Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-10-04

himself ldlU rope.
That's the dead line" he announced.
"Now, you keep the other side!"
In no time mob Of 500 men had
gathered. They surged restlessly to
and fro. The fash Of weapons was
everywhere to be seen. Cries rent the
air-demands, threats, oaths and in.
suits SO numerous and 80 virulent that
/ must confess my heart failed me.
At any instant I expected the mob to
open fire. They could have swept us
away with a single volley. To my ex-
cited Imagination every man Of that
multitude looked a ruffian. We seem.
ed alone against the community. l
could not understand why they did
not rush us and have 1t over with. Yet
they hesitated. The fact Of the maG
ter Is that the desperadoes had no CO.
hesion. no leaders, and they knew
what none Of us knew-namely, that
a 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 themv'
The words were greeted by sullen
asserting roar. Five hundred hands,
each armed, were held aloft. This
unanimity produced an instant silence.
"Hang whow truculent voice ex'
pressed the universal uncertainty.
Hang the road agentsw yelled back
the little freshman de6antly.
"Bully for you, Irish! That took
nervev' muttered Johnny at my elbow.
Fifty threats were hurled al the bold
speaker, and the click Of gunl"cks 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 battle they would fight.
On our side the line was dead,
grim silence. We stood, our weapons
ready, rigidly at attention. Occasion
ally one or the other Of US muttered
warning against those who showed
symptoms of desiring to interfere.
In the meantime three Of our mum.
Der had been proceeding methodically
with the construction Of gallows
This was made by thrusting five small
pine butts, about forty feet long, over
a cross beam in the gable Of the cabin
and against the roof inside. Large
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, II 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"
II should think they would be safer
inside the cabin" suggested.
Sure" agreed Danny, "but l want
them here for the moral effect"
We entered the cabin. The five pris-
oners were standing or sitting. Scar
face Charley was alternately bias
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 and every once In
awhile advising him to "shut rp!
Jules was alternately cursing and cry
ing. Morton sat at one side quite calm
and very alert. Catlin stared at the
floor. asa~J~
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 emf
cried some. mo, no; Danish them:'
cried others. Don't hang them" and
blood curdling threats. A single shot
would have brought on pitched bat
tie. Somehow eventually the tumult
died down. Then Morton. who had
been awaiting his chance. spoke up In
strong voice.
II call on you in the name Of the
law to arrest and dispense these law
breakers"
"Where is Tom ClevelandY spoke
up voice.
The appeal, which might otherwise
have had its effect, was lost In the
cries, accusations and counter accu-
sations that arose like babel. Nor.
ton made no further attempt. He bet.
ter than any one realized, I think, the
numerical superiority against him.
The preparations were Mt length
completed. Danny Randall motoned
US to lead forward the prisoners. Cat
lin struggled desperately, but the 9th.
ers walked steadily enough to take
their places on the dry goods boxes.
"For Gods sake, gentlemen" ap-
pealed Crawford in loud tone OF
voice, "give me time to write home"
"Ask him how much time he gave
Tom Cleveland! shouted a voice.
"If I'd only had show" retorted
Crawford, IL 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.
III you're going to hang me get at