Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-23

80 NV ye1
q tremendous presence, stalked still
nearer the benches. Outfacing the
crowd, q sense OF the splendor &of the
part he was being called upon to play
flowed through him like some elixir;
he felt that he was transcending him
self, that his inspiration was drawn
from the hidden springs Of the spirit,
and that he could neither falter nor
go astray. You don't know what you
are meddling with! This man has
plotted to lay the south in ruins-he
has been arming the negroes-it iss In.
credible that you should al know
this-to such say. 60 home and thank
God for your escape! For the others"
his shaggy brows met In menacing
frown-''if they force our hand we will
toss them John Murrell's dead carcass
that's our answer to their chal
lange!" Is,
He strobe out among the gun muz-
zles which wavered where they still
covered him. He was thinking OF Ma
haffy-Mahaffy, who had said he was
still a man to be reckoned with. For
the comfort Of his own soul he was
proving 1t. 81 Ss5
'.'Do you know what a cervile insur-
rection means you men who have
wives and daughters, have you thought
of their, fate? OF the monsterous saw
agery to which they would be exposed?
Do you believe he could limit and con.
troll It? Look at him! Why, he has
never had consideration outside Of
his own safety, and yet he expects you
to risk your necks to save his! He
would have left the state before the
first blow was struck-his business
was all down river-but we are going
to keep him here to answer for his
crimes! The law, as implacable as 1t
is Impartial, has put its marks on him
the shadow in which he sits Is the
shadow OF the gallows!"
& The Judge paused, but the only sound
In that expectanf silence was the heavy
breathing of men. He drew his uin-
wieldy form erect, while his voice rum
bled on, aggressive and threatened in
its every intonation.
"You are here to defend something
that no longer exists. Your organiza-
ton is wrecked, your signals and pass
words are known, your secrets have
become public property can even
produce list of your members; there
are none of you who do not stand IN
Imminent peril--yet understand, have
no wish to strike at those who have
been misled or coerced into Joining
Murrell's band!" The judges sodden
old face glowed now with the magma
nimity OF his sentiments. "But I have
no feeling Of mercy for your leaders.
none for Murrell himself. Put down
your guns you can only kill us after
we have killed Murrell--but you cant
kill the law! II the arch conspirator
dies in this room and hour, on whose
head will the punishment fallf" He
swung round his ponderous arm In q
sweeping, gesture and shook q tat but
expressive forehnger in the faces OF
those nearest him. "On yours and
yours-and yours"
& Across the space that separated the
the Judge grinned his triumph at MS
enemy. He had known when Fentress
entered the room that word or 9
sign from him. would precipitate g. riot,
but he knew now that neither this
word nor his sign would be given,
Then quite suddenly he strobe down
the aisle, and foot by foot Fentress
yielded ground before his advance.
4 murderous light flashed from the
Judges bloodshot eyes and hts right
hand was stealing toward the tfrayed
tails of his coat. I.
Look out-he's getting ready to
shoot" cried frightened voice.
Instantly by doors and windows tho
crowd, seized with inexplicable panic.
emptied itself into the court house
yard. Fentress was caught up IN the
rush and borne from the room and
from the building. When he reached
the graveled space below the steps he
turned. The Judge was in the door
way, the center of struggling group;
Mr.. Bowen, the minister, Mr.. Saul and
MI. Wesley were vainly seeking to
'pinion his arm. I.
"Draw-damn you!" he roared at
FentresB, as he wrenched himself free,
and the crowd swayed to right and left
rs Fentress was seen to reach for hts
pistol.
Mr.. Saul made last frantic effort
to restrain his friend; he seized the
Judges arm just as the latter's finger
pressed the trigger, and an instant
later Fentress staggered back with the
judges bullet in his shoulder.
CHAPTER xxxW !.
It was not strange that q number
OF gentlemen In and about Raleigh
yielded to an overmastering impulse
to VISIT newer lands, nor was 1t strange
that the initial steps looking toward