Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-21
go The NYW SOULS. ny BROTHER,
WI LN ETC. &C.
css1dAA M. h DohhelNeszu coupsm

81
her out of the dawn of peace the night
had given him. He had accepted, he
control when she would look. into his
eyes with her pretty fondness. her
laughing trust. His little girl. and his
heart was big with the new fatherhood!
And with it all came the old Inutter to
his dry lips: She must not know
she must not know! That. too. dear
God. l can accept"
Their was another excited rumor.
The crowd swayed and buzzed-anoth-
er deputy was wounded at the quarry.
And the officers were fighting the I'M
manageable spectators, helpless, with
out leadership. Van Hart had knocked
a mar down when he found him SELL
ing whisky to his posse. He had or
dered four more Jailed for disobedience
in crossing the dead line. He was bat
ting for order, law-and he was not
even yet in office. But the old dry
bones of county officialdom were help
iess-they had begged the Judge to send
his son out to h siege.
Above all this gossip Curran saw ia
net Vance's serene face. She was in a
touring car which Arne drove to he
depot. Wiley stared at the legend on
It's side: "Curran for Congress! Vote
today!!!" The Vances did not see him
until he placed his hand on the car,
ms eyes fixed on the banner.
"Janet!" His voice died. Take this
n Don't You know"
Her face lit with joy. Wiley! But
this is terrible. The community v
passed such a night. And never such
a day. Arne is swearing mad-there
n a voter at the booth in your pre-
there" oN'
He followed her gesture to the hills.
didn't mean that. Janet! mean
night?" "
smiled. He stared wildly at her. And
my meeting? WASN'T there!,
Neither was n one else! Some
people gathered. and the committee
waited; Then Purcell announced it was
on. He said you must be out in the
crowd around Lindstrom's. ANYHOW,
1t didn't make any difference to n
But. Janet! I1-you know? You
And then her hand closed over his
On the seat. "Hush!" she whispered.
Il know. And no one else!"
And while he stared again at her. IN
able to make 1t out. Arne arose from
cranking his car. Get in there. Wiievi
Ihey want ou-they've been asking for
you! Where the devil did you dis
appear to last night? But the whole
campaign went in the air when Lind
strom cut loose with his gun!"
They had him whirrng out the road
WITH Arne continuing his imprecations
on the misfortune. Michigan was with
promised to be back for the
debated train. Some OF the town WON
en- n the minister want you to get to
raf1 Gd. shouted Arne. and ask him,
iof Gods sake, to get the children out
oe1ore ne attacks Johns house. The
whole thing fell on Harlan, somehow
ga Jellybelly Jewett blew up after the
sherlif was killed. The citizens said
somebody had to take charge OF the
posse-it was demora]ized. They nut IT
up to Harlan, and he's fighting some
order out of the mob.''
They came upon the yor,ne. man ,,ha
IN q night, had come to have authoritv
IN MS manner-that tacit authority
S all %trappings OF office which men
acknowledge in crisis. He stood bv he
road loo yards outside the Lindstrom
lellce. Al! along this fence, and
seletening INTO the woods, was the
hastlly SUMMONED posse, armed With
shotguns. ri1es. revolvers-with an tta
mop mefficisncy of a community IN.
used to the issaes Of force. Among the
WOODS and on the bridge across SIR
creek, and all along the wiz
70 IoWn' We're buggies, motorcars.
norsemen, pedestrians, coming out and
sas pack. The %coroner's men
a been there, and all evidences OF
Aindstrom's bloody work had beer re-
moved. In the fence corners, fires were
gong; the deputies, chilled from the
all-nlght vigil, were making coffee
NeWsboys from Earlville were now 90
ing among the crowds crying papers.
and these and the deputies eating and
some .iA1lghlnpr norNnrvc1y IL -
other, gave the affair the aspect Of a
uge grotesque picnic. They hurled
qu1ps at one another's courage. and
taunts to the embryo war CORRESPOND
ents who hurried back to the telegram
OFFICES, and then came on to question
citizens, and to badger Har-
Ian Van Hart, the prospective district
attorney, who seemed in control. Muir
murs were heard. Why wasn't some
thing done? Who fired the last shot?
II was getting ridiculous, this waiting
arguing and considering. The
Chicago newspaper men, who just ar
rived, were. laughing over the blunder-
ing n inefflclency. Some Of the dep
uties had ecured whisky and were al
ready drunk.
Arne Vance's machine, reached Har-
Ian just as this word was brought
Curran saw his eye set coldly; he was
glancing along his disorderly Gordon by
liie renee. he seemed about to ride
down the line, and then he looked at
his watch.
Harlan cried Arne. we brought
Wiley back!"
Curran was conscious that Janet. at
his side, and Harlan were looking at
other with a significant silence.
was going to speak to Harlan, when
that young man slowly motioned to
him to leave the machine. He de-
scended and went along the rail fence
from the others.
Wiley muttered Harlan. will YOU
in there?"
Wiley glanced at the Lindstrom fort,
a gray and silent frame shack in the
midst OF the corn stubble; a stack, q
broken down wagon, and the well
house. Nc sign OF life, nothing, yet
from a window here and there. with
b~ewildering ubiquity, the deadly rifle
shots had rung whenever a man had
John will treat with you.
He swore you were the only man in
the county he would trust. 1 rode near
hour ago nnd delivered our mes
Gave him two hours to sur
render or take the consequences."
Harlan, those childreni"
Il know. And his wife-and that
sneak Of a Frenchman is there. But"
he glanced at the townspeopIe reso-
they left it to me-and I'll not
endure this! Dead or alive, we'll. take
MIN this morning-andz I'll not answer
Tor any n TIL lead the boys when
the rush comes, Wiley!'
Tne elder man looked up al him.
Yes. I'd expect YOU He was seek
ing an answer In HaTlanss eves-Har-