The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-21
CHAPTER XIV.

man, and yet when the sun was up its
genial rays failed to dispense the shad-
ows in his heart; he found that ii ached
as well by day us by night.
After breakfast Mr.. Rcdding called
to see him.
swell, this is pretty howdy-do!" he
exclaimed, in a CHEEKY voice, IA the iron
door changed TO after him. 1.-The sher-
iff rode out TO Kings plantation last
night TO tell me the news, but / couldn't
get back till this mornin'. He's bent
on gettin' you out o. this IL he can"
IL am awfully sorry TO have TO call on
you in such disagreeable natter" re-
turned Ronald.
Redding thoughtfully pinched his
nose between his thumb and forefinger.
"Ratclff told me the particulars" he
said, frowning little. "There is no use
cryin' over split milk--or split blood,
either. This case will give you u chance
TO practice little on your own hook.
The main thing is TO keep stitf upper
lip and take cheerful view"
81 am afraid i take detected view OF
it," said Ronald. "You will find me n
hopeless sort of client. feel so awfully
knocked out over taking n human life
that even the prospect of being publicly
justified does rot brighten my hor-
izon."
II can sympathize with you, my boy"
the voice OF the lawyer softened and
he pinched his nose again. II once told
you-or rather / limited at great sor-
row in my life-a big drawback to my
energies, we'll" BEDDING broke off and
waved his hand, as he sometimes did
when expression failed him.
~ remember you limited at some dis
agreeable occurrence; but as you were
unmarried"
MY trouble didn't wear petticoats,"
interrupted the lawyer, forcing little
smile, and MS he went on his face grew
more serious than il had ever appeared
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 doa't
mention il TO me now; / sometimes
wish they would rank il with other
events in my career; it's their DANCED
silence that hurts.
MEN him was candidates for the leg
islature; it was sort of duel. / was
ready for 'im-certainly was loaded for
bear; / had three revolvers an a ak
handle. proved, without much trou-
bic, that he pulled down on me fust.
A Teller 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 IL was all over an
wanted ten dollars. / can't forget the
hell in his eye. knew he had perjured
himself, but was afraid to refuse him
the money. Then thar was the young
widow. II left her as pore as Jobs
turkey. She let me supply her an the
boy, that had his daddy's eyes, with the
necessarics Of life, an then she began
to make eyes at me. Somehow / took
a fool notion that ought to marry 'er,
an the thought weighed on me till i
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 matters bit;
you'll always feel as IL you killed i'm
to get his WIFE She married another
fellow. Oh, yes" Redding broke off
with a deep drawn breath, 81 know all
about IL, an that's why i didn't sleep
much last night. The worst feature
in yore case is the evidence Thad Will
liams threatens TO give. AS far ms /
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"
Ronald; III think Thad VIII
liams told me that to brighten me.
"But Ratcliff says you actually heard
the two talking together just before
sgd died"
Ronald nodded. "That Is n fact, /
was not near enough, however, to over
hear what was said"
Redding unused n moment and then
he looked up suddenly.
II must see him at once, my boy, be-
tore the prosecution gets i'm to commit
imself TO Their side. shall try TO show
up the consequences of perjury in n
strong light. and brighten him Oft o.
that line. He's good natured sort OF
Teller IL you strike him right. / never |
shall forget" Reddng seemed bent
on cheering up his friend) "Thad was
captured about FIVE years ago as a
an Jim Lowe, who was in
he employ o. the government, an no
better n Thad, started with i'm to At
anita for trial. They made a sort of |
picnic Of IL an got drunk together, an
postponed their trip till that night.
They was waitin' in the Office of the
hotel TO ketch train, an Jim had gone
n TO his supper, leavin' Thad smokin' at
he stove. Then amongst us we got up
! joke on Jim an went TO his prisoner
IN told i'm II he wanted TO. he could |
yit away as easy as shellin' peas. But
rhad shook his head an helt out his
lands 20 the fire. Men Lowe Is sorter
huns he said, an II you will have
A.