The Little River news., 1920-05-05

l any pUys gIau uU escorl 1 you back to the house," Kite suggested with an acid smile
 ''What have you got to do with l this?' she famed. "Our boys took him. They brought him here as their l prisoner. Do you think we'll let you come over into this county and dic- tate everything we do?'
 "rve got notion tucked away that you're trying to do the dictating your own self" the Bar Double M man con- tradicted.
 "Im not But I won't stand by while you get these boys to do mur- der.''
 Kite laughed sarcastically. "You hear your boss boys"
 "YOu've had yore say now, Miss Kate. reckon you better say good night" advised Buck. She handed Buck and his friends her compliments in swift flow of femi- nine ferocity.
 Maoney pushed into the circle She's dead right, boys. There's noth- ing to this lynching game He's only kid"
 The tide of opinion was shifting Those who had been worked up to the lynching by the arguments of Bonfils began to resent his activity. Flandrau was their prisoner, wasn't he? No 1 use going off half-cOcked. Some of them were discovering that they were not half so anxious to hang him as they had supposed. 1 The girl turned to her friends and neighbors. q oughtn't to have talked to you that way, but you know how worried I am about dad" she apolo- gized with a catch in her breath. "I'm sure you didn't think or you would never have done anything to trouble me more just now. You know I didn't | half mean itn She looked from one to another, her eyes shiny with tears. "I know that no brayer or kinder men live than you. Why. you're my folks. I've been brought up among you. And so you've got to forgive me" Some said Sure" others told her to | forget it, and one grass widower drew a laugh by saying that her little spiel reminded him of happier days.
 "I'm so glad you've changed your minds. l knew you would when you thought it over." she told them chat tily and confidentially. She was taking their assent for granted Now she waited and gave | them a chance to chorus their agree ment. None of them spoke except Ma l loney. Most of them were with her in sympathy but none wanted to be first in giving way.
 She looked around from one to an other. still cheerful and sure of her ground apparently. Two steps brought her directly in front of one. She | caught him by the lapels of his coat | and looked straight into his eyes. You have changed your mind, haven't you, l Jake?"
 The big Missourian twisted his hat | in embarrassment. Sure. Whatever's right suits me-" "Well. you know what is right, don't you?" "I expect"
 "Then you won't hurt this man. our prisoner?"
 "1 haven't thing against him if you haven't"
 "Then you won't hurt him? You won't stand by and let the other boys do it7"
 "Now, Miss Kate" She burst into sudden tears. "I thought you were my friend, but now I'm in trouble you-you think only of making it worse."
 Jake gave in immediately and the l rest followed like a flock of sheep. Two or three of the promises came hard. but she did not stop till each one individually had pledged himself. The young man she had saved could not keep his eyes from her. He would have liked to kneel down and kiss the edge of her dress and put his curly head in the dust before her. The ice in his heart had melted in the warmth of a great emotion. She was standing close to him talking to Buck when he | spoke in a low voice.
 "I reckon can't tell you-how much I'm obliged to you. miss"
 She drew back quickly as If he had been a snake about to strike. her hand instinctively gathering her skirts so that they would not brush against him.
 "I don't want your thanks" she told him, and her voice was like the drench | of an fey wave.