The midland journal., 1942-01-09
CHAPTER xxxII

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the soft, moonlit night to see where
her father was. She found him in
the stable putting harness on Sam
and Buck.
"I'm going with you," the girl
told him.
II think you had BETTER" he
agreed. There's a chance these in
vaders might come this way. Pack
valise with things to last you two
three days. Until things settle down
you'll be safer at Round Top than
here"
Lane clucked to the horses and
they started off. Presently the
trail ran into the road. A man
came out of it at canter.
Ellen drew deep breath of relief.
He was a man of flesh and blood,
and one she knew. His name was
Wade Scott.
s'Ellison's men got Dave Morgan
and Sib Lee," he blurted out.
Only a few hours ago she had
seen Morgan start for Deep Creek
Scott rode down beside or behind
them to Round Top. He dropped of
at the Crystal Palace to tell his
news. The place was boiling with
life, as was the street outside.
The man from Deep Creek banged
a 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 a 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. 81 heard up at Black Butte as
I came through that Cal Terry saved
jeff Brands life today. It takes
only a lii while to hang a man,
but only God Almighty can bring
him back to life again." Is
Hart turned on him angrily, a
glass of whiskey halfway to his
mouth. "Not a thing to that story.
Horace Garvey started it,
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?" H@
Doing all right, / reckon. He's
at the Round Top hotel"
Roam left his horse tied at the
hitch-rack and started for the Round
Top, which was really only 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 SIS
man about the best thing to do. He
knew that Terry and Richards were
in very great danger. Only deter
mined effort could save them from
mob vengeance.
u ~ n ~ c%sl
in the lobby of the Holden House.
They were waiting there for 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.
81 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. ! figured maybe they
would listen to JEFF, if we could get
him to the jail. He's at the Round
Top Hotel"
s'Pn 60 to Jeff." the girl cried.
''I'll bring him.
The Box 55 man hesitated. "All
right" he said after a moment. It
had occurred to him that she might
have some influence with Brand II
any was necessary. ''Rut you'll
stay at the Round Top till this is all
over. The streets are no place for
q girl tonight"
Roam got Ellen of the main
streets as soon as he could, but not
before she sensed the intense feel
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