The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-06-01

TO be missed, so RatcliR arrested i'm
then an thar an made i'm turn is
pockets wrong side out. He had
fifty dollars in hard cash. an, more
over. his hands was red in streal<s, an
he Ind blood ON his handkerchief an
ihirt-sleeves. He was a young fellow.
an cried like a baby; he said he hadn't
killed nobody, .nur stole nobody's
me ". but Ratcliff tuck i'm in tow
lie wns sech a little fellow that Rat
cliff lowed folks nd get the laugh on
i'm If he roped or handcuffed i'm, so
he started on with i'm jest so. They
made il all right till they got back
heer a piece to the beginnin' O Col.
Hasbroole's swamp, Thar, at Swif's
cabin, Ratciff stopped to git a light
fur his cigar. Nobody ever heerd tell
o. him taldn' prisoner 20 Jail with
out he had a cigar stuck in his jaw.
He don spend a dollar a yeer fur ci-
CARS. but he has to smoke one when he
jugs a man, 1t makes him look inn
portant He had jest called fur
chunk o. fire. an Nliz Swift was fetchin'
it out to i'm, when 10 an behold, the
little stranger showed he was up to
snuff lie lodged off behind a hay
stack before Ratclif could draw his
| gun on was of into the swamp
like a slleered rabbit. \ boss amt
Wuth a tinter's dam in swampy land
an cane brakes, an Rateitf amt as
| timber as he wuz twenty yeer back.
And" the speaker broke off with a
| laugh, the little slOunk's in the
swamp yit. Me an these fellows is to
watch this road, an Ratclif's gone
round t'other side 10 stir up the peo.
| PIE. They'll drive i'm this way before
long, an then the fun will begin"
"What do you mean by the fun?''
broke in Ronald sharply.
The gaunt giant on the horse
shrugged his shC3.rrs and bent a
critical, half-agr ssye glance on the
questicner.
"Oh, reckon re boys won't want
to wait fur the1' amed thieyish law
yers in town 20 -s' wh1cl, az IN an
finally git i'm tmayI a-s. V, hain't
got much bool; raruin', lat w. know
when a mans guilty, an we know
what lawyers is
A murmur of approval rose from the
group, even Mrs. Fanshaw, who sat
rocking between her two daughters on
the porch, grunted as if sgd Hart had
furnished the key TO a problem which
involved the welfare of the nation.
Ronaid's face was flushed, a look oil
determination was in his eyes.
NO" he said, firmly; they must
give him a trial"
Sydney Hart leaned back in his sad
ole and laughed tantalizingly.
"Oh, you want to get a chance al
him, Ell? You are studyin' to be law.
yer, an you've already begun to lool
after the intrust of your gang. Well
you won't make anything out of thi.
job if | can help it,"
1--WE shall see" answered Ronald
"He may not be guilty and you shal
not lynch him!"
The rider of the horse leaned towards
Ronald and snapped his fingers, whit
look of fury unbridled on his sinister
face.
BAH" he said, CONTEMPORARY. 81
couldn't thwart you I'd cut my throat
It's a go, then; you are a-goin' to Civ,
the scamp q trial an I'm a-goin' to lie
the boys have Their fun. Ha, ha! yol
make me sick"
Ronald said nothing and Har
wheeled his horse and, followed by tn
crowd, he started towards the edge o
tbs swamp, Dave fingered by the sid
Of his brother. '';-'.'N -...-
Don't stick yore head in the fire
Ron" he counseled; mo human powe
can ball1 sgd when he once makes NJ
his mind. Besides, you'll make a dan
gerous enemy out O. him, an everything
points to the fellows guilt What di
he break an run fur if he was limo
cent?"
That's what / want to know" in
terposed Jade Fanshaw, in a surly tone
and his wife and daughters nodded ap
proyingly.
Because" was Ronald's reply, "h
perhaps knew that the law is not VI
held in these mountains and was afrai
he would be lynched."
al believe he killed Mrs. Telplay,
affirmed Mrs. Fanshaw, IAN as fur a
I'm concerned, they may take i'm OF
an hang i'm. The way justice is cheat
ed in court is enough to dissatisfy any
body"
Ronald did not carry the argumen
further. He went up to his room, an
from his window watched Sydney Har
placing his men along the road whic
led by the edge of the swamp. 1
about an hour Dave came upstairs an
leaned in the doorway, an air of in
decision on him. 81 have been studyiI
over this, Rom" he said, sheepishll
AN I'm mighty sorry / can't go tn
whole hog with you, but jest can
look at it like you do. l have decide
to make il draw-I'll not iine Hart
crowd nor yores nuther. l mought b
with you eff l could see ghost Of
chance o. winnin', but them feller
would shoot US down like black cats o
white fence"