The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-08

way out, burdened with parcels.
On the einder platform Juanita
looked about for Anse HaYey, and she
saw him standing in q group with Jeb
and several other men whom she did
not know-but Anse's face was not
turned toward her, and it did not wear
the look OF expectancy that the thought
Of her usually brought there. Jeb's
countenance. too. was white and set.
and a breathless tensity seemed to
hold the whole group In fixed taut-
ness.
There were several cIumps Of men
standing about. all armed. and every
face wore the same expression Of wait
ing sternness.
A gasp Of premonition rose to Jua-
nita's lips as she caught the sinister
spirit Of suspense in the atmosphere.
Then Milt McBriar stepped down from
the smoker Eestibule, followed by an
other man.
As the two turned in opposite direc-
tons on the snow-covered platform
one OF the men who had been 1tanding
with Bad Anse Havey laid a hand on
the shoulder Of the cIean-shaven ar
rival and said in a clear voice: Luke
Thixton, 1 want ye fer Their murder OF
F1etch McNash''
Old Milt McBriar. for once startled
out Of his case-hardened self-controI.
wheeled and demanded angrily: What
helI's trick is this?" His eyes were
blazing and his face worked with pas
sionate fury.
A deputy answered him: AN Milt
McBriar. / wants you, too, on an in
dictment fer accessory ter murder"
Juanita felt Dawn's spasmodfc fin
gers clutch her arm and her own knees
grow suddenly weak. She heard clat-
ter of parcels as Young Milt dropped
them in the snow and leaped forward.
his eyes kindling and his right hand
frantically clawing at the buttons Of
overcOat and coat. But before he
could draw, Jeb McNash had wheeled
to face him, bending forward to a half
crouch The younger McBriar halted
revolver which Jeb was thruEting into
his face.
Haveys. armed and grim of visage,
now began drawing close about the
captives.
Dawn chung with bloodless lips and
white cheeks to Juanita as she watched
Jeb holding his weapon in the face OF
the boy whom she suddenly realized
she loved more than her brother.
Then the sheriff spoke again
Thar hain't no use in maxim no
trouble, Milf. Their grand jury hes
done acted, an reckon ye'd better let
the law take its course"
why don't We take me, too?" de-
manded Young Milt in tense. passion
at voice. I'm McBriar. That's all
we've got against any of these men
The grand jury didn't tndict ye,
son. responded the sheriff calmly.
Then the elder McBriar became sud
denly quiet again and self-possessed.
He turned to his son.
''AIilt," he said. sternly. you keep
outen this. Ride over home an tell
every man that calls hisself a Nc
Briar"-his voice suddenly rose in the
defiant crescendo of a trapped lion
tell every man that calls hisself a
McBriar thet ther Hayeys hev got me
in Their damned JaiIhouse-an' ask EN-
eff they aims ter let me lay thar"
Young Milt turned and went at a
run toward the livery stable. Over his
shoulder as he went he flung back at
Jeb. who stood looking after him with
lowered pistol: I'm goin' now, but III
be back ter reckon with you,"
And Jeb shouted, too: I'VE KANT
come back none too soon, Milt. III be
hyaF when ye comes"
Then the group started on their
tramp toward the courthouse and the
little jail that lay at its side.
Juanita suddenly realized that she
and Dawn were standing as if rooted
to the spot The older girl heard an
inarticulate moan break from the lips
of the younger. and then, as though
waking out of sleep. she looked alb
sently down at a litter OF beribbOned
parcels which lay about her feet That
message which Old Milt had flung back
to his people on the lips OF his son
would send tumbling to arms every
man who could carry a rife!
And the Haveys were grimly waiting
for them. The Haveys were already
there. The two girls could not ride
across the ridge now. They could only
sit in their room at the wretched no
| tel and wait, too
Juanita was glad Dawn could cry
She couldn't. She could only lool
ahead and see a procession Of hideOui
possibilities.
It had been a few minutes aftel
noon when Young Milt had rushed into
| the livery stable and ordered his horse
In that one instant all his college in
! huences had dropped away from him
and he was following the fierce single
star of clan loyalty
| His father, who had never been AM
| mans captive, was back there in the
vermin-infested little jailhouse. a pris
oner to the Haveys. And when YOUNG
! MiIt came back. the one Havey he haC
marked for his own was the Havey un
! der whose pistol muzzle he had beer
forced to give baek-young Jeb Mc
! Nash
The stroke had taken the McBriar
completely by surprise. The boy mus
!