Year: 1874

Platforms Of poles, six feet high an,
covered with earth, stood ON eacl
side of the stand or pulpit. On thes,
were bright fires which threw thei
light over the whole space within the
circle of tents. Outside the circle
were multitude Of wagons covered
with cotton cloth, in which slept peo.
Pile from a distance who had no other
shelter. Ia this outer darkness Nor.
ton, rs military dictator, had ordered
other platforms erected, and on these
fires were now kindling.


The returning scouts reported al
midnight that the rutfians, seeing the
completeness Of the preparations, had
left the camp ground. Goodwin was
the only man who was indisposed to
trust this ,reacherous truce. He i'm
mediately posted his mounted scouts
farther away than before on every
road leading u the ground, with in
structions to let him know instantly
il any body of men should be seen
approaching.


From Morton's previous knowledge
of the people, he was convinced that
i'll the mob were some men more than
suspected OF belonging to Micajah
Harp'> gang of thieves. Others were
allies of the gang -ot that class which
hesitatcs hetw zen "A lawleSs DISPOSE
ton and a wholesome fear of the law,
but whose protection and assistance
is The right foot upon which every
form of brIgandage stands. Besides
these there were the reckless Young
men who prosecuted IA camp-meeting
hom love Of mischief Tor its own
sake, men who were not vet thieves,
but iram whose ranks the bands OF
thieves were recruited. With these
last Morto,'s history gavc him GER
tain sympathy. As the classes rep
resented hv the mob held the balance
of power in the politics of the coun
try, Morton knew that he had not
much Ia hope from trimmer such as
Burchard


about four O'Clock in the morning
one ot the mounted scutincls who had
bpca uost.d far down the road came
riding in a, lull speed, with intelli-
-ence tha, the rowdies were coming
| IN force from the direction OF Jenkins
Vile. Goodwin had anticipated this,
and h. Immediately awakened his
whole reserve, concentrating the seat.
tered SOU Ids and setting them in am
bush an either side of the wagon
track that led to the camp ground -
With Il dozen mounted men well arm
rd with clubs. he took his own stand
At Il morrow place where the foliage
on either side was thickest, prepared
to dispute the passage to the camp
The men in ambush had orders to fall
upon the ememv's TANKS as soon as
the fight should begin in front. |,
was simple piece of strategy learn.
ed Of the Indians.


The marauders rode ON two by tw.
until the leaders, coming round a
curve, caught sight Of Morton and his
right hand man. Then there was a
surprised refining up on the one hand
and sudding dashing charge on The
other. At the first blow Goodwin Eel
led his man, aud the rderless hors,
ran backward through the ranks
The mob was taken by surprise. anG
before the ,uiiians could rally Mortol
uttered cry to his men in the bushes
which brought an attack upon ho'l
fanks. The rowdies fought hard but
from the beginning the victory Of the
guard was assured by the advantage
OF ambush and surprise. The onl,
question to be settled was that of cap
,urc, ior Morton had ordered the ar
rest of every man that the guard
could bring in. But SO sturdy was
the fight that only three were taken
One OF tie guard received a bad flesh
wound from pistol shot. Goodwin
did not give up pursuing the retreat
ing enemy until he saw them dash in
to the river opposite Jenkinsville.-
He then rode back and as it was get
ting light threw himself upon one
side of the great bunk in the preach
er's tent, and slept until he was ava,
kened by the horn blown in the pull
pit for the eight o'clock preaching.


When Sheriff Burchard arrived on
the ground that day he was evidently
frightened at the earnestness of Nor
toms defense. Burchard was one Of
those politicians who would have en-
deavored to patch up compromise
with typhoon. He was in a
strait between his fear Of the animos-
ity Of the mob and his anxiety to
please the Meihodists. Goodwin,
taking advantage OF this latter feeling
got himself appointed deputy sher-
if, and, going before magistrate, he
secured the issuing Of writs for the
rrrcst of those whom he knew to be
leaders. Then he summoned his
guard as a posse, and, having thus
nut the law on his side, he announced
that if the ruilians came again the
guard must follow him until they were
entirely subdued.


Bnrchara took him aside, and warn
ed him solcmnly that such extreme
measures would cost his life. Some
of thee men belonged to lIarp's band
and he would not b. safe anywhere
if he made enemies Of the gang. ''Do
not throw away your life" entreated
Burchard.


That's what life is fpr," said Nor
ton. If mans life is too good to
throw away in fighting the devil, it
is not worth having Goodwin said
this in way that made Burchard
ashamed of his own cowardice. But
kike who stood by ready to depart
could not help thinking that if Patty
were in place of Ann Eliza, Morton
might think life good for something
else than to be thrown away in fgh,
with rowdies.


ITO be Continue0.)


81 a.