The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-03
Copyright by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONTINUED.

eyer iist right there, neighbor, "
said Bill.
"Speak out, neighbors, an let's
hear what the rest of ye hev tu say
about it," said the man who had pro-
fessed his belief in Dicks guilt.
Though there was not great deal
of speaking out" it was quite evi.
dent that most of the crowd endorsed
his opinion.
But Dick had some friends left.
Both Mr.. Boone and MI. Porter
were strong and earnest in their pro-
testations of belief in his innocence.
''Hain't I had o chance to know
suthin' about the boy, seem g he's
worked for ME, right along, sence he
come to Brownsville" demanded Mr..
Boone. 'I tell you what it is, neigh
bors: Dick Brayton didn't steal them
bosses no more'n I did or you did. I
wouldn' be bit more s'prised ef you'd
laid it onto me-"
Chow do you explain things, then?'
asked Bill, resenting Mr.. Boone's
championing of Dick as a personal
affront.
sI don't pertend to explain 'em, "
answered Mr.. Boone. 81 perpose to
let Dick do that himself. Give him a
chance, an I'll warrant ye he'll satisfy
ye he hain't no hoss-thief."
At this juncture, a man who had
been looking the barn over with the
hope of discovering some clew, came
up with the air of having made dis
coyery which he considered of some
Importance. -.
"Does any one know whose knife
this is?" he asked, holding up large,
bone-handled pocket-knife for indenti-
fcation.
Mr.. Boone turned pale and looked
at Mr.. Porter with alarm expressed in
his face.
For ne recognized the knife as
Dicks.
ct know that knife, an could sw'ar
to it fanywheres, spoke up young
man, crowding toward the possessor of
the article under consideration. .'It's
Dick Brayton's knife. I snapped it
to him fer this one,' displaying knife
which he took from his pocket. s'To
prove to ye that I know all about that
knife 'thout lookin' at it, jest you look at
the small blade an see ef there hain't q
crack in it, clost down to the, ,rivet."
eyer right-there is," said the man
who held the knife, after looking it
over. "Here's the crack, neighbors,,
Jest as he said"
sWhere did ye find the knife?"
asked Bill Green.
ct found 1T in the straw nigh the
manger where the hoss stood whose
halter was CUT" was the reply.
Such was the excitement that, had
Dick Brayton been there, he would
doubtless have been strung up to the
nearest tree without the farce of q
trial.
YAt length plan of search was de-
cided on and the crowd dispersed in
different directions.
The night had been rainy, like the
night when Averill's horses had been
stolen, and it was impossible to tell
definitely in what direction the miss
ing horses had been taken.
"It's blind work, said Mr.. Stevens,
'sbut we can't STAN round an do
nuthin'. Eff we keep a-huntin' we may
find suthin' that'll help US out O. the
quand'ry."
"It seems strange to me that they
are able to conceal all traces of their
coming and going so completely" said
Wayne. "I think I heard some of you
say that in the Ayerill case not a sim
gle clew was found by which you could
tell in what direction they went even."
''Not a one," answered Mr.. Porter.
''It is curi's, as you sag. The rain
helps 'em, but it does seem as eff there
orter be suthin' left fer US to ketch on
to. Seems as eff we hunted every
where fer the Averill hosses, an we
knowed no more about EN- when we
got thru huntin' than we did when we
begun"
"Do you think Brayton had any
thing to do with it?" asked Wayne.
"No, stree, I don't" answered Mr..
Porter, with an emphasis that left no
doubt of his belief in the innocence of
Dick Brayton.
'But the knife and the writing that
Bill Green says he saw him make on
the tree-how do you explain those
things?"
IT don't explain 'em," replied Mr..
Porter, looking as if he wished he
could do so. ''But I don't b'leeve
Dick Brayton stole them hosses."
s'Nor 7 nuther," said Samanthy,
that night at the supper-table when
the matter came up for consideration.
"Nobody need tell me that Dick Bray
toms took to stealth hosses fer livin'. :"
cit seems to me that you're quite a
champion of his" said Wayne, with a
sarcastic smile.
''I dunno IS it's anybody's bisneess
ef I be-" responded Samanthy. 81
know you wouldn't stick up fer him.
His mark shows 'twixt yer eyes now
onct in a while, where he left his
opinyun O. you in black an blue"
"I'd thank you to mind your own
business" said Wayne, angrily.
"Sho, now-would ye?" retorted
Samanthy, provokingly; "I ruther
reckon I'll do jest about as I take a
notion to do about it. T hain't the
least idee O. bein' bossed round by
you, ef you do come from down below,
an air fust cousin to the Lord, cord