The diamond drill., 1919-03-15

whats the matter-Same as the soil
has changed. We want 10 be free like
other folks In this country. America
has growed up around us but here we
are livin' back I'm old Holland three
hundred years ago. 1t don't set good.
We see lots o. people that don't have
to be slaves. They own their land an
they aln't worked any harder than we
have or been any more savin'. That's
why say we can't pay the rents no
more an We mustn't try TO make us.
BY hokey nettiel You'll have trouble
if We do"
The truth had flashed upon me out
of the words OF this simple man. I'm
Ill then l had heard only one side OF
the case. IL i were 10 be the servant
OF justice. as Mr.. Wright had advised.
what was TO do? These tenants had
been Grimshawed and were being
Grimshawed out OF the just fruits OF
their toll by the feudal chief whose
remote ancestor had been kings fa-
vorite For half a moment / watched
the wavering needle OF my compass
and then:
"If what you say is true think you
are right" said.
IL don't agree with you" said young
Latour "The PATRONS have a clear
title TO this land. II the tenants don't
want TO pay the rents they ought TO
get out and make way for others"
'Took here, young man, my name Is
Josiah Curtis" said the stranger. "T
! live in the first house on the right
hand side o. the road. You may tell
the judge that l won't pay rent no
more-not as long as 1 live-and
won't git ont, either"
"Mr Latour, you and Purvis may go
on slowly-Tll overtake you soon" l
said.
They went on and left me alone with
Curtis. He was getting excited and
wished to allay his fears.
"Don't let him try to serve no wrlts
or therell be hell to pay in this val
/ ley" said Curtis.
"In that case shall not try to serve
, the writs. | don't want to stir up the
I neighborhood. but want to know the
facts. / shall try to see other tenants
and report what they say. IL may lead
! to n settlement"
| We went on together TO the top Of
the hill near which we had been stand
/ but no signs OF Latour and Purvls.
They must have spurred their horses
/ into run. The fear came TO me that
/ Latour would try to serve the wrlts In
spite of me. They were In his pocket.
What fool / had been not TO call for
them. Ny companion saw the look OF
concern In my face.
81 don't like that young feller," said
/ Curtis. Hes in fer trouble"
He ran toward his house, which was
cnly few rods beyond us, while l
started on in pursuit of the two men
mt top speed. Before my horse had
! taken n dozen jumps / heard a horn
! blowing behind me and its echo In the
hills. Within half a moment dozen
horns We're sounding In the valleys
around me. What contrast 20 the
quiet I'm which we had been riding was
I
loose In the countryside. A little ahead
1 could see men running out OF the
! fields. My horse had begun to lather,
for the sun was hot. My companions
were far ahead. / could not see the
dust of their heels now. i gave up try
ing TO catch them and checked the
speed of my horse and went on at a
walk. The horns were still sounding.
Some OF them seemed TO be miles
away. About twenty rods ahead saw
three riders I'm strange costumes come
out Of dooryard and take the road
at wild gallop In pursuit of Latour
end Purvis. They had not discovered
me. kept az calm as l could In the
midst of this excitement.
/ passed the house from which the
three riders had just turned into the
road. A number OF women and an old
man and three or four children stood
on the porch. They looked at me In
silence as / was passing and then be-
gan TO hiss and jeer. IL gave me a
feeling have never known since that
day. l logged along over the brow or
the hill when. at white, frame house.
j saw the center toward which all the
men of the countryside were coming.
Suddenly heard the hoof-beats of
horse behind me. / stopped, and
looking over my shoulder saw a rider
approaching me In the costume of an
Indian chief. A red mask covered his
face. A crest OF eagle feathers circled
the edge Of his cap. Without word
he rode on at my side. ] knew not
then that he was the man Josiah Cur
tls--nor could at any time have
sworn that IL was he.
A crowd had assembled around the
house ahead. / could see a string of
horsemen coming toward II from the
other side. l wondered what was go.
ing TO happen TO me. What shouting
and jeering In the crowded dooryard
could see the smoke OF n fire. We
reached the gate. Men in Indian masks
and costumes gathered around us.
|. anrAart oh tho Loud corn.