Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-07-26
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright, 1900. by
AN. Kellogg Newspaper Company.
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNT1SuED.


"Not to me, he didn't, but when Capt.
Wrinkle was talkin' so shore about yore
conviction, he spoke up an lowed that
it was shame to talk of mans guilt
before his trial. He said it sharp-like,
as if he didn't have much use for
Wnikle, an J. noticed that the captain
shut up like clam. I was surprised,
fer I kinder thought the captain was
goin' to get one O. the old mans daugh-
rers."
Ronald had another question ready.
"What are my chances on getting
bailed out?"
''To be perfectly candid with you,''
answered Ratcliff, II am afraid you are
goin' to have big appointment.
You see, accordin' to the readin' O. the
law, justice O. the peace can't set bail
in any case whar thar is reasonable
suspicion of murder, an it wouldn't
surprise me (as the land lies now for
you to have to lie in Jail till the spring
term O court. I wouldn't say this
added the sheriff, his eyes averted, eff
I didn't think it is always better to be
prepared for the worst. I don't want
to give the prosecution chance to eX-
ult over yore looks. When 1 told my
wife how the case stood this mornin',
she actually cried. A body never can
tell how Squire Richardson is gwine to
act; he's little wishy-washy; he tries
to imagine he belongs to the aristoc-
racy. Jest minute ago seed i'm in
Smiths bar a-drinkin' with Capt.
Wrinkle. I can't imagine why that
little dude is so much concerned in
this trial. I'd bet boss to an empty
hens nest that he was talkin' about
this case"
'He's not a friend of mine" ex-
planned Ronald, despondently.
do you mean that he is shore
'nough enemy?" questioned Ratcliff,
with some concern.
II think he would like to see me
suffer as heavily as possible in this
matter, Mr.. Ratcliff."
''That accounts for it, then,' the
sheriff muttered an oath to him
self. II wish that Richardson was
a broader man; he thinks men
of Wrinkles stamp are just the thing.
However, we mustn't cross bridge
before we come to it: the truth is,
you've got the best criminal lawyer in
seven states; he hain't got much
schoolin', but he can speak like rips.
He's been scourin' the country to
catch up with Thad Williams; he
wants to corner i'm fore the state So
licitor does. You know Solicitor Webb
would rather win case'n to eat cake.
If he gets hold of Williams fust, he'll
drill i'm so as nobody alive could
catch him in cross-questionin'. By the
way, Mr.. Reddin' told me to say to
you that he'd be too busy to see you
fore the trial. I'll come up to fetch
Ecu down to the courtroom in plenty
o. time"
A few minutes before two o'clock
the sheriff came after our hero. He
had little to say, and his very reti-
cence confirmed Ronald's fear that no
new thing in his favor had turned up
since morning. The courtroom was
crowded to the doors. The first face
that fell under the notice of the dis
spirited prisoner was the sinister one
of Capt. Wrinkle, who sat suspiciously
near Squire Richardson's elbow; the
next was the round, good-natured one
of Col. Hasbrooke; but Ronald had
never seen it look quite so pale and
downcast. The thought ran through
his mind that Wrinkle had reported
the fact of his having been driven to
Ra.clift's by Evelyn. Yes, he was sure
Of it now, for nothing but the dis
covery of lis daughters secret would
have induced man of Hasbrooke's
stay-at- home habits to attend court.
Ronald felt thrill almost of horror
pass over him as he thought that per-
haps the colonel had come with the
sole hope that the trial would perma-
nently remove him from the path of
his daughter. The next moment he
felt his arm nervously clutched by
Redding.
"Come inside the railin' an set by
me-" the lawyer whispered, his breath
On his clients cheek. ''IIl want yore
suggestions as the case proceeds.
Damn it," he added, as if to himself.
'l'll want anything I can lay hold of;
them fellers have got the best show
in they ever had ag'in an innocent
man." As he spoke he waved his
hand towards Mr.. Webb, the state So
ljcitor, handsome man Of 40, with
hushy mustache and massive hair,
who sat only few feet away
I. 70 nf
Williams. They seemed to be talk
ing of the case, for the solicitor was
making notes with a pencil and nod
ding and smiling with evident salts
faction.
'It's but fair to you. my boy" Red
ding continued, as bailiff gave them
seats on the left of the judges table,
sto tell you at the outset that they
have the advantage so far. Don't I'M
derstand me to say that you will be
found guilty in the supreme court,
but my hope fur bail is gettin' awful
slim. 1 mighty nigh run myself to
death to ketch up with Williams, but
Webb suspicioned what I was up to
an kept i'm hid out. Them the
speaker glanced towards the judge,
I'm powerful afraid Richardson is
well, unsympathetic, to say the least.
know men dad drat 'em!) you don't
have to belt me over the head with
stockin' O. sand to open my eyes. The
truth is. Richardson is as cold towards
our side as wet rock. He didn't
want to talk to me jest now. 1 tried
to hint that Thads oath wasn't with