The Ordway new era., 1917-02-09

.,.,ne came puflng and whsesfng - 2
.,red balt and the two girls. with
Young Milt at their heels maoe .no'f
vay out, burdened with parcels
ON the cinder platform Juanita
,oored about for Anse Hayey. and she
..w rim standing in a group with Jeb
and several other men whom she did
not tpow-but Anse's face was not
,rrned toward her. and It did not wear
tho look OF expectancy that the thought
n, her usually brought there. Jebs
countenance. too. was white ana SET
and a breathless tensity seemed 10
hold the whole group In hxed taut-
ness.
There were several clumps OF men
standing about. all armed. and every
face wore the same expression OK Wait
ing sternness.
A gasp OF premonition rose to Jua-
nita's lips as she caught the siniste'
spirit OF suspense in the atmosphere
Then Milt McBriar stepped down from
the smoker vestibule. followed by an
other man.
As the two turned In opposite direc-
| tions on the snow-covered platform.
one Of the men who had been standing
| with Bad Anse Havey laid n hand on
the shoulder of the cleanshaven ar
rival and said in a clear voice: Luxe
Thixton. want ye fer ther murder OF
Fletch McNash."
Old Milt McBriar, for once started
out of his case-hardened self-controi.
wheeled and demanded angrily: "What
hell's trick is this?" His eyes were
blazing and his face worked with pas
| sionate fury.
A deputy answered him: An Mit
McBriar ! 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 Min dropped
| them In the snow and leaped to-ward.
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 hair
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 clung 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. Their grand jury he's
done acted. an reckon ye'd better let
the law take its course"
why don't ye take me. too?" de
manded Young Milt in a tense. passion
at, voice. I'm a McBriar. That's all
The grand jury didn't indict ye,
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
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 q
McBriar thet ther Haveys hev got me
in ther damned jailhouse-an' ask em
eff they aims ter let me lay thar"
Young Milt turned and went at q
run toward the livery stable. Over his
shoulder as he went he flung back n,
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: "Ye KANT
come back none too soon. 'Milt. I'll be
hyar when ye comes"
Then the group started on theil
tramp toward the courthouse and the
little Jail that lay at its side.
Juanta suddenly realized that she
and Dawn were standing as II rooted
to the spot. The older girl heard ar
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 beribbonec
parcels which lay about her feet. Tha,
message which Old Milt had flung bach
to his people on the lips of his SOL
would send tumbling to arms ever,
man who could carry a rifle!
And the Haveys were grimly waiting
, for them. The Haveys were alread,
there. The two girls could not rid.
across the ridge now. They could onl,
Sit In their room at the wretched ho
; tel and wait too.
Juanita was glad Dawn could cry
She couldn't. She could only lool
!, ahead and see procession OF hideoul