Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-01

not say What-Only something resembling
myself or my red shirt OF Scrub mountain
could in the many views presented by him to
his audiences be vaguely made out in the
general i~ndistinctness.
So this busy man went on poisoning the
Bull Bar mind against me.
Broener left for Marysville on the day
Pratt was pronounced worse. His interest
in the ''Bank" seemed now secondary to
another elsewhere.
After his departure 1 went down to Ran
kin's. 1t was o arrived at the store
just after the fifteen or twenty boarders had
finished their dinner, and were now conere-
gated for a smoke and a talk, preparatory to
the long afternoons work in their claims
along the river bank.
just before entering heard Sefter's tongue
rafting on at q livelier pace than ever. The
gravity Of Pratt's case seemed to act az a
stimulant upon him, exciting his Imagination
and touching up his suspicious differences re-
garding this queer business" in more pro-
nounced colorings than aver.
And why don't he come out and fell. the
whole storys" said he.
As l entered that hush ensued so peculiar
to the unexpected advent of the party talked
about.
knew they were talking of me in connec-
ton with Pratt-or rather 1 felt it. Ihad
felt it for some days-felt it In a certain cool
ness, in averted looks, and hints and inuen-
does, whose full import and meaning now
burst upon ME.
The silence was finally broken by one
"Long Macs" asking me il l sknew how
Pratt was"
II hear he is worse" was my reply, and 1
felt my face redden and burn as I spoke. Ac-
tually I did feel then like Pratt's murderer,
and on trial before a jury prejudiced against
me, without a favorable witness or ~extenuat-
ing circumstance in my behalf. So strong
seemed the effect of the predominant thought
from the group in that store to make me feel
as they believed.
There was another silence. A great deal
Of renewed and possibly unnecessary pipe
filling and cleaning of stems with broom
straws went on; possibly as a mental relief
to the more sensitive, and consequently en-
barrassed, of the party.
was you coming down Scrub mountain
when you found Prattl' asked another.
"No." l replied. II went I'D to him.
81 wonder how he came.by two bullets in
his head, +" asked Long Mac.
II don't know that he has M bullets IN
his head" l replied.
"lou don't" was the reioinder from Long
Mac. The emphasis on the n was
peculiar. did not mistake its meaning, but
made no reply.
Meantime Mr.. Setter was silent. perhans.
for the first time, a sense Of the RESPONSE
bility of his loquacity had come over him.
He did not like talking in face Of the
accused. The matter was now in sterner
hands.
"Well," said Long Mac, 81 think for one
this thing needs looking into. It's bout time
this robbin' and murderin' was stopped,
Somebody needs stringin' up"
The mortality list for Bull Bar, and, say,
a stretch of river for two miles up and down
averaged a man killed by known or unknown
parties about once in ten days. But tho Bar
was now in the throes of one Of those spasms
of law and order, peculiar to all commune
ties. Woe to the wight, guilty or not guilty,
caught during such spasln. He would hang.
1t was worse than any direct trial, this
being accused by hint, Inference and inuendo.
There was, l felt, but one thing to do. Ire
solved to make the issue and meet it.
'Look herem l said. "What are YOU fell
lows driving at, anyway You talk as il
some one had tried to murder Pratt. Now. az
I'm considerably mixed up in this matter,
I'd like to know il any one is suspected of
crooked business, and il SO who it is?"
No one replied. l was now started
and kept on.
ut strikes me-" I said, 'from the way that
this talk has gone on that I'm the man you're
aiming at. Now, if anybody's got any
charge against me lie can back up with
proof, this is as good a time to make it a.
any other. l object to being tried behind
my back and without any chance to defend
myself. Has anybody here seen me waylay
Pratt, shoot him or rob him? If there is let
him talk. l am ready to hear what lie has
to say"
My audience was very quiet.
Have you, Mr.. Sefterl I believe you've
had a good deal to do and say in this matter.
You seem to mo as much, il not more,
Of this affair than anybody elsea You were
with me when w brought Pratt down the
oaountain. Why shouldn't I think 1t q very
queer piece of business to talk of your beins
up on Scrub mountain the day Pratt wa!
hurt, poor maj trying to get an honest liv
ing and all that. l tell you, Bill Setter, tina
sort of talk has put the halter round NOR,
than one mans neck in this country when il
didn't belong there. This buzzing suspicion
in peoples ears, until the man that buzze.
and those he buzzes to can't tell the differenc,
between mere hearsay and absolute proof is
l think, about the IN as murder"
Setter was silent. / felt myself warming
up as concentrated myself upon him alone
and, what wa to me a relief, l felt also til,
letters of a constitutional backwardness fol
any sort of expression for the time falling
from me-whether that expression should b
one of deeds or words. of mind or muscle
Setter" continued, you are making thi
trouble for me-. and / know it. You are
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