The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-11

' <At auy AA4oLdAL CAPCClCu lu6 ulOD lO open fire. They could have swept us away with single volley. To my ex- cited imagination every man of that multitude looked ruffian. We seem ed alone against the community. l could not understand why they did not rush us and have it over with. Yet they hesffated. The fact of the mat ter is that the desperadoes had no CO hesion. no leaders, and they knew what none of us knew-namely, that good many of that crowd must be on our side. The roar and turmoil and heat of discussion, argument and threat rose and fell. In one of the lulls an Irish voice yelled:
 Hang them!'
 asscnting roar. Five hundred hands, each armed, were held aloft. This unanimity produced an instant silence.
 Hang who?' q truculent voice ex- pressed the universal uncertainty.
 Hang the road agentsv' yelled bnck the little Irishman defiantly.
 Fully for you, Irish. That took nervev' muttered Johnny at my elbow.
 Fifty threats were hurled al the bold speaker, and the click of gunlocks pre- ceded surge in his direction. Then from the mob went up a sullen, formidable muttering of warning. No individual voice could be distinguish ed, but the total effect of dead resist ance and determination could not be mistaken. Instantly at the words so valiantly uttered the spirit of cohesion had been born, the desperadoes check ed in surprise. We had friends. How many or how strong no one could guess, but they were there, and in case of a battle they would fight. s
 On our side the line was a dead, grim silence. We stood, our weapons ready, rigidly at attention. Occasion ally ono or the other of us nuttered q waning against those Nwho showed symptoms of desiring to interfere.
 In the meantime three of our num- Der had been proceeding methodically with the construction of a gallows. This was made by thrusting i've small pine butts, about forty feet long, over . cross beam in the gable of the cabin and against the roof inside. Lafge dry goods boxes were placed beneath for the trap.
 About this time Danny Randall, who had been experimenting the construc- ton, touched me on the shoulder.
 "Fall back" he said quietly, "Now," he instructed several of us after we had obeyed this command, "I want you to bring out the prisoners and hold them in plain view. In case of rescue or attempted escape shoot them instantly. Don't hesitate.'
 "I should think they would be safer inside the cabin,' suggested.
 Sure" agreed Danny, "but want them here for the moral effect"
 We entered the cabin. The five pris- oners were standing or sitting Scar face Charley was alternately blas- pheming violently, upbraiding his com panions, cursing his own luck and ut tering frightful threats against every body who had anything to do with this. Crawford was watching him contemptuously aud every once in awhile advising him to "shut upg' Jules was alternately cursing and cry ing. Morton sat at one side quite calm and very alert. Catlin stared at the f1eor.. #
 With revolvers drawn we marched them outside. A wild yell greeted their appearance. The cries were now mixed in sentiment. A hundred voices raised in opposition were cried down by twice as many more. Hang 'emv' cries\ some. "No, no; banish themw cried Ehers. Don't hang themr' and blood cAvdling threats A single shot would hAs se brought on a pitched bat tie. Somehow eventually the tumult died down. Then Morton, who had been awaiting his chance, spoke up in a strong voice.
 "I call on you in the name of the law to arrest and disperse these law breakers"
 Where is Tom Cleveland?" spoke up voice.
 The appeal, which might otherwise have had it's effect, was lost in the cries, accusations and counter accu- sations that, arose like a babel. Mor- ton made DO further attempt He bet ter than any one realized, think, the numerical superiority against him.
 The preparations were at length completed. Danny Randall motioned us to lead forward the prisoners. Cat lin struggled desperately, but the oth- CTS walked steadily enough to take their places on the dry goods boxes.
 "For Gods sake, gentlemen" ap- pea4e1 Crawford in a loud tone of voice, "give me time to write homer
 "Ask him how much time he gave Tom Clevelapdv shouted voice. "If I'd only had show" retorted Crawford, If I'd known what you were after, you'd have had gay time taking me-"
 There was some little delay in ad- justing the cords.
 eff you're going to hang me get at itv' said Jules, with an oath; ''if not, want you to tie bandage on my finger. It's bleeding"
 "Give me your coat, Catlin," said Crawford. You never gave me any