Evening star., 1911-07-30
BY JOSEPH O'BRIEN

for him. When they get him they're goin to bring him
to me-
There was menace none could mistake in his tone
and he brought his cenched fist down against the baus
trade of the porch with shattering strength. Something
primal, relentless, stirred everyone in the group.
81 reckon some of usIl GO along, WILL Crown said,
turning toward stables where he kept the best hunter
the county, big black that sailed stake and
rider fences with the of aeroplane He had sud-
denly thrilled at the chance of manhunt, had the
Others who followed him one by Marshall seeing
the doctors gig ready remounted and started for home
lashng his horse again to white foam and ather. The
he had aroused swiftly to getting horses and
rode out into the darkness together Crown and Pet
tingl at their head, talking eagerly, uttering mad
threats, blood chilling suggestions of punishment
County Prosecutor Harrington did not ride. He
knew well the almost certain outcome of the errand
Banker Smith, from whom Mrs Marshall had that day
drawn the money, remained with him. Bert Harris
rushed to the telegraph office and sent bulletins of the
crime and the impending lynchng to the extensive list
of newspapers he represented Then he too borrowed
a horse and followed the avengers The Sheriff in
the quiet Jail asleep and thought to awaken him.
1t was no time for law
0NE of those hasty but fervd bulletins sent by
~ Bert Harris ticked its way into the editorial
of "The Washington Star shortly after ten o'clock
that night Lester Warren, star reporter yawned in
front of his silent typewriter. He bored by the,
duness of things and being by nature of his youth and
temperament gregarous active and eagerly curious, he
resented being bored He blamed the city editor whose
dutyt to keep the activities of life going at pitch
that might afford interest and occupation for his
reporter In the midst of these reflections Warrens
revere interrupted by the city editor who walked
over handed him copy of Bert Harriss bulletin and
order for expense money, and remarked tersely:
well write the story in the office for the first run.
Get some good stuff back in time for the last edition"
Warren glanced at the date line, looked pityingy
o;+, o1;tor c1,aI tioo11x Cot
ship?"
To reach remote Virginia county seat after ten
o'clock night from any given point may be set down
as a normal impossbility, and Warren knew it. But
city editors aren't supposed to know such things, and
they never do. This didn't
"You get train going through Colfax Station
he grunted
"Sure" Warren assented; "but want to stop there"
"Well stop" the city editor said, and turned away.
Warren looked at the expense ORDER and that it
for one hundred dollars His interest quckened.
and he read the bulletin. Then he hastily grabbed his
hat and departed accomplish the impossible thrilled
at the prospect of genuine excitement ahead. An hour
and half later he standing alone the platform
of Cofax Station utter darkness for the spark
of his cigarette and the diminishing tail lights of the
Southern Flyer which had stopped there for the first
time in its history
SWEET hole" he said and set about finding the sta
ton livery stable, whstling cheerily He routed
the sleepy proprietor, helped him harness reluctant
horse rafting buggy and started for the court
house.
His driver was not loquacious. He had heard that
posse out "over to the cotehouse; but he could
give details. He only mildly interested in the
fact that Warren reporter. His hunting spirit
had not been stirred But Warren RECALLED his sleepy
with flashes of wit and wisdom until the lights of
the town appeared AS they drove down the main
street every window Illuminated. The Virginia
House was bright with lamps and candles.
On the veranda and in the lobby small groups aroused