The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-05-21

depend on you; r. they can be saved
Curran looked about. Some notion
that Harlan was doggedly suffering
under the covert gfbes OF the specta-
tors at the safe distance-the mob who
knew nothing OF the ~exigencies OF the
.case-came to him. Some idea that
the day would be crucial for the
younger man, II he flinched under the
responsibility. .r
first time since his own tragedy began.
a trace Of the old friendly smile came
to his lips. At the fence he called
back: "And IL he does not come?'
THE law will have % take its course.
I : promise n~othingis,
Curran drew a white handkerchief
from his pocket as he crossed the field
He was vaguely aware that Arns
Vance's machine had turned down the
creek road back to town. But keeneT
still was h impression that the thou
sands OF eyes were watching him.
Presently he heard a murmur among
tn deputies, taken up, growing, spread
yond. He did not look back. They
knew him, they would recognize him.
the ~recreant, the fallen man of the
county who would nave beer their
leader. Even when a struggling shout
went up, he did not turn; 1t rang with
a Win uyblSTlSdl uOte, pTlIftdl Win hos
tility 1t seemed to Curran. Then the
watchers saw him reach the house,
pause at the door, and be admitted.
The throng began to murder again,
n shift. But many stared silently at
the house In the bleak field. John had
not fired at "Curran of the News
They began to mutter and argue ex-
off to put more stuff" on the wire
about this turn OF affairs. And after
Is minutes, that seemed an hour, they
saw Wiley Curran come out Of the
house. He seemed pleading; n they
saw a boys tow head in the door.
And presently, Curran came On. He
crossed the field in a great silence.
Even the nearer people did not crowd
up to listen when he reached Harlan
sitting IN his horse on the creek road.
Curran spoke quietly, yet II seemed hiR
voice reached them all, SO acute the
stiffness.
HE viii not surrender. I pleaded
every point. Told him that Lafe Mason
offered to defend him. That he'd have
q fair trial. That people were peo-
pie of the law-they would give him
justice. / begged for his wife and chill
dren. But he told his old story. The
land was his, No man could put foot
on it Intil he was paid. He told his
old grievance. The law sent him to
Jail-it made him what he was. Never
again would he face mans Justice
God was the supreme tudge-and not
Van Hart"
Van Harris son was pale. There
others one He gathered his reins
tighter. "Well, Wen take him."
'Harlan-in Gods name-those chill
drenl"
He had his choice"
watt Curran stepped neare
then faced as If to the others.
Harlan turned In the saddle. He
lifted his hand solemnly. mo more.
There is your answer-there is the Jaw!
The peoplel Ask them, Wiley!"
Curran glanced back, an impulse to
make a last passionate cutlery to some
thing, he knew not what. But the peo-
ple-the Midlanders, indomitable, con-
tanned, ~unfearing the final issues OF
nothing. Their land, their law-their
Saxon strength had won and made 1t
through bloody centuries. The man
standing alone seemed to read their
will. He checked his cry. What would
1t be but the cry Of a broken man, q
d~iscredited leader himself without
place among them? They had not
spoken now at the c~risis-they had
approved by this silence. Curran
bowed his head In. a sorrow that only
the light of heart may know.
Then, with a swift remembrance, he
stretched his hands to Harlan.
"For Gods sake, boy! Wait
Aurelie Is coming! And you love her.
Harlan!"
But the other man had galloped
down the road, speaking to a group
here and there. The deputies sprans
up in a struggling line. Some n up
in the quarry face fired a shot, and a
shout rang from the father woods. The
man by the fence watched them silent
ly. He turned to look at the people,
They, too, were still, ~steadfast; alb
sorbed as If, from a mighty arena,
under the graz stare Of the sky, they,
the rulers, the arbiters, watched q
drama-the conflict OF eternal forces
which would destroy what they or
dained to destroy, and save what they
ordained to be saved. That was the
communal law, the social compact. He
who set himself against 1t would per-
ish. Curran felt Its inexcrableness-he
too, had defed it-and 1t had bided its
time to destroy him.