The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-10-30

to warn the settlers.
Scott rode down beside or behind
them to Round Top. He dropped off
at the Crystal Palace to tell his
news. The place was boiling with
life, as was the street outside. He
caught sight of Lee Hart and Red.
Both of them showed signs of hav-
ing had good deal to drink.
The man from Deep Creek banged
tumbler on the top of the bar for
silence. When the voices died down
he told his story to a stilled and
shocked audience. They waited till
he had finished, then poured ques-
tionS at him.
Lee Hart slammed his fist on the
walnut. That settles it. Well take
those fellows out of the calaboose
and string 'em up, no matter what
Nate says"
A little wrinkled man with wide,
gray, weather-beaten hat walked
into the place. He had just ridden
down from his ranch to find out
how large force Round Top ex-
pected to send as allies of the set
tiers against the invaders. Roam had
arrived just in time to hear Hart's
snarling threat.
"You don't want to get on the
prod too sudden, Lee" he said mild
ly. Il heard up at Black Butte as
! came through that Cal Terry saved
JEFF Brands life today. 1t takes
only Ill while to hang a man,
but only God Almighty can bring
him back to life again."
Hart turned on him angrily, a
glass of whiskey halfway to his
mouth. mot a thing to that story.
Horace Garvey started it. He has
done been bought and gone over
to the big fellows. Cal Terry has
come to the end of his last crooked
mile"
Afford was worried, but he said
no more in protest. He knew it was
of no use.
''How is jeff" he asked. "Where
is he?"
Doing all right, I reckon. He's
al lllG IhOuIlu IOp UOlGl.
Roam left his horse tied at the
hitch-rack and started for the Round
Top, which was really only a board
ing-house. On the way somebody
stopped him for a moment to dis
cuss the chances of trapping the in
vaders. He mentioned casually that
he had just seen Lane Carey at the
Holden House. Lane and his daugh-
ter had reached town. Afford de-
cided to consult with the Box 55
man about the best thing to do. He
knew that Terry and Richards were
in very great danger. Only a deter
mined effort could save them from
mob vengeance. The streets were
crowded with men, nearly all of
them excited beyond reason. They
talked of nothing but the invaders,
the fate of Morgan and Lee, and the
prospective lynching of the Diamond
Reverse B men.
Carey and his daughter were still
in the lobby of the Holden House.
They were waiting there for a maid
to finish changing the bed of room
recently vacated. Afford walked
across to them.
Hell has broke loose in Georgia."
he said to Carey. 1--WE just left the
Crystal Palace, where they are all
talking about lynching Cal Terry
and Larry Richards. That's all they
are discussing on the streets too,
except the trouble on Deep Creek.
They'll be heading for the jail
mighty soon, looks to me-"
All the color washed from the
face of Ellen. She stared at the
little man, lips parted, fear dilating
her eyes. "But-but-how can that
be, when they fought with the Tex
ans today and saved jeff Brands
life?" she asked.
Il told 'em that. They won't be-
lieve it. They have gone crazy.
We have got to get it across to them
that Cal isn't tied up with this bunch
of Ellison's. l figured maybe they
would listen to jeff, if we could get
him to the. Jail. He's at the Round
Top Hotel"
"I'll go to jeff" the girl cried.
"Pll bring him."
Lane Carey ignored what she had
said. "You go see jeff and talk
with him." he said to Afford. "Tl
run down to the corral and bring
the wagon to move him if he is able
to go. See you soon."
I'm going with Roam, father"
Ellen cried
The Box SIS man hesitated. "All
right" he said after a moment. 1t
had occurred to him that she mignr
have some influence with Brand If
any was necessary. But you'll
stay at the Round Top till this is all
over. The streets are no place for
a girl tonight"
Roam got Ellen off the main
streets as soon as he could, but not
before she sensed the intense feel
ing of the men they saw. 1t beat on
her like the heat from the open
door of furnace. Instinctively she
hurried her steps, as the chill of
fear filled her breast.
The old woman who was nursing
jeff thought that he ought not to
be disturbed, but they brushed her
aside and went into the bedroom.