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


the mountains in cloak Of swans
down
At last the trucks screamed, the old
engine came putting and wheeling to a
tired halt, and the two girls, with
Young Milt at their heels, made their
way out, burdened with parcels
On the cinder platform Juanita
looked about for Anse Havey, and she
saw him standing in a 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. jobs
countenance, too, was white and set,
and a breathless tensity seemed to
hold the whole group In fixed taut-
ness.
There were several clumps 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 III the atmosphere.
Then Milt McBriar stepped down from
the smoker vestibule, followed by an
other man.
AS the two turned in opposite Girec-
lions on the snow-covered platform,
one Of the men who had been standing
with Bad Anse Havey laid hand on
the shoulder Of the clean-shaven ar
rival and said in a clear voice: Luke
Thixton, want We fer Their murder of
Fletch McNash."
Old Milt McBriar, for once startled
out of his case-hardened self-control,
wheeled and demanded angrfly: What
hells trick Is this?" His eyes were
blazing and his face worked with pas
sionate fury
A deputy answered him: "An' Milt
McBriar, l wants you, too, on an in
dictment fer accessory ter murder"
Juanita felt Dawn's spasmodic I'm
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 half
crouch. The younger McBriar halted
and bent back under the CLINT Of the
revolver which Jeb was thrusting 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, Milt. The1 grand jury hes
done acted, an l reckon ye'd better let
the law take it's course"
why don't ye take me, too?" de-
manded Young Milt in tense, passion
att voice. I'm a McBriar. That's all
we've got against any Of these men"
THE grand Jury didn't tndict We,
son." responded the sheriff calmly.
Then the elder McBriar became sud
denly quiet again and self-possessed
He turned to his son.
''Milt," he said, sternly, you keep
outen this. Ride over home an tell
every man that calls hisself Nc
Briar"-his voice suddenly rose in the
defiant crescendo Of a trapped lion
tell every man that calls hisself a
in Their damned jailhouse-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 I'll
be back ter reckon with you'll"
And Jeb shouted, too: "Ye KANT
come back none too soon, Milt. I'll be
hyar when ye comes"
Then the group started on their
tramp toward the courthouse and the
little Jail that lay at it's side.
Juanita suddenly realized that she
aud lawn WC1S SLdAO1uS d5 IL AootCd
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 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 tumb1ing to arms every
man who could carry a rifle!
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 look
ahead and see a procession of hideous
possibilities
noon len Young Milt had rushed into
the livery stable and ordered his horse
In that one instant all his college in.
fuences had dropped away from him
and he was following the fierce single
star of clan loyalty.
His father, who had never been any
mans captive. was back there in the
vermin-infested little jailhouse, pris-
oner to the Haveys. And when Young
Milt came back, the one Havey he had