Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-02-08

the capitol. They paused moment
and watched it turn to carmine.
"Firev announced Kelvin grimly. II
had counted this as a part of the cost.
but | hope the destruction may not be
great"
Outside the entire block was
thronged with men in khaki standing
about hollow square of fourteen au-
IoInoDlies, while at the ends Of the
block, upon the cross streets, there
surged masses Of people, frantic and
bowling. not yet formed into the ter
rible unity Of purpose that was to
come. Kelvin stepped into closed
automobile with Rensselaer, and Sam
and two Of his most dependable
guards. Peavy, ashen gray and pro-
testing, ran back under the porte CO.
chere.
Indeed, All cain go, Mistah KEEL
VIM Peavy declared, listening with
terror to the vengeful voice Of the
mob. "Ah ain we'll"
Sam Immediately jumped out after
him.
"Git back in yo' placer he COM
manded.
"Now yo' all go way from me,
Samw cried Peavy. "Ah ain got no
time to projec' roun' wild yo'! All ain
well, All tells yo'v'
''Sit back on yo' placer repeated
Sam.
The sharp voice Of Kelvin came from
the automobile.
Leave him there, Sam. We don't
want him. He will be worse than USE
less to u.s."
"All right, subj Ah'll leave him heah,
then. Jes' one minute"
There was the wall as of lost soul
from Peavy as Sam, gripping his pow
erfu fingers around Peavy's neck,
bore him to the floor. He knelt over
him for just a moment, while Peavy's
legs struggled convulsively. Then he
jumped up by the chauffeur, and
Peavy lay still where Sam had left
him.
Kelvin uttered no word Of protest to
Sam, but he turned to Herbert with a
return of that chill feeling which had
'''NS btioiV oppiSSStI ullu tulS ulSuJ.
"A bad omen" he said.
Herbert laughed lightly.
There will be thousand bad omens
before we are through with this he
predicted. but think that even Peavy
would have been safe in this fiying
wedge of ours
The automobile rolled out into the
street and took its place in the center
or the hollow square. Both before and
behind it were six automobiles. three
abreast, and one was upon each side.
Each of these was seven passenger
car and in the tonneau of each rested.
upon tripod, its sweep above the
head of the chauffeur. a cylinder of
shining brass. Behind each cylinder
stood a stalwart soldier in khaki. and
two others sat upon the seat. each
soldier was further accoutered with
rifles and small arms, and thus, sur
rounded by fourteen Calling guns and
spare men to man them, the fifteenth
automobile, which contained Kelvin.
took command of the expedition. There
was a shrill whistle from Rensselaer,,
the soldiers fell away from before the
machines like chaff, and the strange
battery sprang forward.
Upon the cross street at the end of
the block the people quickly gave way.
but out from an intersecting avenue
two blocks beyond, fanatical mob.
shouting and cursing, turned and bore
straight toward them. Guns could be
seen on shoulders and torches were
fiounted. Fro IN the forward automo-
bile there came sharp cracking.
succession of staccato snaps like the
ripping Of shingles from roof. The
running mob stopped. it fell back,
1t scattered like chaff, and in an in
slant more the autos. keeping evenly
abreast, bumped and jerked over a
pavement strewn with sickeningly soft
lmpediments. So through the city
and out into the country they swept
to roads where they could go but two
abreast and sometimes but single file
But always Kelvin was in the center
and never was there any interference
A half mile northeast of the city the
headlights fiared on detachment in
unmistakable khaki on both sides Of
the road, and these saluted as the Inn
perial escort swept bHnnd cheered
and, closing i'm behind, marched at
double quick.
The ringing of that first deep toned
knell in Washington had been stimuli
taneous with the clang of the same
grim death watch from east TO west
and from north to south. George
Blaggs own hand had pressed the
wireless key which had sent the mes
sage flashing in every direction across
startled space. Eager fanatics had
received 1t and swarmed an Ill clad
unkempt, underfed horde to ayenge
the follies of society upon itself The
horror of it was that they did not at
tack the soldiery direct, as Blagg had
planned, but the better nourished citi.
zens, for Blagg's original secret or.
ganization, bon nd together with some