The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1916-12-28

looked around before entering the
house.
Without the slightest hesitation the
two younger women led Mrs. Evans to-
wards the building, screening their
| advance as best they might by taking
cover behind II ragged hedge.
AT that time more than half of the
allotted hour had passed, and John
Burton. whose thoughts were centered
now in the great purpose which had
dominated his whole life, was inclined
rather to spend himself in last eff
fort towards regenerating humanity
than in a seemingly futile attempt at
Self-preservation.
He had made up his mind firmly not
to yield to the Hell-cats' demand.
Say, boys he exclaimed, attract
ing the attention of the Hell-cats with
in hearing. would you mind asking
Mother Flanagan and the rest of the
bunch to gather round? | want to say
few words which should be of inter
est to all of you.
IL could talk more easily If you
would kindly free my hands" went on
John quietly. There is no fear of my
escaping" he added. smiling so gent
ally that his captors griuned in unison.
There's nothin' to make speech
about" broke in that fierce old harri-
dan, Mother Flanagan.
THAT is where YOU and | differ,
ma am came the placid answer. My
I, ftr3., al h.ax-
twenty-five minutes, or Whereabouts.
We are not giving each other many IA
vors, nor demanding them, but ii is
not great deal that a man condemned
to death should ask to be allowed to
utter his last few words in compara
tive comfort"
Johns bonds were united; he
stretched his stiff arms. and permitted
his bruised body To relax.
Il hope you won't interrupt me-" he
| began. II shall endeayor not to tres
pass beyond the allotted time, but it
will not be my fault if what | have to
say does not command sympathetic
hearing"
/ Then, to their intense surprise in
stead of outlining basis of agree
ment in terms of money and life. he
/ sketched briefly, but with winged
words. the story Of his career. He de-
! picted his childhood's days. passed in
| surroundings with which everyone
present WAS familiar, and thus, at the
outset. placed himself on par with
! the limited intelligence and dismal ex-
periences of his audience He told
how he had risen TO be a foreman In
the iron works. how he led the strike,
and was hefooled like another Samson
by Delilah in fine raiment and
anolnted with sweet smelling spices
By wave of magician's wand he
led them from the dirt and sQualor of
a working class quarter to the palaces
and well-tended lands of an English
nohleman. He even held them spell
bound by describing the unhappy quest
which had dominated his manhood's
years-that unending and never-sue-
ceSSful search for an answer 10 the
far-reaching question-Is Humanity
in the Grip of Evil?
Burton. OF course. remained in blank
ignorance of the astounding fact that
Il audience was increased, for the
three women had crept up unheard,
and followed every word through the
open window. 1t was well that this
was so.
Seldom. indeed in the history of this
gray old world has any man spoken TO
| such ore ~ thrautS
conditions. by an inexplicable miracle
probably by the unknown action of
that subtle force vaguely described as
lepathy-Burton broke off abruptly
Al an instant when his hearers were
keyed up to the highest pitch.
"How is time going?" he inquired,
and the words fell from his lips so
nonchalantly that for few seconds
none stirred.
Two-Gun Jake was the first to re-
cover himself. He fumhed ut watch
with his uninJured hand.
Guess from what I've been told,
you've still got five minutes" he NUT
tered.
A white-faced old woman crouched
beneath the windowsill gasped when
she heard that voice. Mrs. Evans had
listened like one in Il trance. She I'M
derstood neither the meaning nor the
intent of that strange harangue, but
IL held her like the others. AS the
poor old creature put 1t afterwards, in
II sentence which could not really be
bettered by skilled writer: at was
just movie in words"
Happily, Blanche Griffin was able
10 stitle the imminent cry with an en-
phatic hand over Mrs. Evans mouth,
for the mother had found her lost
son.
Then John made his big hit
Il want to use those five minutes to
good advantage" he said, looking
around with benignant expression
which utterly baffled and nonplused
the woman and the men who little
/ t.fI. 4 l.. 49,