Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-22

y the tuke OF III" CIltiN 'HV p''ooh
er hesitated and the muscles In his
arms and chest grew rigid. Those OF
the crowd nearest 10 him drew back.
e a sudden change swept over the
mans features and he walked quick
ly to the stake and knceled before It.
The thongs about his wrist were tied
to the straps OF the cross.piece and
the whipper took his position. AS the
first lash fell, a cry burst from the
lips of the victim. When the whip
descended again be was silent. A
curious sensation Of sickness crept
over Nathaniel as nc saw the red
gashes thicken on the white flesh.
Five tlmes-six ~times-seven times
the whip rose and fell and he could
see the blood starting. In horror he
turned his eyes away, Behind him q
man grinned at the Wilderness OF his
face and the involuntary trembling of
his lips. Again and again he heard
the lash fall upon the naked back.
From near him there came the sob
bling moan Of q Oma A subdued
movement. a sound as OF murmuring
wordless voices swept through the
throng. A steady glitter filled the eyes
OF the man who had laughed at him
and he turned again to the stake. The
mans back was dripping with blood.
Great red seams lay upon his Shout
dcrs and a single lash had cut his
bowed neck. Another stroke, ore
fierce than the others, and MacDougall
turned away from the figure at the
post, breathing hard. The guards I'M
fastened the victims wrist-thrOngs
and the man staggered to his feet. AS
he swayed down through the path that
opened for him his crimson back
shone in the sun.
Great Cod" gasped Nathaniel.
He turned to Obadiah and was star
tied by the appearance of the old man.
The councillors face was CHASTITY. His
mouth twitched and his body trcm-
BLEED. Nathaniel took his arm SYM
pathetically.
Hadn't we better go, dad?" he
whispered.
Northumberland yet, Nat. lists
Neil and | must see how the
boy-stands i'll"
1t was but a short time before the
guards returned. This time their
prisoner walked free and erect. The
thongs dangled from his wrists and
he was a pace ahead of the two men
who accompanied him. He was Il
young man. Nathaniel judged his age
at twenty-five. lie was a striking on
trast to the man who had suffered
first at the post. His face instead of
b%etraying the formers pallor was
flushed with excitement; his head was
held high; not a sign of fear or hest
tation shone in his eyes. AS he glanced
quickly around the circle of faces the
flush grew deeper In his cheeks. He
nodded and smiled at MacDougall and
in that nod and smile there was a
whipmasto4's heart. Then his eyes fell
upon Obadiah and Nathaniel. lie
saw the councillors hand resting upon
the young captains arm and a flash
of understanding passed over his face
For an instant the eyes of the two
young men met. The man at the post
took half n step forward. His lips
moved as If he was on the point OF
speaking, the defiant smile went out
of his face. the flush faded in his
cheeks. Then he turned quickly and
held out his hands to the guards.
AS the young man kneeled before
the post Nathaniel heard a smothered
sob at his side which he knew came
from Obadiah.
Come, dad" he said softly. 81
cant stand this. Let's get away"
He showed the councillor back. The
lash whistled through the air behint
him. as 1t fell there came a piercint
cry. II was a woman's voice. ant
with a snarl like that of a tortured
animal the old man struck down Ma
thaniel's arm and clawed his way
back to the edge of the line. On the
opposite side there was a surging II
the crowd and as MacDougall RAISED
his whip a woman burst through.
MY God" cried Nathaniel
its"
lie left the rest Of the words IN
spoken. His veins leaped with fire
A single sweep Of his powerful arms
and he had forced himself through thu
innermost line of spectators. Within
a dozen feet OF him stood Strang
wife. her beautiful hair ~disheveled. he
face deadly white, her bosom hea VIM
as II she had been running. In a me
ment her eyes had taken in the situa
tinn-fhe man af the stake. the UP