Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13


neck for n nettor vev A ,,tt,e nrocess,on of -,o
was moving slowly from the rear of The cortbo,ar 70
the speakers stand Tho psychological moment I'D
arrived. and vet no man in that whole biz cro.d
Seemed 70 know what to do Or to have thc norvo 70
epoal; above his breath McCortcr stood If as ong rs
ho cnr1d nu+ 49, ~ ,..,o ia n.;raa W. w.,
foot of thc stems is,dnp ~, IA tho q4o,d and No INN
had 80 much rs lifted his hat his patience gave ont
Sprngng unon an upturncd barrel and wavng billet
Of wood in lien Of p ha+ he eel He'd olo-d for t1;er
cheers for orr ,ext royrrror,'
70 his wrathful amazen,@nt. not one voice followed
his own. but all around him were mutcr1nrs Of arcer
and dersion some one Tilted tbc barrel mon With
he was standing end compelled him TO ,eap hastily
the ground If he could have identified ihc c,p~t
there would have been blows and p fgbL is IT y:y
his anger hardened into a s;il!on determination 20
hend the stupid crowd to his own will. Once or tv;re
before during the camraicn he had struck lust ST. h
Il LOT Of froZon iavs--only thero had never been so
many Of :hcm--and every time before the meeting
was over he'd had them throwing heir hats in the
mir and yelling like Il bunch Of pintes
I'm have You yet, damn vou' he muttereti "You're
been reading pack Of lies and Won tbink he's c,iqg
IN losc Yorrn afraid voirI he loft an fro short
side You COYOTES Won, I ,nll Won hnU carry the
state nc erro ns cod ma1o riftlo 'fsbos
His voice had risen again and half dozen of those
about him turned to look; and listened to his Grade
When he stopped they forgot him. and turned back to
the group upon the platform But somewhere in the
thick of the gathering thron men had caught si:ht
of the man on the barrel and been filled with sudden
ast0nishment When they had EXCHANGED speech with
each other they shouldcrcd their way to his silc
Drunk sober, the boss be looked after. One
of them pulled at his elbow
MACK. how in yellow hell did you git off tn
tain? Do YOU sprout wings wherever you git fu?'
1t was the face and voice of Dan Pickens. Nc
Carter recognized him. but the recognition BROUGHT
only confusion Pckeus had always scofred at poll
tics being but stupid variation Of the shell and
thimblc game" and had ridicued McCarer's hero
as a "kidglove saint" What had walked him up?
But things had been happening over yondar the
platform and now fellow was Just finishing read
ing of a proc amation. Involuntariv Dave
intended TO carry the crowd Of its feet VET but he
must get a chance at them from the front where
they'd have to hear him.
Sec here. Dan what do 20 think Of EN-: All
guy in black"
"1Lc guy in black" escorted by two Others
of the platform.
Above the head of the man in black stout oak
beam was sunportCd at either end by two massive
hosts Wound closely about the hean-presen.Iy to
serve an Instrument Of dcath-was rope. Nc
lines of perpexty across his forehead and about his
ewes were sinking deep. and there was Il CLEAN of
perspiration uron his dirtstaned temples. Then his
gaze came back from the platform and caught
and held by the faces around him.
Presently McCarter found himself looking into
the eyes Of the German Cofriel who was keeping
near nj hand in case of trouble lie he'd noticed
the hewilderment in the face of the boss. They
would fake him definitely in hand five minutes later
But in the meantime it was a sin that he should be
allowed To miss fine show which, liz some mira; lie Of
sneoG he mad brorrht Himself five org miles f., see
The couplc were several wards apart and rHccch
was impracticable but speech was not necessary.
With McCarters gaze still upon him. old Fritz
seohlv caspcd his stiTonod fingers about his thick
I'D throat and again distorted his features with that
crimuce Of strangulation
Eor rt,1
NcCarter stood rs motionless MS n frure of stone
Tbnn long inlravnr of the brea In gee med to rack
bis hodv with n ouiver IF uoin Something in the
rccesses Of his ecloudod brain was stirring to action
rbot ,ro,rsor,. oesturc those ,rrhnr Inns and that
terrible ouruShint of the eyes rou their sockets
to,a4hor 4hn,, iotro had rhtod The fuse of memory
vorI II hurn IN ar ,+ tIuro for the instant and 20
ONT fo~nvara
THO nraocbor ci}rdrayr, from tbc scanol1 was
,,,,,, ,,n -,ourd tbnrn f. continue in
si,orno be ounnlica lions FIR tho soul Of the diving
nan The hlntI can and tho ro,c ,,.rc I'm place and
.bere fell mon FIAT aespnhaEc Of rugged white
faced men thar awful moment of cleao which seems
lilo thn boltinc NJ +1o mon I'm, visible hr,o,, 2
death Tir sheriff raised his hand 10 gras, an iron
a,ar beside one Of tbc massive posts and invoun.
torv soma ewes were closed aud sclnp faces turned
. ,,a,