Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 627 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 sissippi, and his journey across that river; his mys- terious twilight interviews with the unknown gentle- man on the Tennessee shore; the kage he had received from this partly-masked personage; his : ‘ride back, and his leaving the hors? he had ridden jn ) the spot where he had found him, As to who placed the horse there and took him from there he was igh ignorant. The audiences listened in absorbing silence to this strange narration, though the satirical smile and the faces of many showed that they believed it to be manufactured for the occasion. ‘We are past the days of fairy tales,’’ remarked Colonel Brown severely. ‘* Such a ridiculous story po is an insult to the intelligence of this meeting.” i} ‘When lam put properly ontrial [ will prove all ‘i I have said,’”’ answered Tom steadily. ‘*All the persons I have mentioned, the inii-people at Ivans- fess} town, the boatman, and all the rest of them can be "| brought as witnesses. If I was riding on stolen at horses would I bring them back two days after- ward to Ivanstown?”’ ! . “Notif you had your wits about you,” cried a voice in the crowd. ‘Very well. I can prove by the landlord and stablemen that I did so.’’ This declaration, and the firm voice and steady bearing of the speaker, evidently made an impres- sion in his favor. People looked at one another and some whispering took place. Tom had scored astrong point, Yet many faces continued unyield- Cea ‘What was the destination of the package which you received in Tennessee?”’ asked the lawyer. Tom continued silent, in a reflecting attitude. * What did you do with it, I say? Did you bring it home?” ‘* Yes,’’ was the hesitating answer. ** And gave it to your father?’’ el hy : ‘* What did it contain?” ‘*T do not know,” | **But I do,” answered the lawyer. ‘‘And I fancy | ‘you could give a shrewd guess. Your secret disap- | pearances have been observed in Mayville. And ' after every one of them your father, who has not | 4lone a day’s work since he lived in the town, has ! his pockets full of money, and goes on a grand drunk, Yeu know this, at least?’’ bar i ‘TI object to bringing my father into the question,” : | answered Tom resolutely. ‘No doubt. You area good son to a bad father. ‘You have heard all that has been said, gentlemen. ‘The prisoner will not tell him who sends him on these expeditions, but it is clear enough to any man of sense. It is Jake Bruce, whois making the bo a victim to some underhand scheme of his own. It | is my opinion that we had better release the son and arrest the father.” ‘* Your opinion ain’t worth a brass farthing,” cried Colonel Brown, inarage. “Itis a sure thing that this boy was found on my horse, which was stolen out of my stable. And that’s more to the point than all the fairy stories he can invent. Are grown men like us to be stuffed with such nonsense as that a drunken sot, lixe Jake Bruce, has some- body who mysteriously supplies him with money? “The money, I tell you, is part of the proceeds for stolen horses. There isa gang of horse-thieves operating in this county, We have nailed one of ; them,in this boy. And I fancy we will soon nail another, in his father. That’s my view of the | case.”’ : a “And mine. And mine,” came from twenty ; ‘voices through the hall. ‘The accused must have a legal trial,”’ exclaimed the lawyer, eee” ‘“*Tf he can prove what he declares, the law will clear him. We should want nothing but justice.”’ ** Justice is one thing. The loop-holes of the Jaw are another,” cried an angry voice. ‘‘ You lawyers can twist plain murder into baby’s play, but you i ! can’t come that over us. They are rigging up a bss scheme, fellow-citizens, to clear this infernal young hoss-thief. Are we going to let them play it on us?’ ef Bnd no!’’ came ina peal of voices through the hall, The confusion now became too great for further proceedings, both sides angrily arguing and declaim- Lets ing. The prisoner was finally remanded to the lock- ene 7 up, and the meeting broke up in great excitement. ! Tom had evidently won some friends, but he hada host of bitter and determined foes. 7 Not long afterward Will Carson returned from the + county town, bringing word that the constable and | sheriff were absent, and would not be able to come for the prisoner till late the next day. | It was sought to confine his information to the cu friends of the prisoner, but it leaked out during the on next day, adding greatly to the excited state of dy Yon public feeling. “Till tell you what it is, jads,” cried a rampant ma orator at the Bald Eagle, *‘these hoss-thieves has aad | got to be put down, and thar’s only one way to pet > AL, em down, and that’s by hangin’ ’em up; any fool knows that. Tom Bruce stole the kurnel’s hoss; /, that’s as plain as the nose on a man’s face. But let 4 "em git it in the courts onc’t, and it’ll be as hard to see as a Skeeter’s eye. Ther’s only one judge in this State of Arkansaw that’s wu’th shucks, and that’s Judge Lynch. The boy’ll be let off with a year or two in jail, at the wu’st, and hosses’ll slide out 0’ stables as fast as ever. The rope’s the best pops fur a hoss-thief, and every fool ought to know at. This view of the case seemed to take. Twenty voices were raised in support of it. Yet no one seemed yd to raise the standard of open nen and the day slowly glided on toward the oye 8 : eee Tom Bruce of Arkansas. CHAPTER XII. A DESPERATE AVFRAY. At five o’clock tnat evening a carriage drove into Mayville, whose advent was attended with much ex- citement, Its inmates were recognized at a glance by many of the people as the sheriff and constable of Dover, the county town. The news spread like wildfire through the town, and while these officials were put*ting up their horses, excited groups gathered at the various corners, and much incendiary talk was indulged tn, The officers went somewhat deliberately to work. They called on the authorities of Mayville, showed their warrant for the delivery of the prisoner, and then proceeded quietly toward the lock-up. They apparently were not aware of tne state of public feeling. It was now fally six o’clock, and darkness was settling rapidly over the town. On reaching the building in which the prisoner was confined they found it to be surrounded by a crowd of excited men. These faced them somewhat irresolutely, as if in doubt what action to take. There was at first some show of preventing their entrance, But the two officials, who recornized these signs of public feeling, knew well what they were about. hey walked boldly into the throng, and pressed resolutely through, forcing to the right and left with little ceremony all who refused to move. There was some growling, but no firm opposition. The cfflcers reached the door of the lock-up, opened it with the key that had been given them, and entered. So far their enterprise promised suc- i cess. The cell of the prisoner was quickly reached and opened. Tom raised his head and gazed through the gathering darkness upon his visitors. ‘*Stir up, my friend,’’ said the sheriff. ‘‘We are come to take you to Dover. But it looks as if we were not going to get out of this town without trouble. Do you want to stay here and be lynched?” ‘ No.” “Then you must stick to us. Come.”’ Tom, with animpulse of hope, sprung to his feet and followed. A minute took them to the door of the jail. 6 opening it and looking out, they saw thata deciied chante had taken place in the position of affairs, The darkness had increased in the interval, Of the mass through which they had pushed their way but about thirty now remained. But these were grouped close around the door of the Dh tn while half-masks concealed the lower part of their faces. The sheriff cast one glance on this threatening demonstration, and then sprung resolutely forward, brandishing a formidable club, ‘*Make way there,” he cried fiercely. ‘‘In the from this name of the law, make way!”’ ‘*You shall never take that thief awa town,” yelled a shaggy-haired fellow who opposed him. ‘* Won't I?” cried the sheriff. ‘‘ Bring him along, He strode forward. His opponent raised his hand to stop him. One blow of the club, and the fellow went down as if he had been kicked by a horse. In the next moment a fierce affray was in progress, The two officers, with the prisoner between them, strove to force their way through the mob, blows fell to right and left, and blood was running from more than one face and head. pares had gone down before the club of the sheriff. Yet the crowd was too dense and de‘ermined. The ofacers were forced back, step by step, while one stalwart fellow, slipping behind them, seized the captive and jerked him out of their custody. Tom resisted, but a half dozemw hands grasped him and he was hauled into the midst of the masked mob. The officers, seeing what had happened, turned, and strove to fight their way toward the prisoner. At the same moment a shrill cry was raised on the skirts of the crowd, and a band of youthful forms, with whom were mingled some men, rushed vigorously forward. ‘To the rescue!’’ cams in the voice of Will Car- son. ‘In the name of the law!”’ cried another voice. ‘In the name of the law,” echoed the officers, as they fought their way toward this reinforcement, The fight now was fierce and general. Cries and yells rose from the combatants, hard blows were iven and returned, the boys fought like young igers, and ere long a dozen forms were prostrate on the earth. — The sheriff and constable had both been felled more than once. But with indomitable courage and energy they gained their feet again, and broke their way through to the band of their friends. At the head of this party was a stranger to the eople of the town. He had suddenly apveared, pees into the trouble, and at once taken the ea Who he was, nobody knew, but he fought fiercely. ‘* No revolvers!” he cried, knocking a leveled pis- tol from a hand near him. ‘Fists and clubs, but no bullets. We must have him out, boys, but don’t let us add murder to murder.”’ He sprung forward, followed with cheers from his followers. and ably seconded by the Dover officers, and by a dozen others. But the opposite party had grown till it numbered full fifty men, while the prisoner was in its center, hustled to and fro in the movements of the combat. ‘“On them!” stouted the leader of the rescuing party... ‘‘Follow me! One'’break and we have him! me : a ———————————————————————————————————————— P XK “ A surge followed that took the youthful rescuers deep into the party of masked lyncners' But they could ge no further, The serried mass which had for a moment yielded to their vigorous impulse, oon its ranks again, and forced them violently ck, At the same time hurried movemeuts took place in the rear. “They are dragging Tom away!’ cried Will Cor- son, with eager energy. ‘‘They are going to carry him off! To the rescue, lads, to the rescue!” He led the way, followed by bis friends. The con- stable and.sheriff sprung before him, striving to force a passage through the crowd. The stranger ran to the left, followed by a half-dozen stalwart men, seeking to turn their flank, But they spread out until they occupied the street from side to side, presenting vigorcus opposition at every point, Meanwhile the prisoner had been dragged back into the dark street beyond, and in the hands of a dozen strong men was being hurried rapidly away. Five minutes of hard fighting succeeded. At the end of that time the two officers broke through the opposing line, leaving a half-dozen men prostrate on the ground. Their followers swept through after them like a wave. “This way!’ was the eager shout. ‘Lively, : lads, they cannot be far ahead. We will save Tom et.”’ Will Corson, his face streaming with blood from an open cut on his forehead, dashed forward at the head of the youtbful phalanx, like a young hound that has scented the game. The stranger who had rendered such efficient ser- vice ran down a side street, followed by the men of his party. Yet at this point Mayville was cut by several streets at different angen and it was impossible to tell which had been taken by the lynching party. No trace of them was visible, and the eager search made failed to reveal them. Street after street was traversed, the whole town and the outlying roads were searched, but without success. The lynchers had succeeded in making way with their prey, and had concealed him in some safe place not evident to the searchers, At the end of twenty minutes’ search the pursuers halted for conference. A shrill whistle called the stragglers together, and in a few minutes more the 2 ane them were gathered in the center of the street. “The party at the lock-up has dispersed,” cried one of them, coming hastily up. ‘There is not a soul there. The street is silent and deserted.” ame on us,”’ said asecond. ‘‘ Where have they taken the boy? To the woods, or to some stronghold?” ‘If to the woods it can be but to hang him with- out trial,’’ exclaimed a voice in alarm. ‘*T just saw some of them going down the Dover Road,’’ announced a new-comer. “T bet high I know where they’re gone,” cried Will Corson. **Follow me, lads, we’ll rescue him “Where is ib?”’ **To Thompson’s stone mill. That's the only place strong enough for a jail.”’ A rush took place after his eager footsteps. The place in question was half a mile off. It was now quite dark, but all present knew the way as well by midnight as by noon. Few minutes brought them to the vicinity of a dark, threatening, stone mass, which stood removed from any other build- ‘They have evidently played a set ing. i was dark, however, but by comparison, for lurid lights played upon its walls, bringing it out in ghost- ly prominence. And shadowy figures flitted to and fro around it, revealed by the light of numerous lanterns, ‘* Halt!’ came astern challenge, as the party ap- proached, The click of a dozen rifle-locks followed. The pursuers hastily obeyed, and looked forward to measure the situation, It was a threatening one. Full fifty men, armed with rifles, encircled the mill. facing in every direc- tion, while sentinels guarded every dcor and win- dow. ‘* You had best go back,” said a loud, stern voice, ‘* We were only playing with you at the lock-up, We mean business here. The thief is in our hands, and there he is going to stay tlll he is tried and judged. Go home, boys, and gotobed. You have men to deal with.” A short altercation succeeded, but it was evident that the speaker was in earnest. An attempt at rescue would cost the lives of twenty citizens. The l-aders of the rescue party withdrew for con- eee ip ? ‘ Rs es ‘*We can’t get Tom, but we can keep them from taking him to the woods to hang him,” cried Will. “Tots get our rifles, and make a circle outside. If shoot’s the game, we can shoot, too. We will lie in the dark, while we can see all their movements. If they try to harm Tom there, I’m going to shoot, no matter who's hurt.” « This suggestion seemed a good one, Guns and rifles abounded in Mayville, while revolvers were as plentiful almost as potatoes. - The plan was at once put in execution, some stay- ing on guard, while others went for their weapons. Within half an hour’s time an outer circle of arm- ed boys and men surrounded the inner circle of armed men, each party resolved to fight to the death if it came to a fight. ; Some of the boys had fathers in the party of lynchers. Their feeling for Tom Bruce was picks go as to make them forget the ties of parentage. a JOOK — — yam. - —— s — SS ee ——— ee ———ae | ben a vada ~ De - x ~! i me toX om es oe > . yA ope SON