The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1897-09-04

the head of the sugar barrel. If yo1
are trifling-"
Il amt triflin'," protested Ezekiel
earnestly. Il never told lie in my
life. 1t was jest after dinner, an was
lookin' for jeremiah. As 1 went by
Scroggins' door, he came out, lookin' ez
smilin' ez an undertaken with the
toothache. Seed my gal lately" says
he, foolin' with his gun. didn't want
to hurt his feelin's by tellin' him I'd
seen her ten minutes before with Bob,
so 1 sez, polite-like: 'Sartinly, saw her
last week. Dookin' well, amt she?
Std of bein' pleased, the old man was
riled and used language that would
have shocked wheat in a harvest field.
But didn't care until he said he could
git more music out n a weather-boarded
house with a club'n / could out'n my
fiddle'n' bow. Then was mad n talked
back. After assurin' me that I'd dis
fggered the lan'scape long enough,
only addin' to them plain words some
Unnecessary trimmin's, he shot at me
n l shot back, N this is what killed
him with"
Ezekiel drew out an old horse pistol
and handed it to the foreman of the
jury. A murmur of interest ran through
the crowd, and the jurors whispered
among themselves.
just then a little red-faced man
pushed his way through the crowd at
the door. There he isl" he shouted,
excitedly. There's the man that stole
my mule!"
We followed his finger with our eyes.
He was pointing at Ezekiel, who re-
garded him philosophically. well, 1
didn't say 1 didn't, did II" he asked,
mildly.
The newcomer threw his hat in the
corner and danced with excitement.
1T was this way, jedge. T'other day I
tied my mule down at Ransome's Ferry
while 1 went into Pixies place to git
some refreshments. When l come out,
little later, the mule wuz gone, an
1 never seed him again ontil to-day,
when l stumbled on him, accidental
like, at this feller's place up the trail.
l want him rested, quick!"
| y
anything, but finally Ezekiel broke the
silence.
Don't be too hasty," he said. 81 stole
the mule, yes. The chap left him tied
out thar all day while he was doin' the
| anaconda act in at Pixies, an jest out
| of pity for Jeremiah rode him off. But
that's enough on that subject" as the
| ha
| ten-foot tombstone over the grave of
a debtor of his'n; we're cOnsiderin' an
other matter. didn't say nothin' about
Scroggins' death for two reasons;
wanted Nita to leave 'thout hearin'
about it, an jeremiah had strayed off
| an it's a long ways to tell news that'n
| keep an hour or So"
The jury had been examining the pfs-
| tol, and EZekiel's statement was so ap-
| parently sincere that their minds began
to waver. They looked at Atkinson,
then at the stranger, and then at Eze-
lliel. serenely confident. For moment
they buZzed together, then the fore
man, closely followed by the other
II, walked over and held out his
hand to Atkinson. In another second
Jerry was on box, cheering frantical-
ly. The crowd joined in, and the excite
ment grew until the hilltop man fell
out of the window backward. After
awhile the colonel made himself heard:
"The prisoners discharged. But
there's another case to be considered"
She's waitin' up thar for you" whis-
pered Ezekiel, and Atkinson stayed just
long enough to wiring a dozen out
stretched hands and give his choking
thanks to Ezekiel.
Col. Ike rose in his place and the hum
of conversation was stilled.
THE death of this man Scroggins ap-
pears to have happened in proper
manner. but the mule stealing is more
serious. And while in the first instance
you are entitled to the thanks of Lone
Star. because of the second it is the
opinion OF the court you'd better leave
in three hours, Ezekiel"
I'll CO." said Ezekiel. but not less
l can take Jeremiah. l amt agoin' to
walk"
Col. Ike was man of resources. He
dropped a dollar in his sombrero and
then passed it among the boys. When
he had counted its contents he ad-
dressed the owner of the mule. "Your
mule is worth just SIS, plugged half
and two Mexican dobies, and we've de-
cided to buy him." Then he turned to
Ezekiel. with the compliments of
Lone Star camp" he said. smiling.
Ezekiel bowed his thanks, shook
hands all around and passed through
the door. He unhitched jeremiah from
where his late owner had tied him and
clambered into the saddle, with his
fiddle under his left arm. Something I
saw in his face made me walk along
side to the top of the grade. He looked
at me for a moment, quizzically.
Does what you hear go in at one ear
n out t'other, std of your mouth?"
Secrets that travel take that trail"
"Well. then, l didn't steal jeremiah.
l saw him at the ferry, tux fancy to
him, an, when the chance offered next
day, dickered for him with a man who
'peared to be his owner. But I saw
that my reputation needed a smudge to
make 'em b'lieve me about Scroggins."
Then you didn't" began 1. catching
my breath.