Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-01-11

was upturnel. but at the opening on
had the glimpse of a narrow blacI
necktie slipped askew. The clea
shaven line of his mouth was set il
relentless determination. The bod
guard rode with hanging reins, ant
each right hand lay in counterfeitet
carelessness on the lock of it's rifle.
THAR he comes now" commente,
Garvin. "You must excuse me if
don't go out to introduce you. He'
bitter kind of Teller. You under
stand how it is"
At Weighborne's signal, his attor
ney halted and the men of the body
guard drew rein, keeping their places
about him. ~,
We walked out to the middle Of the
! road, and while we talked to the raw
boned, life-battered' man in the center
of the hollow square, his attendants
shouted greetings to the loungers on
the porch of the store. These greet
ings partook of the nature of pleas.
antries, and the only note of frank
hostility came from the Threats OF
the hounds. They bristled and growled
with an instinct which was softened
by no artificial code of hypocrisy.
Still, so long as the halt lasted, the
two parties kept their eyes alertly
fixed on each other. 1t needed little
| penetration to discover that the gen.
iality was shallow and temporary, like
that between the outposts of hostile
armies lying close-camped across an
| interval soon to be closed in battle.
'sYou made very unfortunate mis-
take in stopping here" said Marcus
| to Weighborne in low voice. He
| nodded to two mountaineers who rode
on the far side Of the calvacade. They
Slipped from their saddles and allowed
us to mount in their stead, while they
walked alongside carrying our bags.
AS we started forward, Weighborne
answered.
II didn't halt at Garvin's place for
choice. The wagon could go no furth.
er. l don't suppose there was any act
ual danger, and, after all, wanted to
see how he would talk"
Marcus nodded and drew his mouth
tighter. .s..
ut turns out all right" he said, "but
don't do it again"
After a moments silence he burst
out bitterly:
mo danger! Ny God, man, do you
suppose I ride like this--surrounded
by armed men-because it pleases my
pride?" He swept his talonlike hand
around him in circle. Look at
them! Do you reckon ! do that for
pomp and display? Do you suppose
any man likes to say good-by to his
children when he leaves home, with
the thought in his mind that it may
be last good-by?"
'Is it as bad as that?" I questioned,
with the strangers incredulity.
He turned. his hunted eyes on me.
Worse" he said briefly. II dare not
go unguarded from my house to my
barn, sir. Keithley used to carry his
two-year old child into court in his
arms. Even they would not shoot "a
baby. One day he went without the
child. That day he died."
I looked at the face which was
turned toward me. It was face from
which had been whipped the knowl.
edge Of how to smile.
we rode for half mile in silence
with only the cuppy thud of hoofs on
the soft earth, the creaking of stirrup.
leather, and the clink Of bit.rings.
why" asked at last, don't you
leave such a country and establish
yourself where you can have securi-
tyr"
His angular chin came up with a
jerk. His eyes flashed. r.
go away?" he repeated. do you
think man wants to be driven from
the country where he and his parents
and his children were born? Besides,
sir, my mother belongs to the old or
der. I was the first to be educated.
She still smokes her pipe in the chin
ney corner. She is of the mountains.
She must stay there"
He paused, then his words began
again dispassionately, and gathered.
as he talked, the fiery resonance of
the instructive orator.
eff the men who love law leave law
less countries, who, in Gods name, is
to do the work?
"These men have made mockery
of the law. It is my desire to punish
them with the law. It is my purpose
to do so, unless they kill me first. Why
am I representing your company? For
the fee? No, sir! Good knows I need
the fee, but shall also have a bigger
compensation. When the new order
comes I shall see Garvin's power
crumple. I shall send him to the gal
lows or to the penitentiary. That will
be my reward"
His voice was again passionate.
1.-THE filthy assassin realizes my mo-
tive, and he sees in you my allies.
Watch him. and safeguard your steps.
ITO be Continued.)