Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-11-16
CHAPTER lv-contInued.

They went to one. and from a stage
box gnzed through rented glasses at
every face. Not there. They went out.
walked a short distance, talking not OF
disappointment but of hope, and
turned into a narrow and dimly
lighted street. Suddenly there broke
the noise of a rising tumult. yells and
xunshots. And over walls and from
dark recesses came pouring excited
men. brace and Shottle found them
selves In the midst of a mob, surging
toward another mob rushing Into an
open space where torches discovered
4 band Of executioners hanging some
poor wretch TO the limb of a tree.
Where there were no houses. the gnr
den walls were too high TO offer n
a of escape. and as they could not
light their way back. Drnce and Shot
tie were swept onward. Torches
dared. and all sorts of weapons were
revealed In the pitlful yellow light
old muskets, swords, pistols with
brass barrels from ancient Spanish
armorles, 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.
"Whnt's IL all aboutf" Drace In
quired OF a bare-headed old man who
painted beside him.
SThe carpet-bag devils. They hang
a citizen"
ave are on the right side, anyway
Shottie crsal "Give me u gun-gye
me something
Some one gave him an old carbine,
and another gave Drace a cavalry sa-
Der. The man from the North
graspcd II, feeling that he was to
fight the %scoundrels that cast dlscred-
II and reproach upon his native state.
At this time Of mans madness ma
ture could not restrain the introduce
ion 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 a criminal OF the
citizen who carried a gun or concealed
1t In his house. 1t was a 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 ut Drace, who had
Just room enough to leap back and
strike with his saber; but the agile
negro lodged. the blow was caught by
a 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 rnnks saw-toothed n into the
other.
The struggle now was TO save the
hanging man, who, without fall enough
to break his neck, was strung up to
strange. 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
abeut-to -mixInLthe 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 II drawn
by some lodestone instinct his eyes
went to a second-story window just
beyond the tree; and there. In the
strong light of a lamp just behind her.
he saw again the face of the barbaric
O maid. Nadine la yitte.
Instantly he whirled and strove to
nght his way to a gate which he saw
In the wall before the house. But now
enme a new cry md a scramble for
safety. A troop Of United States cav
airy came sweeping the thoroughfarc
from curb to curb. their drawn saberr
flashing. the aroused anger OF Uncle
Gam rebuking a riot. Not TO q was
10 be trampled to death. but Drace
stood an instant 10 look about for
6hosfle. He could not find him. how
syer.. and he had to seek his own safe
II. for the cavalry were pear, spread
tag out upon shs sidewalk
vvssh s.~~ss ~<hssx his stood sos