|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 51
A resounding cheer ascended at the sound of Tom's voice. In the light
of the lanterns Tom was seen to be signaling with his hands for quiet,
and the din soon died down.
"Mr. Reade," spoke Beasley, in a voice that shook with indignation, "the
real men of this town would like an account of what has been going on
here to-night. If Duff and his cronies have been up to anything that
hurts the good name of the town we'd like the full particulars. You men
there--don't let one of the rascals get away. Jim Duff and his gang
will have to answer to the town of Paloma."
"Men," ordered Reade, "bring along the crew you caught in the cellar.
Don't hurt them--remember how cowardly violence would be when we have
everything in our own hands."
"The men of Paloma will do all the hurting," Mr. Beasley announced
grimly.
Tom's own deliberate manner, and his manifest intention of not abusing
his advantage impressed itself upon the decent men of Paloma, who now
swarmed about the frightened captives from the cellar.
"I know 'em all," muttered Beasley. "I'll know 'em in the morning, too.
So will you, friends!" he added, turning to the pressing crowds.
"Start Jim Duff on his travels now!" demanded one angry voice.
"By the Tree & Rope Short Line!" proposed another voice.
Jim was caught and held, despite his straggles. Active hands swarmed
over his clothing, seeking for weapons.
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" appealed Tom sturdily, making his resonant
voice travel far over the heads of the throng. "Will you honor me with
your attention for three or four minutes?"
"Yep!" shouted back one voice.
"You bet!" came another voice.
"Go ahead and spout, Reade. We'll have the hanging, right after!"
There was nothing jovial in these responses. Tom Reade knew men well
enough to recognize this fact. Moreover, Tom knew the plain,
unvarnished, honest and deadly-in-earnest men of these south-western
plains well enough to know the genuine fury of the crowd.
Arizona and New Mexico have long been held up as states where violence
and lynch law prevail. The truth is that Arizona and New Mexico have no
more lynchings than do many of the older states. An Arizona lynching
can only follow an upheaval of public sentiment, when honest men are
angered at having their fair fame sullied by the acts of blackguards.
"Friends," Tom went on, as soon as he could secure silence, "I am a
newcomer among you. I have no right to tell you how to conduct your
affairs, and I am not going to make that mistake. What you may do with
Jim Duff, what you may do with others who damage the fair name of your
town, is none of my business. For myself I want no revenge on these
rascals. They have already been handled with much more roughness than
they had time to show to me. I am satisfied to call the matter even."
"But we're not!" shouted an Arizona voice from the crowd.
"That's your own affair, gentlemen," Reade went on. "I wish to suggest
--in fact, I beg of you--that you let these fellows go to-night. In the
morning, when the sun is up, and after you have thought over the matter,
you will be in a better position to give these fellows fair-minded
justice--if you then still feel that something must be done to them.
That is all I have to say, gentlemen. Now, Mr. Beasley, won't you follow
with further remarks in this same line?"
Mr. Beasley looked more or less reluctant, but he presently complied
with Reade's request. Then Tom called upon another prominent citizen of
Paloma in the crowd for a speech.
"Let the coyotes go--until daylight," was the final verdict of the
crowd, though there was an ominous note in the expressed decision.
In stony silence the crowd now parted to let Jim Duff and his fellows go
away.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|