Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-15


In silence while she spoke There was .ome-
thing about her attitude that Commanded
respect and they had reluctantly listened Ia
ner. Many or them liked the simple littl.
daughter OF the parson. Her ready, win.
ming smile, the sunlight OIL her golden bair
the laughter in her blue eyes had all made
friends for her in the valley She had done
great deal for the sick and needy too. and
many OF the men had doubted the fact ~
her guilt after the first great overwhelming
1act OF her presence In the cabin had been
passed over e0A
Il don't believe she did it," one man had
SAID 10 his friend, and the opinion spread
If 1t had not been for the deacon and IuJ.
sons Willingness to smirch his own daugh.
ters honor from the pulpit the simp1e
people would have been inclined to deal
not at all harshly with Hugh Lee. But the
deacon was the most prominent man in
town, and 1t would hardly do to 90 against
MS wishes: And Judson. who spoke as he
ala from the pulpit must have been told
something more than the rest of them
Knew Perhaps the girl had confessed to
MIN. After all she was his daughter and
II he wanted the man punished things must
be all right. ''u''
So easily swayed is mob roused n -.
ton that the feeling OF the majority ~ ~.
mon switched over to Ruth's favor Ths
men had halted, were undecided as To hov
10 proceed, and this fact made the deacon
furious. '"Non
a hRNV
can't you see she's lying? She has mads
II all up to save her partner in ain"
Lee. with Wild shout Of rage would hav~
nung himself on the deacon at the vilene..
OF the thing he implied. but there were half
dozen mon who sprang between. and -
resolved into a struggle between ono ana
numbers u
The deacon turned to Leo once more and
ialriy nuns the words at him. The idea az
inc man was to have hts followers with
m kI..k
he wanted In the presence OF eyeryon,
present TO offer Lee his freedom II ne wouId
leave the country, but he was perfectly con.
iiaent that the man was too proud to TO-
leaving bad reputation behind him.
you've got your choice" he snarled. do
you take II or leave it7"
Lee looked him in the eye al before and
shook his head
Il haven't done anything that should
leave refuse" he answered.
For moment the two men glared into
each others eyes and there Was conscious
. lheasur,hg OF power between them. Lee.
defenBeless. about to pay the penalty OF n
shameful act he was accused Of, the deacon.
surrounded by crowd OF mon who would
follow HIS directions implicitly. and va
there was grandeur and dignity about
the one man that were entirely Iackinr n
the other. 1t was only for moment that
they measured each other So and then with
curt sign TO the men, the deacon gave the
signal to seize Hugh
Hugh made no resistance but allowed
them TO do as they liked He was seated on
horse and his hands tied behind him.
Ruth knew what they were going TO do thew
were going to take matters into their own
hands as Is often the case in the south and
west They were going to hang him There
was no further need OF an appeal to her
father. he was plainly as eager as any OF
the others to see end put to this man
There was but one thing for her to do. II
she still believed. II she still had any OF the
remnants OF her simple faith. che could pray.
The house was all ablaze now, and the
bright light made the place around as light
as day. She could hear the men riding
through the wood to q little clearing near.
ly. and with hands clasped and stumbling
feet she hurried after them.
They had stopped under a giant tree with
massive branches and were gruesomely
preparing Hugh for the hanging He was to
be left sitting on his horse, and at given
signal Judson WAS to hit the horse heavily
with a whip. This would take the support
from underneath Hugh the moose would slip
and 1t would be too late for anything even
prayer.
Judson, carried away by fanatical belief
that he was doing right. looked about ner-
vousy for Ruth An eleventh hour con-
science had made him little doubtful, and
In the light Of the f1aring torches he met the
girls eyes full They were the eyes OF q
stranger, cold and without feeling Their
look struck cold terror to his heart and he
faltered moment before he resolutely look.
ed away. When he turned back the girls
head was bowed again-she still believed.
she was still praying.
storm was brewing and the air was
close and breathless. Suddenly there came
blare OF lightning across the unnatural
black OF the sky. followed by rumbling
defamation Of thunder. The talking among
the men almost ceased and they looked at
each other fearsomely. Then someone
shouted:
Lets get this thing over before IT rains!"
There came another lightning flash, max
ing the torch light look sickly IN compari-
son with the yellow fare that lit Up the
heavens, and the deacon with a final motion
gave the signal. Judson cut the horse sharp
ly with the whip and the frightened animal
sprang forward AT the same moment Tom
Judson sprang into the lighted CIRCLE al.
most fainting with the effort he had made.
stop" he shouted, "I took the money.
he Is Innocent" The words were screamed
above the sound of the storm that swept
down over the valley. For barely a second
Hugh Lees body swung free from the giant
limb, and then with a sickening crash a
yellow bolt OF lightning smote the branch.
cutting 1t clearly from the trunk and hurl
ing the doomed man to the ground.
For moment there WAS only the sound
of the kissing torches as the rain put out the
lights and the sweep and toss OF the storm
Then Hugh Lee dragged himself to his
knees and began to move over toward the
client figure OF the girl. Her face was up
turned to Heaven-an her eyes were closed.
e. a.