The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-22

AS the evening wore on, Martin be.
came more and more convinced that
Ais iiIe wasn't worth a pinch of salt
ana SO began to pray loudly and Ius.
uiy. The crowd had increased to
arhg proportions. In the light of
torches and bonfires he recognized men
from rar-of Grand Prairie, up to the
northwest Of town. Wagons rumbled
past the jail and courthouse and were
iost In the darkness of the streets be.
yohd. he was astonished to see that
most OF these vehicles contained won.
en- and children, and many of them
were loaded high with household
goods. This. thought Martin, was the
apex of attention. People were com.
ing from the four corners of the world
to witness his executionl
He had no means of knowing of
course, that he was dividing the hon.
ors, so to speak, with another and far
more imposing rascal-the terrible
Black Hawk. How was he to know,
locked up in Jail. that all evening long
panic-stricken people from the distant
and thinly-settled prairies were piling
into town because of the report that
bands of Black Hawks warriors had
been seen by reputable settlers along
the upper edge of the prairie?
Like reports had been filtering into
town for several days, but not much
credence had been given them. Indian
scares were not uncommon, and for
the most part people had scoffed at
them. But now there was an actual
threat from the powerful Black Hawk.
whose headquarters were up along the
Rock river, in the northern part of
Illinois. The chieftain had at last
thrown down the gauntlet; he had re-
fused to recognize the transfer of
lands and rights as laid down by the
government and had openly announced
his intention to fight. Already troops
from the forts were on the move, and
there was talk of the state militia be-
ing called out. Some of the leading
spirits in Lafayette had been moved
to organize local company.
Naturally, Martin Hawk knew moth.
Ing Of all this. He knew, through ST.
bound to come, but how was he to
know that redskins in warpaint had
been seen on the Grand Prairie, or
that he was not the only subject Of
conversation? All he knew was that
If the Lord didn't take a hand pretty
soon he would be- Well, it was USE
less to fix his mind on any particular
form Of destruction, so many and so
varied were the kinds being dlsputa-
tiously considered by the people in
the street.
Suddenly the sound Of fife and drum
smote upon his ear, coming from some
where up the street. He huddled
down in a corner and began to moan.
He knew the meaning of that signal
call. They were organizing for rush
upon the jail-an irresistible, over
whelming charge that would sweep
all opposition before it. Then he
heard the shuffling of many feet, loud
exclamations and an occasional cheer
Finally he screwed up the courage for
another cautious peep through the
bars. The crowd was moving off up
the street. A small group remained
undecided near a bonfire in the court
house yard. One of these men held
long rope in his hand, and seemed ar
gumentative.
Martin listened with all ears. trying
to catch what was being said. What
an Internal noise that fife and drum
were making! At last the little knot
Of men moved away from the fire. COM
ing toward the window. Martin, being
a wary rascal, promptly ducked his
head, but kept his ears open.
"It's a trick, that's what 1t is," he
heard some one growl. "A trick to
get us away from the Jail. They know
weIl get him, sure as God made little
apples, so they've fixed this up to"
swell. what If it is trickT" broke
in another. ut amt going to work.
The crowdll be back here again Inside
of ten minutes, an all the sheriffs an
constables in the state can't stop us
from taking him out an stringin' him
up."
1--WE might as well go and see what's
up," said another II guess he's where
he'll keep. He'll be here when we
come back, Bill. He can't get out till
we open the door. SO what's the use
cussln' about ten or fifteen minutes
delay? Come onl 1 don't take any
stock in this talk about Indians. but,
great snakes, If they want to get up
company to go out and"
The rest of the remark was lost on
Martin when the group turned the cor.
ner Of the jail.
"Ten or fifteen minutes" he
groaned. In ten or fifteen minutes
the whole town would be out there.
breaking down the door-the work of
a few seconds. There were two rooms,
or compartments, to the jail: a little
anteroom and the twelve-by-sixteen
foot "cage," of which he was the sole
occupant. Suddenly he stopped as If
shot. A tremendous idea struck him,