Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The Communal Law.

CHAPTER XIV.
The Communal Law.
1t was still very early when Cur
ran left the trail in the road back of
his cottage and came down past il
to the News shop. The hOusekeeper
was not about. He wondered at that;
she must be sleeping later than usual.
In the back yard was heap of burn
ed paper ash that puzzled him. He
came through the shop, opened the
front door and looked out.
The square was deserted. One OF
two clerks were setting out the vege-
table crates and displays, but around
the hitching-rail there was not a
team, nor all down High street a
human being. Curran was surprised
it must be very early.
Then about the corner by the bank
stiffened lame old figure crept.
Curran regarded Uncle Michigan in
surprise. His eyes had the look of a
hunted animal, staring above his shag-
gy beard.
Mr.. Wiley!"
Uncle Mich"
I'm goin' to the station to meet
her, Mr.. Wiley. 1 telegraphed last
night, and she'll done come to save
Knute and Peter and the baby!"
Save them? Mich"
They done give John three hours
more. Then if he don't surrender.
they'll charge the house and riddle
it, And John he won't let the chill
dren come out-nor any one. He says
the Lord is wi the right"
Curran was staring in his turn,
Mich! What is it?"
The old soldier looked at him with
a remembrance. Il forgot, Mr.. Will
ey! Where you been! Folks were
askin' TO you-they said if ary man
in the county could talk reason to
John, it's you!"
Look here-has there been any
trouble-any fighting?"
Fight. Where have you been!
Started last evening. Why. it done
break up your meetin'. didn't it. The
whole county just poured out there,
They had time getting the bodies
dragged off-worked all night, and
two more deputies We're shot at mid
night; and then this morning the
folks got Marryat to go try another
parley with John-and he killed the
sheriff, Mr.. Wiley"
The editor clenched his hands. 81
heard know, now!"
The posse is all around the place
l Sneaked away at dark and come tC
town to telegraph Aurelie. The
deputies are keeping the crowd back
to the creek road. Everybody's there
all the town folks and the farmers
that drove in to hear you. GOD
Almighty, what a election day! They
amt a man thought of it yet! Five
of 'em been killed, Mr.. Wiley, and
the sheriff's body is lying there yet
Johns fired at every one who show!
himself"
And they've fired at the house!"
Yes Mebbe killed some o the
boys. Johns got it all barricaded
He can fight from any window-and
they got to cross that field where he
can drop any one"
Curran was hurrying with him
The shock of the matter had driver
every thought OF himself from his
mind. They passed a man or two
who hardly looked at them. Currar
could not tell whether it was the palsy
of the tragedy, or the contempt ir
which they must hold him today
when all the state would be ringing
with his downfall
When they reached the Junction. {
crowd was waiting for the train. H'
heard snatchcS Of talk. Men were
gaunt and hollow-eyed. "Hearec
somebudy'd wired the governor tC
send militia. No, they ain
coming-Mr. Van Hart says it woult
be disgrace if the county can
handle this affair. Folks say the
governor amt his politics-and III
wouldn't call on him if half the coun
ty was killed. E. Marryat wa!
fool to try to draw up on the house
when John had just told him to stay
So .t,.tn
threw up his hands-Said he was GO
ing out of office. and he wasn't goint
to monkey with it. So they all wen
to young Van Hart-he's in charge o
it,"
The two, watching for the nin'
o'clock train from Chicago to draw
out of the creek cut, heard this end
less babble. Teams drove by on thei
way to the quarry. Women were cry
ing. The local from Earlvill,
brought four correspondents Of mid
west papers who were being hounde'
for follow" stories. The affair ha'
already been flashed nationwide
Last nights battle was in all th'
Chicago papers which got early edi
tionS to the river towns at daylight
1t was a SenSation-this story of ;
une-armed outlaw. craZcd with re
ligious broOding, driven To dcSpera
tion by his wrong of law. fortifyin'
his cabin and defying the communi
ty to take him. Five men dead ant
eight wounded: the shanty riddle'
again and again, but the defender un
hurt, and refusing all parlcy. all de
mands to surrender. The news sho
through the staid and sober Mid