Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26

i
back took a run, and-"Smash!" the inn
provised battering ram struck the door
Back they went again, and this time the
door splintered inward with a crash, and
Bill Sawyer stepped out to help lynch Tom
Brooks
Brother William ran with astonishing
agility for man of his weight, skirted the
crowd, and painted up to his store door. He
| took no time to unlock it, but put his big
shoulder against it and burst it wide open
He fumbled round in the darkness for a mo-
ment, seemed to find what he wanted, and
was out in the square again as the vanguard
of the mob, holding Tom Brooks, approached
the fagpolc He never paused, but Shout
dered men right and left. Some of them,
recognizing in him a townsman, struck and
tried to drag him down; but he was earnest
and resistless. His bulk and strength were
overwhelming. He fought like professions
al, his huge arms thrusting, showing, and
striking with astonishing quickness and
force. He fairly moved his way through
his opponents Suddenly he gained up to
Brooks, and then something flashed in his
hands. A pair of guns were there which he
held on the men clinging to the Marshal.
"Lct go!' he commanded, and they, SUR
prised for the instant, wavered and at his
threatening advance drew back. "Here,
Brother Tom, take these!" he said, showing
the wicked looking pistols into Toms hands.
Then he tishcd down into his pockets and
pulled out two more
Brothers, he said, addressing the mob
| as he shifted round until he and the Marshal
stood back to back, "Im a man of peace
Let us have no trouble
THERE were four oil lamps burning above
= where they stood, accentuating the light
of the moon and bringing out details as he
stood there, beruff1ed but formidable giant.
His shirt and undershirt had been torn off
in his progress, exposing his hairy chest and
great bare arms. His white hair shone like
silver, and drops of perspiration trickled
| down his face and over one bruised and
pulled cheek; but his eyes were steady and
| calm. He felt that the Marshal at his back
| was beginning to regain his breath and to
recover from the blows that had been dealt
| him, and went on:
| @You all know me; you know | am man
of peace. What does all this mean?"
ats the Quaker storekeeper!" men began
to say to one another and some of them
| took time to curse him.
| He made plea for the Marshal, appar-
emily still hoping to turn the mob from its
purpose; but it began to writhe and twist,
and from mere muttering its voice raised to
angry shouts. Then he tried to talk, it
seemed, against time; for he felt the back
against his growing sitter as Tom regained
strength.
| "Get out of the way or We hang you with
him. Sawyer clustered, showing toward
them.
| Brother William half turned his head as
thee all right now, Brother Tom?" he asked.
| "You bet!' came the grim response.
"Then look out! We must fight till help
comes"
| Suddenly the Quaker stretched his hand
up into the air and fired five shots as fast as
he could pull the trigger, knowing that in the
night this would arouse the last sleeping man
in Torinda.
| "Now we 60. Brother Toni" he shouted.
"Thee must walk ahead slowly and will go
backward behind thee until we reach place
where we can get our backs against wall.
The crowd swarned in toward them, to be
met with pointed guns. Brother William
had thrown the empty one away and pulled
another one from his waistband, and they
began terrible march across the little square
| to sheltering wall. Once Brother William
| fired, and Bill Sawyer, who had attempted
| to rush them, fell with bullet hole through
his chest. They were gaining foot by foot,
and yet the mob harr;ed them always. AL
ways the determined little Marshal, living
menace, pressed forward, with the big, cor
| p,,1ent ha1f nude Ouator behind him and