Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-10-04

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"Msn," Danny's voice rang out, clear
and msnaeine, edo your duty!"
III hope God Almighty will strike ev-
cry one Of you with forked lightning
and that I shall meet you all In the
lowest pit Of hell!' he snarled.
Morton kept a stubborn and rather
dignifed silence. Catlin alternately
pleaded and wept Jules answered
Danny's question:
"Sure thing! Pull OF my boots for
me. don't want 1t to get back to
my old mother that I died with my
boots on"
In silence and gravely this ridicu-
lous request was complied with. The
crowd, very attentive. heaved and
stirred. The desperadoes, shouldering
their way here and there, were finding
each other out. were gathering in lit
tie groups.
They'll try a rescued whispered the
man next to me.
Men," Danny's voice rang out, clear
and menacing, do your duty!
At the words across the silence the
click Of gunlocks was heard as the
vigilantes leveled their weapons at the
crowd. From my position near the
condemned men could see the shrift-
ing components Of the mob freeze to
immobility before the menace of those
barrels. At the same instant the man
who had been appointed executioner
jerked the box from beneath Catlin's
feet. .s-..
There goes one"' muttered Charley.
II hope forked lightning will strike
every strangling"-- yelled Crawford.
His speech was abruptly cut short as
the box spun from under his feet.
kick away. old fellow said Scar
face Charley. me next. I'll be with
you in a minute! Every man for his
principles! Hurrah for crime! Let her
ripr' And without waiting for the ex.
ecutioner he himself kicked the sup
port away.
Morton died without a sign. Catlin
at the last suddenly Gained and met
his fate bravely.
Before the lull resulting from the
execution and the threat Of the pre-
scented weapons could break Danny
Randall spoke up.
Gentlemen" he called clearly, "the
roster Of the vigilantes Is open! Such
Of you as please to join the association
for the preservation Of decency, law
and order in this camp can now
do sou
! The guard lowered their arms and
moved to one side. The crowd swept
forward. In the cabin the applicants
were admitted few at time. Be-
fore noon we had 400 men on our rolls.
Some Of the holder roughs ventured a
few threats, but were speedily over
rails and were working away with the
tireless energy Of the born axmen at
inclosing still more. Their horses had
been turned into blowing, and from
somewhere or other they had procured
a cock and dozen hens
For brief period Yank and quite
envied the lot of these pioneers who
had settled stake in the country.
II wish could 80 in for this sort Of
thing" said Yank.
"Why don't you?" urged old man
Pine. There's fiat just above u.s."
"How did you get hold Of this landT'
inquired curiously.
"Just took it."
Doesn't it belong to anybody"
Its part of one Of these big Greaser
ranchos," said Pine impatiently. II
made a good try to git to the bottom
Of 1t. One fellar says he owns it and
will sell; then comes another that says
he owns 1t and won't sell, and so ON.
They don't nohow use this country, ex-
cept few cattle comes through once
in awhile. l got tired of monkeying
with them, and l came out here and
sQuatted. If owe anybody anything
they got to show me who it is. I don't
believe none of them knows themselves
who it really belongs to-"
I'D hate to put lot Of work into q
place and then have to move out" said
doubtfully.
"I'd like to see anybody move me
QUIT" observed old man Pine grimly.