The Irish standard., 1900-06-30

to Ronald. ut took place right down
thar in front of the courthouse door
just after the close of the war. never
pass in or out of the building without
stepping over his body. People don't
mention it to me now; I sometimes
wish they would rank it with other
events in my career; it's their DANCED
silence that hurts.
"Me'n him was candidates for the leg
islature; it was sort of duel. I was
ready for 'im-certainly was loaded for
bear; had three revolvers an AK
handle. proved, without much trou-
! BILE, that he pulled down on me fust.
A feller come to my counsel an said he
would swear lie Roy had said he was
goin' to kill me on sight. His testi-
mony cleared me, but the same skunk
come to me after it was all over an
wanted ten dollars. can't forget the
hell in his eye. I knew he had perjured
himself, but was afraid to refuse him
the money. Then thar was the young
widow. 1t left her as pore as Jobs
turkey. She let me supply her an the
boy, that had his daddy's eyes, with the
necessaries of life, an then she began
to make eyes at me. Somehow took
fool notion that I ought to marry 'er,
an the thought weighed on me till
nearly got off my nut. Jest about then
Judge Bates began to see whar the
wind was blowin' her bangs an said
one day: 'Looky heer, Reddin', let that
slide-it never will mend mattersa bit;
you'll always feel as if you killed i'm
to get his wife, She married another
fellow. Oh, yes" Redding broke off
with deep drawn breath. 81 know all
about it, an that's why didn't sleep
much last night. The worst feature
in yore case is the evidence Thad Will
lams threatens to give. AS far as I
know, his oath would be valid. Do you
think that the dead man told him you
attacked him first?'
IF he did he was out of his mind,"
answered Ronald; II think Thad Will
liams told me that to frighten me-"
"But Ratcliff says you actually heard
the two talking together just before
sgd died."
Ronald nodded. "That is fact, 1
was not near enough, however, to over
hear what was said"
Redding unused moment and then
he looked up suddenly.
II must see him at once, my boy, be-
fore the prosecution gets i'm to commit
'imself to Their side. shall try to show
up the consequences. of perjury in
strong light, and frighten him off O
that line. He's good natured sort of
feller if you strike him right. I never
shall forget" Redding seemed bent
on cheering up his friend) 'Thad was
captured about five years ago as
moonshiner, an Jim Lowe, who was in
the employ O. the government, an no
better n Thad, started with i'm to At
lanta for trial. They made sort of
picnic of it an got drunk together, an
postponed their trip till that night.
They was waitin' in the office of the
hotel to lctch a train, an Jim had gone
in to his supper, icavin' Thad smokin' at
the stove. Then amongst us we got up
a joke on Jim an went to his prisoner
an told i'm if lie wanted to, he could
git away as easy as shellin' peas. But
Thnd shook his head an helt out his
hands to the fire Mem Lowe is sorter
chums,' he said, AN if you will have
the truth, never have had much of a
ride on the cyars in my life, an sorter
lowed I'd like the trip Then we pro-
posed compromise. We told him he
could ride within few miles of Atlanta
and jump off while Jim was not lookin',
and in that way he could get his ride
and liberty also. You ought to have
heard i'm laugh. Don't you give me
away, an I'll play it fine,' he said. And
he did work it. He turned up here two
days later, making for the mountains.
He was the worst bunged-up chap you
ever laid eyes on. Not being familiar
with the running of trains, he had
hurled himself at bank, eight miles
out of Atlanta, when the train was
goin' like CREASED lightnin'. But Lowe
never did try to arrest him again"
Redding's smile vanished as he turned
to the door. I'LL try to win i'm round
to us this mornin' if can get at 'im,"
he concluded. "He'll be apt to be at
the funeral. Now, don't you worry!
I'll do all can, an We'll try to have you
out on bail Tomorrow"