THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
It had taken the people of Rixton a long time to oppose the overbearing
tyranny of Simon Stubbles and his family. It really began that
afternoon at the close of the so-called trial. The men were incensed
as never before, and talked and threatened in an alarming manner. Even
then, nothing of a definite nature might have been done but for the
leadership of Jake Jukes. He was slow to arouse to a pitch of fury,
but when once stirred he was a formidable opponent, and this all knew.
His affection for Douglas was something remarkable, and his wife had at
times bantered him about thinking more of his hired help than he did of
her. Douglas' courage in facing the Stubbles, combined with his
ability as a wrestler, was what appealed to Jake, and when he saw what
a miserable farce Squire Hawkins was making of the trial, and listened
to Ben Stubbles' blasphemous denial of all connection with the night
attack, his anger rose to white heat.
For a while he remained silent at the close of the trial, and merely
listened to what the men were saying. He heard all kinds of
suggestions and wild talk. Some advocated burning out the Stubbles,
mill and house, and driving them from the parish. Others were for
horse-whipping Ben and Squire Hawkins, while one went so far as to
suggest that they hang Ben to the limb of a tree. Jake knew that all
this talk would amount to nothing without a leader, and if no one else
would act, he would. Quickly mounting a bench, he ordered the men to
be silent.
"Ye'r all talkin' like a bunch of kids," he chided. "Let's git down to
business, an' do something. I don't want this to end in nuthin' but
talk as in the past. It's now or never. I'm willin' to lead an' take
the hull blame, if yez don't funk on me at the last minute."
"Good fer you, Jake," several shouted. "We'll stand by ye, never fear."
"All right, then," Jake replied, "I'll bank on yez all. But yez better
go home now an' think this all over, an' what is more important, keep
ye'r tongues still an' don't blab this all over the place. When I want
yez, I'll send fer yez, an' not before."
The Stubbles family were at their late breakfast the next morning when
news reached them about the indignation meeting in the hall the
previous evening. It was Squire Hawkins who told them. He had
received the information from an early caller at the store. All the
Stubbles considered the affair a huge joke excepting Miss Mehetibel.
She was angry and expressed her views in a most caustic manner.
"It's that horrid fiddler," she declared, "who is at the bottom of all
this. Pa, I don't understand why you allow him to remain in the
parish."
"Oh, he'll be out of the place soon," Stubbles senior replied. "You'll
attend to him, Squire, won't you?" and he winked at Hawkins across the
room.
The storekeeper grinned in reply. He was greatly pleased at the way he
had managed affairs at the trial, and had no fear of the people so long
as he had the Stubbles with him.
"They're all beasts and should be soundly whipped," Miss Mehetibel
proclaimed. "Oh, if I were only a man!"
"Cut your hair and change your clothes, Hettie," her brother
sarcastically replied, "and you'll pass for a man any time."
"I'd be ashamed to be like you, Ben," was the retort. "You haven't
enough spunk to be in the catalogue of men."
"Maybe not, but I get there just the same. What about last night?"
"Oh, that's not ended yet. That indignation meeting may amount to
something after all."
"Not a bit of it. It'll all end in talk. Why, the people in this
parish haven't the spunk of chickens when a hawk is after them. Dad's
the hawk in this case, and they're frightened to death of him. Come,
girls, let's go for a spin."
If Ben Stubbles had only known what was really taking place in Rixton
he would not have spoken so contemptuously about the people of the
parish. The intense feeling which pervaded the community that day was
ominous. Neighbours neglected their work as never before, and met in
twos and threes near their line fences to discuss the one big question
of the day. That they were determined to stand by Jake was most
evident, and they impatiently waited for word that would stir them to
action.
Their anger was further roused when they learned of what Ben had done
to Jean Benton at Long Wharf. This was due to Empty, and the startling
news spread from house to house with mysterious rapidity. No one
doubted it for an instant, for Empty himself had heard it from Jean's
own lips, and that settled it so far as the people were concerned. It
was this which removed the last particle of hesitation in the mind of
any one as to the necessity of action. When at last word came from
Jake to be ready that night, the men were as one in their grim
determination to take matters into their own hands.
The wharf near the store was the stated place of meeting, and there,
just after sundown, the men of Rixton gathered. They came in little
groups without any noise or clamour. Squire Hawkins, at first, had no
idea of their intentions, but thought that they had come merely to meet
the evening steamer. But as the crowd increased, he became somewhat
uneasy as reports of impending trouble drifted to his ears. In his
anxiety, he sent word to Simon Stubbles, telling him of his fears and
advising him to come and disperse the men.
It was Ben who received the message just as he was about to head his
car through the gate of the driveway leading up to the house. With a
curse he swung his car to the right and started up the road toward the
wharf. He would attend to the crowd, and send the men about their
business. His father could make an example of the ringleaders later.
But for once in his life Ben Stubbles had reckoned without his cost.
As he drew up near where the men were gathered, he ordered them to
clear out and go home.
"I know your plans," he told them, "but what do you think you can do?
Don't you know what will happen to you? Have you all gone crazy, you
d---- fools?"
The only reply to these words was a roar of anger as the crowd surged
toward the car. Ben, seeing them coming, and realising for the first
time the seriousness of the situation, endeavoured to escape. But he
was too late, for in an instant he was lifted off his feet and placed
astride a pole which was carried upon the shoulders of two strong men.
Cursing and raving, Ben threw himself to the ground but was immediately
hustled back again by a score of rough hands.
"Set still, ye beast, an' stop ye'r wrigglin'," Jake ordered. "Ye'r
only gettin' what's comin' to ye. Ye'll git a darn sight more if ye
don't keep quiet."
Away from the wharf and the main highway Ben was borne, and across an
open meadow to a deep slimy frog-pond on the edge of a large swamp.
Here he was dumped unceremoniously upon the ground, and ordered to
remove his clothes. When he hesitated and looked helplessly about as
if seeking for some avenue of escape, rough hands seized him and in a
few minutes he was standing as naked as the moment he was born. Ben's
face was now pale and he was trembling in every limb. His cursing and
raving had ceased and the cowardly heart of the man showed itself. He
pleaded for mercy, and begged his captors to let him go.
"Not till we're through with ye," Jake told him. "Ye've had ye'r own
way in this place long enough, an' it's our turn now."
"We'll teach ye a thing or two, ye bloody liar," Tom Totten roared.
"Ye'r heart's as black as ink, an' ye'r body'll be jist as black in a
few minutes. Bring on the stuff, boys."
At once a pail of coal-tar was produced, and seizing the brush which
was handed him, Tom dipped it into the tar. At the first daub upon his
naked body, Ben emitted a yell of despair and made a frantic effort to
escape. But he was instantly seized and laid on the ground.
"Ye'd better keep quiet, me hearty," Tom warned, as he rapidly smeared
Ben's body from head to foot. "If ye'r not careful I'll do ye'r face
an' head at the same time."
While this was taking place, several of the men were ripping open an
old feather bed they had brought with them. Into this Ben was plunged,
and rolled over and over until he looked more like an unsightly
feathered creature than a human being. He was then made to stand on
his feet for general inspection. The men shouted with laughter at the
ludicrous spectacle he presented, and all kinds of uncomplimentary
remarks were made.
"Who's your tailor?" asked one.
"Is that the latest fashion?" questioned another.
Presently Jake raised his hand, and the babel of tongues ceased.
"Now, look here, Ben," he began, "this is a nasty job, I know. But it
was comin' to ye, an' it had to be done sooner or later. Ye were
altogether too fresh an' there was no livin' in the parish with ye.
This is jist a warnin' to you an' all connected with ye, that the men
of Rixton won't stand no more tom-foolery. We're going to take things
in our own hands after this, an' we're not goin' to allow you nor ye'r
father nor anybody else to treat us like a bunch of damn curs. Isn't
that so, boys?"
"Hear, hear!" came from all. "Give him hell, Jake."
"An' look here, Ben," he continued, "we've all heard what ye done to
Jean Benton at Long Wharf. By the great jumpin' punkin! I kin hardly
keep me hands off ye'r measley body fer doin' that to a woman, an' her
nuthin' but a girl. Now we're goin' to give ye a dose of ye'r own
medicine, an' as ye dumped Jean into the harbour, you ye'rself can jist
flop around in that frog pond, an' see how it feels. Come on, boys."
As Ben was seized and lifted from the ground, he shrieked and begged
for mercy.
"Don't drown me! don't drown me!" he yelled. "For God's sake don't----"
His cries were cut short by the water which closed over his head as he
went down on his back beneath the leaves, spawn and slime. He came up
like a cork, choking and sputtering, and started to wade to the shore
as the water was only up to his arm-pits. But as he attempted to
scramble out, he was pushed back and forced to stand in his wretched
plight for several minutes. At length he was allowed to leave the
pond, and with teeth chattering with cold and fear, he was told to
dress himself as quickly as possible.
Mud and slime mingling with the drenched feathers and tar made him look
more grotesque than ever as he struggled into his clothes.
"Now clear out," Jake ordered, when Ben was at last dressed, "an' thank
ye'r stars that we didn't skin ye alive."
Ben waited for no second bidding, but darted away and ran as he had
never run in his life, followed by the shouts, jeers and laughter of
the crowd.
The men were now in a dangerous mood and ready for any mischief. The
fire of pent-up passion had at last burst forth, and the mob spirit was
upon them.
"Squire Hawkins," shouted some one. "Let's give him a dose."
"The Squire, the Squire," passed from mouth to mouth. "His turn next."
What would have happened is hard to tell, had not Douglas at that
instant stepped forward. His sudden appearance arrested the men, and
they at once stopped their clamour to hear what he had to say.
"I wouldn't do anything more to-night, men," he advised. "You are
greatly excited now, and if you are not careful you might do something
that you will regret. You have taught Ben a severe lesson, and one he
thoroughly deserved. But do not lay hands upon a Justice of the Peace.
He can be dealt with in another way."
"How?" asked one of the men.
"I have just come from the city," Douglas explained, "where I have been
in consultation with one of the ablest lawyers there. He is a special
friend of mine, and he will be here to-morrow. He will deal with
Squire Hawkins far more effectively than we can."
"Who is he?" several asked.
"Charles Garton, head of the firm of Garton & Tracey. I think you all
have heard of him. It was he who rounded up that bunch of Government
grafters last year and forced them to disgorge their ill-gotten gains."
"Sure, sure, we know him," was the cry. "Hurrah for Garton! He'll
settle with Hen Hawkins all right."
Seeing that his words were having the desired effect and that the crowd
was slowly dispersing, Douglas turned to Jake and told him to come
home. Without a word the latter obeyed, and together the two crossed
the field to the main road. Once there, Jake's tongue became
unloosened.
"Where did ye drop from, John!" he asked. "I didn't know ye was
anywhere around."
"I came from the city on the afternoon train, and when your wife told
me what was going on, I hurried to the wharf as fast as possible."
"An' did ye see it all?"
"Only the dip in the frog-pond, but I could easily guess the rest."
Douglas did not go home with Jake, but parted from him at the road
leading to the professor's house. He wished to see Nell, as he had
many things to tell her.
He received a hearty welcome, and felt very much at home as he sat by
the professor's side and told him about his visit to the city, and of
his return to Rixton just in time to see Ben's plunge into the
frog-pond.
Nell's face grew white and a startled expression came into her eyes as
Douglas related what the men of the place had done that night. Her
concern was not for Ben, but for those responsible for his punishment.
She felt sure that Simon Stubbles would take some speedy method of
revenge, and that the first object of his attack would be the man
sitting near her father. She wished to warn him of his danger. But
how could she speak and not reveal her keen interest in his welfare?
"Have you had any supper?" she asked so suddenly that Douglas looked
somewhat surprised.
"No, I have not had time to think of eating," he replied.
"Then you must have something right away," and Nell rose to her feet,
glad of an opportunity to be moving about in order to hide her
excitement.
Douglas begged her not to mind as he could get a bite when he went
home. But Nell would not listen to his protests, and in a short time
she brought in a tray containing a fresh, boiled egg, several slices of
excellent home-made bread, cake and tea.
This act of thoughtfulness touched Douglas deeply, and the look that he
gave Nell brought the colour back to her cheeks and made her very
happy. As he ate, he told about his visit to the city, and especially
about the evening he had spent with the Gartons. He said nothing,
however, about what the lawyer had told him concerning Simon Stubbles'
financial difficulties; neither did he say anything about the recovery
of the Big Chief mining concern.
It was about ten o'clock when Douglas bade the professor good-night.
"I am anxious to hear how you are getting on with your book," he told
him. "But we can have a long talk when I come again."
Nell accompanied Douglas to the front door, and for a while they stood
there looking out upon the beautiful night. Then Douglas told her
about Simon Stubbles' financial embarrassment, and how he had appealed
to Garton for assistance. By the light of the moon he could see Nell's
face which, so he thought, was more beautiful than ever, owing to the
serious expression depicted upon it. He could not divine the nature of
her thoughts, but when he mentioned the good news of the Big Chief
mine, she gave a cry of joy, and her face brightened.
"I can hardly believe it is true," and she clasped her hands before
her. "Are you sure there has been no mistake?"
"None at all, Mr. Garton will be here to-morrow, and he will take over
your interest in the mine, providing your father agrees."
"Oh, he will agree all right. What a joy it will be to us all," and
she turned her grateful eyes toward her companion's face.
It was difficult for Douglas at that moment not to reveal to Nell all
that was in his heart. He longed to tell her of his love, to clasp her
in his arms, and to claim her as his own. But no, he must wait. He
would not speak to her until he had thrown off his disguise. He
believed that she cared for him, perhaps loved him. But what would she
think if she knew who he really was, and what a deceiver he had been?
These thoughts flashed through his mind with lightning rapidity. He
could hardly trust himself to speak, so they both stood there strangely
silent.
"I must go now," and Douglas reached out his hand. "I shall see you
to-morrow."
As Douglas' hand closed over Nell's he held it for a few seconds, and
it was a great joy to him that she did not try to draw it away.
Quickly stooping, he touched her hand with his lips, and then without
another word he left her and walked rapidly away from the house.
Sometime later, in the solitude of her own room, Nell's lips pressed
the spot where the kiss had fallen. Her eyes were bright with a
new-found joy, and her face was radiant with the happiness of love.