The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-07

with me. A single Slduce lntO MS
eyes may annihilate every vastfge Of
suspicion in my mind. Send for him.
Impossible. said Faircamp.
All. YOU are afraid" came almost in
a whisper from Helen. You dare not
do this: YOU fear that a just God may
move the child's heart to turn from
YOU with horror, to stretch out his
arms to me"
NO. madam. l fear nothing OF the
sort" replied Faircamp. My son lies
within on a bed of suffering. Come,
YOU may see for yourself. Two days
ago my sheep stampcded and poured
like a mad torrent down ON the plain.
Ny son was overtaken by the fleeing
herds. thrown down. trampled, torn.
one eye completely destroyed"
Helen gave a cry of suppressed hor-
ror at the sight of the injured boy and
had not Barstow half encirc'ed her
with his arm she must have fallen to
the floor. Fate seemed to have favored
the outlaw. for so cruelty had the lads
face been torn and lacerated that even
when it should be completely healed.
every semblance of its original express
sion would be stamped from it.
In deep silence. broken only by Hell
ems convulsive sObs. BarstOw led the
agonized woman back into the main
room.
Mr.. Faircamp." began the lawyer
while this terrible accident may rob
us of a certain advantage upon which
we had reckoned in order to reach
speedy settlement of this matter, yet
in truth | care little for the mere fact
of resemblance one way or the other.
| don't rest my case upon such variable
induces Let your wife be summoned
to corroborate your testimony"
AS Janet Faircamp entered the room
piteous cry of sympathy escaped Hell
ems lips, SO changed, SO terribly
changed, was this once beautiful
woman.
speak, Janet" said Thad, satisfy
their idle and presumptive curiosity;
are you not Roberts mother
Misrepresentation, ,murmured Janet.
You have been imposed upon. cruelty
deceived. Robert Is my son not yours.
Oh, how wicked they have been to
you"
We'll. sir" exclaimed Thad, in a
tone of triumph. No doubt this evil
dence will satisfy you: no doubt you
are convinced at last that you are the
victim of suspicion engendered by your
hatred of me-"
Il am not satisfied with this proof,
sir, replied the lawyer. in cold and
measured tones. You have nothing
further to offer, but we have"
What do you II cam exclaimed
Faircamp.
Il reiterate my charge against you,
Thaddcus f'aircamp," said Barstow.
You have failed utterly to prove it's
falsity. | charge that Helen Faircamp
is the mother of that boy whom you,
in violation of the statutes of our State,
have abducted and removed beyond its
jurisdiction.
"Nillain and liar" roared Thad, be-
side himself with rage.
Il have in my possession. MIR. Fair
camp" continued the lawyer, taking
no note of this outburst. "a mandate of
extradition. with Capt. James Terrill
as specially sworn deputy, to take
YOU in custody You must return to the
United States with me and meet this
! charge, for which you have been in
dicted by the Grand Jury of San Fran
| cisco County, in a court of Justice. If
! this boy is yours you will know how to
| prove it, and heavy damages will be
| awarded YOU for false arrest. damages
which my client is amply able to liqui-
| date"
Return to American" fairly yelled
| Thad Faircamp. Never shall l sub
| NIT to such an outrage. never shall |
| permit myself to be torn from my home
and transported across the seas. to be
| insulted and Inundated by the paid
| creatures of a so-called court of justice.
| You mistake your man, Barstow. \
word from me. and fifty sturdy BUSH
| rangers will leap to my side, sworn to
| defend me to the death. And now,
sir" continued Faircamp. with smile
| of triumph, comes my turn to threaten.
You must leave this region within
! twelve hours, or I'll not be answerable
for your life
| Let your hired assassins shoot me
1T will Re bootless Job. for other
champions will rise to battle for this
unfortunate lady. l have duty to
perform. and shall perform it boldly
and fearlessly. You are my prisoner.
Thad broke out into a jeering laugh.
but it came to sudden ending. for
| stepping to the window the lawyer
drew the curtain aside. \ troop of
black police had ridden into the yard
and pulled up under the very windows
of the house. The captain of the troop
saluted Col. Barstow.
! Il repeat. Faircamp: you are my
prisoner, said the lawyer.
With Il piercing shrek of terror
Janet Faircamp threw herself at
! Helen'S feet and clasped that woman 5
body with her long. thin arms. while
her face was upturned with a pitiful
look of half frenzy. half despair. as if
the truth was to be made known at
last. Thad was as good As his word.
but as he lcveled his revolver at his
wife, quicker hand had pressed the
| trigger of another. The bullet struck
the wrist of the outlaw and literally
shot his pistol from his hand. but d
III