The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-10
15 Words 15c Farmer Classified Ads Phone 120S

o'clock. Tank insisted that he was going, if he had to roll ali the way, but after a little we simultaneously remembered that the Morenas had owned horses. One of these caught, and on it Tank rode to the nlace of rendezvous.
 The night was very black. After we had entered the woods its darkness seemed at first to hang in front of my eyes like filmy curtain, so that fair ly groped, as one would when blind folded.
 [ At the Flat Rock we were halted by a low voiced command. I gave the password, as instructed by Danny Randall. This experience was once repeated, little farther on. Then, as we neared the upper horse fat, we were stopped by a man who flashed a dark lantern in ouT faces, scrutinized US for moment, shut off his light and told us to go forward.
 We found small fire behind screen of frs and around or near 1t the f1g- ures of dozen men. They stood si- lent and scattered little apart from the freight. We could not make out their features. From time to time oth- CT men came in. singly or in couples, until probably twenty five were gath cred. Then ensued few moments of whiting. A sudden stir proclaimed i. ash arrivals, and four newcomers strode briskly to the fire. As the light fell on them I recognized Randall and the three express riders. Danny kicked together the fire until 1t flared.
 Somebody put some more wood on this" he said in his natural voice. We've got to see each other."
 In a moment the flames were leap ing. I looked about me with consider able interest to see who of the clamp had been summoned. must confess to flew surprises, such as the gam bier from the Empire, but in general the gathering consisted of those whom l should have characterized as solid cit fzens- Barnes, the hotel keeper; Him. melwright and men of his stripe. They were all armed and all very grave and sober. Danny ran, his eye over us one by one.
 Meeting come to ortler," he com manded briskly. 4"This is vigilante meeting. hope you all realize what that means. There are just thirty of us here, and Morton's gang is proba- ply hundred strong when it is all to- gether. We cannot fight them, but we can give the honest, decent men 0f this camp a chance to fight them. myself believe the honest men will back us and am willing to risk it. If any of you who are here now think differently say so."
 He paused, but no one spoke up
 sIf anybody doesn't want to go into this now is the time to back out. Just keep your mouths shut; that is all"
 He paused again, but again no one moved.
 That's all right" observed Danny, with satisfaction. He lifted a paper. "Listen to this: We, the undersigned, agree, as we are decent men, to stand by each other to the last, to avenge the death of any one of us and to obey the orders of our leaders. And if we fail in this may God deny us mercy Boys," said Danny Randall earnestly, 'this is serious. If we start this now we've got to see it through. We are not much on Bible oaths. any one of us, but we must promise Frank Mun- roe, step forwardy'
 < One by one Danny Randall called us forward and administered his simple oath. The fire leaped and with it the mighty shadows. Outside the circle of light the tall pines and fir trees watched us like a multitude standing witness. The mems faces were grave There was about the toughest of them something noble, reflected from the earnest spirit of justice.
 Randall had the plans all made, and he detailed them rapidly We were to arrest four men only, and he named them Morton, Scarface Charley, who had recovered; a gambler named Cat lin and Jules. the proprietor of the Empire. t'~af ',7 f-i
 ''Crawford is back in town," said some one.
 Make 1t i've then." said Danny in stantly.
 Next came up the vital questions of ways and means. Many were in favor of a night surprise and an immediate hanging before the desperadoes could be organized for defense. Danny had . hard time showing them good req sons against this course, but at last he succeeded.
 "This must be done deliberately and publicly he maintained. "Otherwise 1t fails of its effect. We've got to show the gang that the camp is against them, and that won't be done by hang ing some of them secretly
 Suppose the camp doesn't back us upT' queried miner.
 l Remember your oath, gentlemen" was Danny's only reply to this. f
 It was decided at last ttat five com mittees should be appointed to arrest each of the five men, that the prison CTS should be confined in a certain iso- lated log cabin and that the execution should take place in broad daylight. There remained only to apportion the committees. This was done, and at about 2 or 8 o'clock we quietly dis persed. I was instructed to cooperate with three of the miners in the arrest of Catlin.
 CHAPTER x<v.