
and Of their love for his profession
had dwelt enthusiastically upon the
lieutenant's future and the length he
was sure to go and finally drifted into
the same story he had told Necia. Bur.
rell at last sensed the meaning of the
crafty old soldiers strategy and dis.
missed him, but not before his work