The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-02
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I1AN1Qlph CHESTER.
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Continued.)
While this raving debauchery took
place over the length Of the land. from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and from
the lakes to the gulf. three separate
concourses crept under cover of the
night, one from the north and one from
the south and one from the east, con-
vergent upon Forest Lakes. where the
prize coveted Of each army-Breed's
$500, 100000 In solid cash-lay hidden
beneath the library cellar. The first
Of these concourses. the one from the
north. had crept silently forward all
night long. These bore no trace Of
uniform. but each man carried over
his shoulder his rife or his shotgun
Some had belts for ammunition. and
others carried their pockets full. They
were grim. stern men, sane human be-
ings Of the country districts whose
eyes and whose minds were clear to
see the right and the wrong of things.
and their ranks constantly grew. As
each detachment Joined them stern
voice called: 'Halt! Who comes?"
And then into a listening ear was
whispered BY each new adherent Of
the ranks, Liberty and the repub-
Her
Nearer, upon the road from the east
n far different army, like a giant. nerv-
Gus snake, came jerking along the
dark road at much greater speed. 1t
was composed Of understood men for
the most part. ranging from bloated
faced and blear eyed youths to bloated
faced and blear eyed middle age, and
there were bedraggled women far more
nendish Of visage than the men. They
danced. many of them. as they march
ed. and always they sang. sang the
blood maddening song Of the "Marseil-
laise," and never. even In the days
when the tTicolor received its baptism
Of blood. was the "Marseillaise" a more
terrible song than on this night. They
broke open bakeries and meat shops.
groceries and saloons. gorging them
selves with what they wanted and
wasting what they did not. offsetting
expostulation with blows and resist
ance with murder. Men in their beds
heard and paled and women and chill
dren whimpered In fear. and woe be-
tide any who came In their path. for
BY and by they MANNED and killed in
mere wanton sport =
In q carriage drawn by two gray
horses taken by force from Devil
dered farmer there rode tall, gaunt
George Blagg. and by his side sat Lii
liam Breed. her gown, once rich Gre
alton Of red silk. soiled and tattered.
the jaunty hat she had once worn re-
placed by a gay colored silk kerchief
that she had knotted about her black
hair. Beautiful even I'm her dishevel
ment, she was the incarnation of the
riotous spirit that had maddened al
their following. and she 1t was who
when any period Of silence fell for a
moment upon the twisting serpent of
humanity behind her raised her voice
In the wild song Of the .'Marseillaise."
Each time as that hymn of destruc-
ton was caught up by those directly
about her she would laugh aloud in
hysterical giee and. sinking once more
beside her consOrt, would clasp him in
a. wild embrace and shower kisses
upon him
Nearer stin. upon the road from the
south. but waiting. there bivouacked
q grim company In khaki. men who
rested upon a hillside with their guns
close by them in orderly formation
ready on the word to spring to their
feet at attention. In the road silent
sentries patrolled. Farther back.
half mile. q smaller detachment biv.
ouacked: at q half mile farther still
another. and SO clear to Washington
These. too. were men Of the city type.
but they were the more stalwart ones.
the sturdier class Of the unemployed
workmen.
And so these three sorts Of humanity
conferred toward Forest Lakes-the vir-
lie workmen Of the cities. the ratlike
undermen. the grim and stern stall
warts Of the farms and villages-they
in whom still lived the spirit Of the
constitution. Of the Revolution, Of the
Union!
CHAPTER XIV.
"HROUGH the dark woods at
Forest Lakes there came hur-
rying from the northern boun-
- dairy OF the estate an active
figure. making his way steadily to-
ward the big graystone house. Oc-
casionally In the denser shadows he
stopped to listen. He knew that a
dozen or so Of picked mountaineers
had been left on guard, fintlike men,
who would much rather shoot first
and inquire afterward in these trou-
bled times. He was congratulating
himself upon his good fortune in es-
Gaping these men when as he rounded
the corner of the house two of them
stepped forward with leveled guns.
Throw up your hands! Come in
the Hghtr' commanded the one near
est him and flashed the glow Of an
electric pocket lantern in his direction.
Are you Sumner Rollins?"
Yes" replied Rollins, relieved, and
began to lower his hands.
Hold up your hands! Wait a min
utter
Rollins instantly raised his hands
again. feeling rather ridiculous, while
the guard stepped to the door and
rang the bell He had no more than
rung 1t when the door opened and
Elsie White stood revealed In the