Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07

death. and with the Red Light"
crowd behind them they would ex-
perience no trouble in getting n fol-
lowing desperato enough for any pur-
pose.
The longer Keith thought the less
he doubted the result. 1t was not then
a problem of defence, but of escape.
for he believed now that no oppor-
tunity to defend himself would ever
be allowed. The arrest was merely
part of the plot intended to leave him
helpless in the hands of the mob. In
this Hicks was III no way bamable-
he had merely performed his sworn
in defence of his prisoner, He was
no tool. but only an instrument they
had found means of using.
Keith was essentially a man OF &C
tion a fighter By instinct, and so long
accustomed to danger that the excite
ment of 1t merely put new fire into his
veins. Now that he understood exact
ly what threatened, all numbing feel
ing OF hesitanCy and doubt vanished,
and he became Instantly alive. Tie
would not lie there in that hole walt
ing for the formation OF mob; nor
would he trust in the ability Of the
marshal to defend him.
He had some friends withOut--not
many, for he was but an occasional
visitor at Carson-whO would rally to
lIiGlr'c iSt hut th.-a U't1f'j rTf
be enough on the side OF law and or
der to overcome the Red Light" out
1T, If once they scented blood. If he
YVES TO be saved from their clutches,
he must save himself; If his limo
cence was ever established II would
be by his own exertions--and he could
accomplish this only out yonder. free
under the arch Of sky
He lifted his head, every nerve tin
Cling with desperate determination.
The low growl of voices was audible
through the partition, but there was
no other sound. Carson City was still
resting. and there would be no crowd
nor excitement until much later Not
until nightfall would any attack be at
tempted; he had six or eight hours yet
in which to perfect his plans. He
ran his eyes about the room searching
for some spot Of weakness. 1t was
dark back of the bench and he turned
In that direction. Leaning over, he
looked down on the figure Of q man
curled up. sound asleep on the floor.
The fellows limbs twitched as If In a
dream, otherwise he might have deem
ed him dead, as his face was buried
IN his arms. A moment Keith hesi-
tated; then he reached down and
shook the sleeper, until he aroused
sufficiently to look up, 1t was the
face of coal-black negro. An In
slant the fellow stared at the man
towering over him, his thick lips part
ed, his eyes full OF sudden terror
Then he sat up, with hapds held be-
fore him as though warding Off a
blow
"Fo' de Lawd's sake" he managed
to articulate finally, "am dis sho' yo',
Massa Jack?"
Keith. to whom all colorcd people
were much alike, laughed at the ex'
preston on the negro's face.
Il reckon yer guessed the name. all
right, boy, Were you the cook OF
the Diamond II"
mo- sab, nebber cooked no dionds
Use OIL Neb, sab"
What"
Yes, sab, Use de boy dat llbbed
wild oil Missus Cation durin dc wah,
amt seen yo', Massa Jack, sence de
day we buried yo' daddy, OF Massa
Keith. But | mowcd 20 de berry
minute ] woke up, Sho' yo' members
Neb, sah?"
II came to Keith now In sudden
rush OF memory-the driszling rain
IN the little cemetery, the few neigh