The Bolivar County Democrat., 1922-10-14
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

They went to one, and from stage
box gazed through rented glasses at
every face. Not there. They went out.
walked short distance, talking not of
disappointment but of hope, and
turned into narrow and dimly
lighted street. Suddenly there broke
the noise Of a rising tumult, yells and
gunshots. And over walls and from
dark recesses came pouring excited
men. Drace and Shottle found them
selves In the midst of mob, surging
toward another mob rushing into an
open space where torches discovered
a band of executioners hanging some
Door wretch to the limb of q tree.
Where there were no houses, the gar
den walls were too high to offer a
means Of escape, and as they could not
fight their way back, Drace and Shot
tie were swept onward. Torches
flared, and all sorts Of weapons were
revealed in the pitiful yellow light
old muskets, swords, pistols with
brass barrels from ancient Spanish
armories, clubs and pixies that might
have served Cromwell Some of the
men looked respectable, others des-
perate; they were of many nationali-
ties, all anger-smitten and excited.
whats 1t all about?" Drace in
quired of a bare-headed old man who
painted beside him.
"The carpet-bag devils. They hang
a citizen"
1--WE are on the right side, anyway"
Shottle cried. "Give me a gun-give
me something"
Some one gave him an old carbine,
and another gave Drace a cavalry sa-
ber. The man from the North
grasped 1t, feeling that he was to
fight the scoundrels that cast discred-
1t and reproach upon his native state.
At this time of mans madness ma
ture could not restrain the introduc-
ton Of her own grim humor. Dogs
gathered In the open space between
the bands of advancing rioters, and
fought, bowling, the victims Of wounds
without cause.
Not many shots were fired. The
authorities made criminal OF the
citizen who carried a gun or concealed
1t In his house. 1t was hand-to-hand
strife, the breaking of heads, the cut
ting Of throats. A big, red-shirted ne
gro with razor cleaning in the smoky
light made a grab at Drace, who had
Just room enough to leap back and
strike with his saber; but the agile
negro lodged, the blow was caught by
brick wall and the blade was broken
Off at the handle. But with the hilt, a
boxing glove Of steel, Drace knocked
the negro down and then passed over
his body striking right and left. push
Ing onward to the 'front.' where the
Jagged ranks saw-toothed one into the
other.
The struggle now was to save the
hanging man, who, without fall enough
to break his neck, was strung up to
strangle. Drace was the first man to
fight his way to him. He dropped his
steel boxing glove, grabbed out his
knife, leaped up, caught hold Of the
limb of the tree with one hand and
cut the man down.
Catching up his weapon, he was
about to mix in the fight again when
the sharp scream of a woman caught
and held him for a moment. He
glanced hurriedly about; at various
windows were lights and silhouetted
figures of onlookers. But as If drawn
by some lodestone instinct his eyes
went to a second-story window just
beyond the tree; and there, in the
strong light of lamp just behind her,
ne saw again the face OF the barbaric
rose maid. Nadine la Vitte.
Instantly he whirled and strove to
fight his way to gate which he saw
In the wall before the house. But now
came a new cry and scramble for
safety. A troop of United States cav.
airy came sweeping the thoroughfare
from curb to curb, their drawn sabers
flashing, the aroused anger Of Uncle
Sam rebuking riot. Not to run was
to be trampled to death. but Drace
stood an instant to look about for
Shottle. He could not find him, how
ever, and he had to seek his own safe
ty, for the cavalry were near, spread
ing out upon the sidewalk.
With divers others, he stood not
upon the order of his going but ran
hack down the street and then hurried
down a side street ont of the path of
the troopers. There he waited until
the tumult had subsided-perhaps an
hour. Then he made his way back to
the scene of the riot.
The house at the window of which
he thought he had glimpsed the face
of Nadine la Vitte was now dark. But
in spite of the curious glances of sun
0ry loiterers, Drace took careful sur
yey of 1t and Of the three oak trees
10 front-even felt their bark to ia
miliarize himself with them. At the