The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-27
CHAPTER v

Looked kind of salty for . spell
didn't it," The gsizaled leader Of
the posse, he who had effected the
capture of the thieves, was speaking
to Pierce. Well I'm due for :
private apology. I hope you cher
ish no hard feelings. Ehl" ,.
Lucky that woman showed up.
Who is she7" A
PHILIPPE shook his head. In HE
turn he inquired, "What are you 60
ing to do with the McCaskeys1
The elder mans face hardened. Il
don't know. This talk about hangin'
makes me weary. I'D hand 'em;
Id kick a bar'l out from under
either of 'em. I've done sxeh
things and I never had any bad
dreams"
But it was plain that the senti.
ment favoring such extreme punish
ment had changed, for a suggestion
was made to fog the thieves and
send them out of the country. This
met with instance response. A mo-
ton was put to administer forty
lashes and it was carried with .
whoop. n
Since the younger McCaskey ap.
peared to be still somewhat dazed
from the rough handling he had suf-
fered, his brother was thrust for
ward. The latter was stripped to
the waist, his wrists were firmly
bound, then trussed up to one of
the stout end-poles Of the tent
frame which, skeleton like, stood
over the platform. This done, the
committee fell back. and the wielder
of the whip stepped forward.
The crowd had watched these
grim proceedings intently: it be-
came quite silent now. The hour
was growing late, the day had been
overcast, and damp chill that
searched the marrow was settling as
the short afternoon drew to close.
The prisoners naked body showed
very white beneath his shock of
coal-black hair; his flesh seemed
tender and the onlookers stared at
it in fascination.
Joe McCaskey was a man Of
nerve; he held himself erect; there
was defiance in the gaze which he
leveled at the faces below him. But
his brother Jim was not made Of
such stern stuff-he was the meaner,
the more cowardiy OF the pair-and
these methodical preparations, the
certainty of his own, forthcoming
ordeal bred in him a desperate
panic. The sight OF his brothers
flesh barred to the bite of the lasl,
brought home to him the horrifying
Significance of q logging. and ..ben,
las it to emphasize that. significance,
the executioner gave his cato mine,
tails practice swing: As the lashea
Kissed through the air the.victim al
the post stifened rigidiy, but his
brothcr, 3 outside the inclosure,
.writhed in his tracks and uttered q
faint moan. Profting, by the mat
tcntion Of his captors, Jim McCas.
key summoned his strength and
with an effort born of desperation
wrenched himself free. Hands
grasped at him as he boltcd, bodies
barred his way. but he bore them
down; before the meaning of the
commotion had dawned upon tks
crowd at large he had fought hil
way out and wac speeding down. thu
street. But fleet-footed men were
at his heels, q roar Of rage burst
from the, mob, and in body Il
took up the chase. Down the
stumpy, muddy trait went the par-
suih and every command to; halt
spurred the fleeing man to swiftes
flight. Cabin doors opened; peo.
pie came running from their tents:
some tried to fling themselves in the
way of the escaping criminal; pack
ers toiling up, the trail heard the ap-
preaching cfauor, shook off their
burdens andsendeavored to seize the
figure that came bounding ahead 81
it. But Jim lodged them all. Fan.
ing in. their attempt to iatercepl
him. these newcomers joined the
chase. and the fugitive, once the
first frenzy of excitement had died
in him, heard their footsteps gain
ling on him. He was stark mad b.
inow; black terror. tbsottledsi him
Then some. one 6.edass shot; that
shot was followed by others; there
came scattered fusillade, and with
a mighty leap Jim McCaskey fell
He collapsed in inidair; he was dead
when his pursuers reached him.
,@ii.
! (To bs oontinuedl u,