Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-01-20

w
Christmas Was Only Two Days Off
and Her Gun Rack Was Empty.
he could not let her go on misunder-
standing his motives
But when he reached the school she
rose to receive him, and he could see
only the slimness of her graceful fig
ure and the smile of welcome on her
lips, and the man who had never been
recreant before to the mandate of
resolution, became tongue-tied.
She held out a hand, which he took
with more III his grip than the hand
clasp Of friendship but that she did
not notice
"Anse," she laughed, I've had a let
ter from home today urging me to
give up and come back. They don't
realize how splendidly | am going to
succeed, thanks to your help | want
you to go with me soon and mark some
more trees for telling. It won't be
long now before they can begin build
ing again.
81 wonder" he said, looking at her
with brows that were deeply drawn
and eyes fulleof suffering, IF yell ever
have time to stop talkin' about the
school for little spell an remember
that I'm a human bein'."
Remember that you're a human
being?" she questioned in perplexity.
She stood there with one hand on
h1a - h. al, l1o 60 II.
He decided at once that this express
sion was the most~beautiful she had
ever worn, and he sturdily held that
conviction until her eyes changed to
laughter, when he forswore his allie
glance to the first fascination for the
second.
Are you sure you are a human be-
ing?" she, leased when you wear
that sulky face you are only half hui
man. ! ought to make you stand in
the corner until you can be cheerful. -
81 reckon" he said little bitterly,
"if We ordered me to stand in the cor
ner I'd just about do it. reckon that's
about how. much manhood I've got
left"
But he laughed, too, in the next mo-
ment.
The morning of the trial dawned on
a town prepared to face bloody day.
Long before train-time crowds had
drifted down to the station.
AS though by common consent, the
McBriars stood on one side of the
track and the Haveys on the other.
For an hour they massed there, low
ering of face, yet quietly waiting.
Then the whistle shrieked across the
river and each crowd moved little
forward, hands frightened on rifles.
awaiting the supreme moment. The
deputy sheriffs came out of the depot
and stood waiting between the two
groups with a strained assumption of
unconcern But when the train ar
rived it carried an extra coach, and at
sight of it the McBriars groaned and
knew once more they were defeated.
They had come to wresu a prisoner
from a sheriffs posse and encountered
trained soldiery. Behind the opened
sashes Of the coach they saw a solid
mass of blue overcoats and brown
service-hats. Every window bristled
with ride-barrels and fixed bayonets.
Then, while the train was held beyond
its usual brief stop, and while those
rifie-barrels were trained impartially
on Haveys and McBriars, a line OF
soldiers began pouring out into the
r0oHIad on1 -.
each side OF the track Both lines
moved, slowly but unwayeringly for
ward, pressing back the crowds before
their urgent payonets.
Two wicked-lcoking gatling guns
were unloaded from the baggage car,
and, tending them as men might
handle beloved pets, came squads
whose capes were faced with artillery
red.
Shortly compact little procession
In Column OF tours, with the eating
guns at its front and a hollow square
at its center, was marching briskly to
the courthouse. In the hollow square
went the defendant, handcuffed to the
Sheriff. Without delay or confusion
the gatling guns were put in place,
one commanding the courthouse
square and one casting it's many-eyed
glance up the hillside at the back.
Then, with the bayonets of sentries
crossed at the doors, the bell in the
cupola rang while Judge Sidering
walked calmly into the building and
instructed the Sheriff to open court
His honor had directed that every
man save officials who sought adnlis-
sion should be disarmed at. the door.
Luke Thixton bent forward in~his
chair and growled into the ear of Old
Mflt McBriar, who sat at his left
Tive got as much chanst hyar as
fish on hilltop. Hain't ye goin' ter
do nothin' fer me ?"-and Milt looked
about helplessly and swore under his
breath
One onlooker there had not been
searched. Young Jeb bore the creden-
t1als OF special deputy sheriff, and
under his coat was holster with it's
flap unbuttoned While the panel was