Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1915-11-05
CHAPT Err VI.

When, Just before sunset Yesterday
afternoon, a verdict OF acQuittal for
Cal Douglas had come from the Jury
room, the town of Peril had once more
held its breath and doors had closed
and the streets had cleared OF such as
wished to remain NONCOMPLIANCE. But
with no comment or criticism Milt
McBriar mounted his horse and rode
out Of town, shaping his course over
the hills toward his own house Fol.
lowing his example with equal quiet
his kinsmen mounted, too, and disap.
peared.
AS for Cal Douglas. he reserved any
enthusiasm his vindication may have
brought to his heart until he was back
again in the depths OF the hills He
and his kinsmen turned their horses
by shorter and sleeper trail to the
house where the dance was going for.
ward with shutting and fiddling and
passing OF the jug.
When Milt McBriar and his fellows
started home an iLformer or two from
the Havey ranks kept them in view,
themselves unseen. until they passed
through the gap and started down the
other side or the ridge into their own
domain.
That they were being SO watched
Was either known 10 the Mcbrlals Of
assumed by them. But a picked squad
on fresh mounts was waiting over
there in a place where the road ran
deep through the forest and laurel
and this squad was equipped with re
peating rifles. Milt McBriar himself
did not go with them. He had made
all his arrangements in advance, and
il was not seemly that the chief
should take q personal part in an exc.
cution which he had decreed.
Let me hear the news. boys" Old
Milt had said with wave OF his
hand. and then he had ridden on stol.
idly toward his own domain.
The house where the dance was be,
ing held stood between the knees OF
two hills.
Near midnight a halfdozen men
who had not been invited rode care
fully over an almost obliterated trail
which wound blindly through the
hills at the back OF the place and
hitched their horses in rock-sur.
rounded hollow q halfmile from the
house. Other horses and mules were
hitched all along the country road, but
these belonged To the legitimate
guests.
As the half dozen men. whose ani
Val had been So cautiously accom-
plished, began slipping down. each
holding his own course Ia the cover OF
the laurel. there was nothing " indi
cate that any warning had gone ahead
OF them.
From the houses with their yellow
windows and their open doors came
no note OF apprehension-no intima
ton OF suspicion. A medley OF voices
now and then a laugh. din OF scrap
ing feet. and the whine and boom OF
nddles gave out a careless chorus To
the night.
Slowly, with an adept craft that
hardly broke twig underfoot. three
of the new arrivals hitched their way
forward TO point OF vantage down
near the road.
They went crouched low. holding 20
the shadows with rifles thrust out
ahead and faces almost smiling In
their grim foretaste OF sure success
In few moments they would have
before them the doors and windows as
lighted targets. Then whoever saw
Cal Douglas would crook forehngef on
trigger and the error of the jury
would be rectlhed. The others would
follow with yolley at random for
good measure,
IL was almost too easy Il seemed
a shame TO snatch \ full and red re-
vsngs with such scsnt snort,