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

ncI OUT OF the uaWn OF peace the nlBnI
had given him. He had accepted, he
had renounced-but he feared his self
control when h would look into his
eyes with her pretty fondness, her
laughing trust. His little girl. and his
heart was big with the new fatherhoodl
And with 1t all came the old mutter to
his dry lips:N she must not know
= must not knowl That. too. dear
God, l can accept" a.4.
There was another excited rumor.
The crowd swayed and buzzed-anoth-
err deputy was wounded at the quarry.
And the officers were fighting the un-
manageable spectators, helpless, with
out leadership. Van Hart had Knocked
a man 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
less--they had begged the judge to send
his son out to the siege.
Above all this gossip Curran saw ia
net Vance's serene face. She was In a
touring a r which Arne drove to the
depot. Wiley stared at the legend on
Its side: "Curran for Congress! Vote
todayl!!" The Vances did not see him
until he placed his hand on the ar,
his eyes fixed on the banner.
"Janetl" His voice died. Take this
o1I Don't You know"
Her face lit with Joy. wiley But
this Is terrible. The community never
passed such a night. And never such
q day. Arne Is swearing mad-there
isn't a voter at the booth in your pre-
cinct--the towns emptied itself out
there"
He followed her gesture to the hills.
i didn't mean that. Janet! 1 mean
well didn't you see the News last
Yes" she answered clearly-and
smiled. He stared wildly al her. And
my meeting? wasn't therel"
Weather was any one else! Some
people gathered. n the Committee
waited. Then Purcell announced ii was
on. He a you must be out in the
crowd around Lindstrom's. Anyhow.
II dent make any difference to any
But, Janet! II-you know? You
And then her hand closed over his
on h seat. "Hush!" she whispered.
4 Know. And no one else!"
AND while he stared again at her, un-
able TO make II out, Arne arose from
cranking his Get in there, Wiley!
They want you-they've been asking for
Y 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 gum"
they had him whirling out the road
with Arne continuing his imprecations
on the misfortune. Michigan was with
tnem-they promised to be back for the
Debated train. Some Of the town won-
en- and the minister want YOU TO get 70
Harlan" shouted Arne, and ask him
Tor COOS sake, to get the children out
pefore he attacks Johns house. The
Whole thing fell on Harlan. somehow,
Old Jellybelly Jewett blew up after the
sherifr was killed. The citizens said
someoody had to take charge Of the
posse-it was demoralized. They nut II
up to Harlan. n he's fighting some
order out of the mob"
Ihey came upon the young man who
IN q night, had come to have authority
N his manner--that tacit AUTHORITY
past all trappingS OF office which men
acknowledge in crisis. He stood bv the
road 100 yards outside the Tjndstro1
fence. All along this fence. and
stretching into the woods, was the
hastily summoned posse, armed with.
shotguns. rifles. revolvers-with all the
MOP lnefficlsncy Of a community nm
used to the tissues Of force. Among tba
WOODS and on the bridge across Sin
slnawa creek, and all along the way
to town, ware buggies, motorcars,
horsemen, pedestrians, coming out and
struggling back. The oroner men
had been there, and all evidences Of
Lindstrom's bloody work had been re-
moved. In the fence n fires were
going; the deputies, chilled from the
all-nlght vigil were making coffee.
Newsboys from Earlville were now 60
ing among the crowds crying papers;
and these n the deputies eating and
some laughing ~nervously with one an
other, gave the affair the aspect of a
huge grotesque picnic. They hurled
Quips at n another's courage, and
taunts to the embryo war CORRESPOND
enfs who hurried C to the telegraph
offices, and then came On to question
leading 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?
1t was getting ridiculous, this waiting
and arguing n considering. The
Chicago newspaper men, who Just ar
rived, were laughing over the blunder-
ing and inefficiency. Some OF the dep,
uties had secured 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
h fence. He seemed about to ride
down h line, and then he looked at
his watch.
Harlan" cried Arne, I'VE brought
Wiley back"
Curran vas conscious that Janet, at
his side, and Harlan were looking at
each other with a significant silence.
He 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
go in there?"
Wiley glanced at the Lindstrom fort.
a gray and silent frame shack in the
midst Of the corn stubble; a stack, a
broken down wagon, and the well
house. No sign OF life, nothing. yet
from a window here and there. with
bewildering ubiquity. the deadly rifle
shots had rung whenever q man had
approached. John will treat with you.
He swore you were the only man in
the county he would trust. l rode neal
an hour ago and delivered our mes
age. Gave him two hours to sur
render or take the consequences"
Harlan, those children"
II know. And his wife-and that
sneak OF a Frenchman is there. But"
he glanced at the t~ownspeople reso-
lutely, they left 1t to me-and I'll not
endure this! Dead or alive, Wen take
him this morning-and I'll not answer
for any one. I'll lead the boys when
the rush comes, Wiley!"