The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-01-24

10 Ronald. at 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 Il 10 me now; I sometimes
wish they would rank II with other
events In my career; It's their DANCED
silence that hurts.
"Me'n him was candidates for the leg.
islnture; II was a sort OF duel. I was(
ready for 'im-certainly was loaded for
bear; I 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 tcsti.
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
neccssaries 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 of my nut. Jest about then
Judge Bates began TO see whar the
wind was blowin' her bangs an said
one day: 'Looky hccr, Reddin', let that
slide--it never will mend mattersa biz;
you'll always feel rs II you killed i'm
to get his wife, She married another
fellow. Oh, yes" Redding broke of
with q deep drawn breath. 81 know all
about Il, an that's why didn't sleep
much last night. The worst feature
In yorc case Is the evidence Thad Will
liams threatens 10 give. As fur rs I
know, his oath would be valid. Do you
think that the dead man told him you
attacked him frst?"
"If he did he was out Of his mind"
answered Ronald; 81 think 1had Will
liams told me that TO frighten me-"
"But Rntcliff says you actually heard
the two talking together just before
sgd died."
Ronald nodded. "That Is a fact.
|
hear what was said"
Reddirg unused n moment and then
he looked up suddenly.
~ must see him at once, my boy. be-
fore the prosecution gets i'm 10 commit
'imself to Their side. l shall try to show
up the consequences OF perjury In a
strong light, and frighten him Off O.
that line. He's good natured sort of
feller IL you strike hh right. never
shall forget" (Redding seemed bent
on cheering up his friend) "Thad was
captured about five years ago as a
moonshiner, an Jim Lowe, who was In
. the employ O. the government. an no
better n Thad. started with i'm TO AT.
lnnta for trial. They made sort OF
picnic OF II 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
In to his supper, leavin' Thad smokin' al
the stove. Then amongst us we got uI
joke on Jim an went to his prisoner
an told i'm II he wanted to, he could
git away as easy as shellin' peas. Bu
Thad shook his head an helt out hi
hands to the fire. Men Lowe Is sortel
chums.' he said, an II you will have
the truth, I never have had much OF I
ride on the cyars In my life, an sortel
lowed I'd like the trip Then we pro
kposed compromise. We told him h
could ride within few miles Of Atlanti
and jump of while Jim was not lookin'
and In that wny he could get his rid'
and liberty also. You ought to hav'
heard i'm laugh. Don't you give. NJ
AWAY. an I'll play II fine,' he said. Ant
he did work II. He turned up here TIVE
days later, making for the mountains
He was the worst bunged-up chap yo'
ever laid eyes on. Not being familiar
B with the running Of trains, he hat
hurled himself at n bank, eight mile
out OF Atlanta, when the train wa
. goin' like creased lightnin'. But Low
= never did try to arrest him again
Redding's smile vanished rs he turne'
! to the door. "I'll try to win i'm rount
to us this mornin' II can get at i'm,
!, he concluded. Hell be opt TO be n
. the funeral. Now, don't you worry
n I'll do ail I can, an we'll try to have yo'
7 out on bail tomorrow"