The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-07-06
THE WORLD AGAINST him
BY WILL N. HARDEN


as he threaded his way back TO his scat.
snow, your honor" said Redding, 81
want to have the states witness, Mr..
Thad Williams. called to the stand. /
understand he is prepared to swear that
sgd Hart told i'm jest before he ex-
pired that my client not only shot i'm,
but that he attacked i'm first. want
10 help i'm consign himself to the peni.
Tertiary for perjury"
The solicitor, after all, took defeat
gracefully. He shrugged his broad
shoulders at this and broke into laugh.
"You are welcome to Thad as wit
ness, Brother Redding," he said. 1--WE
don't want to hear from him any more"
Thad Williams looked like a moving
corpse as he stood up.
81 hain't swore a thing yet, as know
Of" he faltered. amid laughter all over
the room. 81 reckon l can talk as much
as 1 want to when | hain't kissed the
Book"
"What l want you to do" said Red
ding, his sharp eyes bent on the gaunt,
coatless witness. us to clear my clients
reputation of all the lies you have told
to-day"
"You'd better tell straight story,
Thad," smiled the solicitor. "If you
will, I'll forgive you for the way you
took me in"
"I'm willin' to tell all l know" con-
scented Williams. 81 don't want no
trouble. I've got wife and six children
TO support"
Williams was then put under oath,
and confessed that sgd had said that he
had shot himself while trying to hold
his horse in check, the animal being
thoroughly frightened by the firing.
Thad showed the court how his friend
had evidently tried to hold the reins and
revolver in tie same haad, AID how it
had been discharged by striking its
hammer against the pummel of the
saddle.
81 wouldn't a-tried to testify ag'in
Fanshaw," he added, If sgd hadn't
axed me to revenge his DEATH
When the witness had sat down amid
storm Of Kisses from the rear of the
room and in the crowded hallway adj
joining. the solicitor rose.
''Your honor" he began, "the state
has not a shadow of case, and | want
to ask you to dismiss it, When l think
how near ] came to using my efforts
towards the conviction OF one of the
most prominent young men in this
state-when think how near came to
being the tool of the unprincipled
scamp on my right, feel, | say like
thanking God for my escape. | want to
be the first to congratulate Mr.. Fan
shaw, to beg his pardon with all my
heart and to wish him all success in
the legal profession, to which, l under
stand, he is brilliant candidate"
The house beloved with applause as
the solicitor crossed over and grasped
Ronald's hand. A look of dissatsfac'
ton clouded Capt. Wrinkles face, and
Col. Hasbrooke. with an inexplicable
expression, was seen worming his way
towards the door through the now
standing crowd.
The sheriff, when the case had beer
formally thrown out of court, spranl
upon bench and pounded another Will
his walking stick.
"Boys," he beloved, 81 driv' Mr.. Fan
shaw into town in my turnout, an
want the honor O. takin' i'm back tn,
same way"
Ronald. in the midst of a surginl
throng eager to grasp his hand looked
over their heads and nodded to Ratclifl
When the crowd was thinning some
what he found Dave at his elbow Dus
had accumulated on the rough fellow
cheeks. and through it were the dam
tracks of tears. The hand be gave hi
brother was cod and quivered.
al don't want to do anything thou
consultin' YOU. Ron" he began, so
thought | would ak you about Thac
williams"
"What about him." questioned Ron
aid, mystified.
Dave drew him out of earshot of thu
others.
81 don't think can ever respect my
self" he said. with gulp, "if l don
call i'm to account for the way he
done you. Ron, | have got to fight in
thar hain't no two way aboutit. In
armed, an so is he. If don't turn VI
home tonight, tell en-"
Ills brother laid both Of his hands OF
his shoulders.
"I'd rather you would not, Dave" h
said. This must end the whole thing
You must not put yourself into the jai
from which have escaped"
"Ron, I'd ruther die than let tina
trifin' skunk"
But Ronald would not listen to hin
and in few minutes persuaded him
drop his desire for revenge.
I.S.r CHAPTER XVI.
II was about six o'clock that after
noon when the sheriff put Ronald dow
at home. Dave had ridden close b'
hind the buggy all the way. Now an
then, when passing some acquaintane
on the road or in u distant field, b