Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-29

Briar"-his voice suddenly rose in the
defiant crescendo Of trapped lion
tell every man that calls hisself .
McBriar tibet ther Haveys hev got mo
In thsr damned jailhouse-an' ask ON
ef they aims ter let me lay thar"
Young Milt turned and went at .
run toward tho livery stable. Over his
shoulder as he went he flung back at
Jeb, who stood looking after him with
lowered pistol: I'm goin' now, but III
be back ter reckon with you!"
And Jeh shouted. too: I'VE KANT
como back none too soon. Milt. Ill be
hyar when yo comes.
Then the group started on their
tramp toward the courthouse and the
little Jail that lay 1T it, side.
Juanita suddenly realized that she
and Dawn were standing as II rooted
to the spot. The older girl heard an
inarticulate moan break from the lips
Of the younger. and then. as though
waking out Of sleep. she looked alb
sently down at litter OF beribboned
parcels which lay about her feet. That
message which Old Milt had flung back
to his people on the lips OF his son
would send tumbling to arms every
man who could carry rife!
And the Haveys were grimly waiting
for them. The Haveys were already
there. The two girls could not ride
across the ridge now. They could only
sit in their room At the wretched no.
tel and wait. too.
Juanita was glad Dawn could cry.
She couldn't. She could only look
ahead and see procession of hideous
possibilities.
1t had been few minutes after
noon when Young Alilt had rushed into
the livery stable and ordered his horse.
In that one instant all his college in
fuences had dropped away from him,
and he was following the fierce single
star of clan loyalty.
His father, who had never been any
mans captive, was back there in the
vermin-infested little jailhouse. pris-
oner to the Eaveys. And when Young
Milt came back, the one Havey he had
marked for his own was the Havey I'M
der whose pistol muzzle he had been
forced to give back-young Jeb Nc
Nash.
The stroke had taken the McBriars
completely by surprise. The boy must
reach his own territory and rally them
to their fullest numbers, even from
the remotest covea This battle was
to be fought in the enemy's own
stronghold and against force which
was ready to the last note of pre-
paredness.
So nothing could happen until to-
morrow. Nothing would happen, In
all likelihood, until the day after that,
and meanwhile the two girls in the
hotel must sit there thinking.
The little town itself lay dismal and
helpless, with it's shacks scattered
over its broken and uneven levels.
Dawn, perhaps, found It hardest:
for In this one day Dawf had grown
up, and tomorrow would bring the boy
whom she now confessed to loving,
though she confessed it with self-con.
tempt, leading q force to meet that of
her own people. fighting to avenge her
father. Juanita, whose eyes could not
escape ironical reminders when she
glanced down at the Christmas pack
ages, seemed to hear over and over
the voice of Anae Havey saying: I'm
dom 1t because we asks 1t.
She had sought to avert an assassi-
nation, and 1t seemed that the effort
would precipitate a holocaust.
Anse WAS very busy. but he rounu
time to come to her that afternoon.
In the bare little hotel lobby the hre-
light glinted on many rifles as their
owners lounged about the hearth.
And in Anse she saw once more the
stern side. His face was unsmiling.
and in his eyes was that expression
which made her realize how in1ex'
IDLY he would set about the accom-
plishment of the thing he had under
taken. Then. as he spoke to her, q
sudden softness came into his eyes.
God knows I'm sorry" he said.
that this thing broke just now.
didn't aim that ye should be no eye
witness"
Juanita smiled rather wanly. Old
Milt, he told her. would soon be re'
leased. I'VE amt even goin' to keep
him In the tailhouse no longer than