The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-27
AN ANUNFINISHEDTRIAL
BY JAMES o,sHAuGHNEssY, IA,

sun was still yellow and lusterless through
the morning haze, and before it had
reached over into the draws and hollow
of the clay hills, the men Of the neighbor
hood were in the saddle and the story Oi
the taking of Marion Marie the night be.
fore was on their lips. They were riding
in groups and in pairs and some were
riding singly, but all their paths were con
verging toward Squire Yantley's aawmill.
Along the winding roads Bill Telket was
pressing his tired horses into a hard gal
lop. He was the president Of the Anti
Horse-Thief association and he was
spreading the news Of the capture and that
was notice to the members>of the assCcia.
ton that he wanted them at the trial
which was to be held at sths sawmitl. : ,
Takes men to handle ropes when we got
hoss- thieves about" he said,
But the friends of Marion Marie were
among those who were riding over the vel
low clay knob on the east and came gal.
Looping across the bottom on the west and
came out on the bride paths that led from
the other directions to the mill. Word had
gone out TO them also in the night from
llez Telket's house. Nan Telket had dared
to love this man over whose head hung
the odious charge of rse-stealing. She
was daring even more than that for her
father, her brothers and their friends and
followers had organized the Anti Horse Thief
association for the single purpose of cap
turing and if possible Of lynchng Marion
Marie. Her brother, Bill Telket, was riding
away in the darkness 10 gather his forces
when she crept out OF the house and ran
across fields and by forest paths to give the
alarm.
None Of the men was thoughtless enough
to come to the trial unarmed. Most Of
them carried long-barrcled squirrel rifles.
More than half Of those gathered there
were friends of Marion Marie and for that
reason the AntiHorse Thief association
was subject to the humiliating spectacle
Of legal inquiry into horse-stcaling case.
The millshed, which served as the court
room, was crowded, Squire Yantlcy was
nervous. Johnny Moore, the sheriff, and
his deputy, Dave Mawpum. sat with their
backs to the wall, revolver in each hand,
with their prisoner between them. Some
men in the room were taller, some were
some in face and in figure as Marie. His
black hair hung down to his shoulders.
He had red handkerchief knotted at his
throat. His trousers were tucked in the
tops of his boots that were illuminated with
red and yellow stars and with crescents.
Even the heels of his boots did not escape
attcnties,-for they were high and
slender and were Jingling wthspurs.
Il ain't never tried no h9bGthief cases."
said Squire Yantley, "but Il yell just keep
good order guess we'll get along all right
And he leaned over to Sheriff Moore for
advice, as to methods of procedure. Then
he called upon the prisoner to enter his
plea.
81 amt guilty" said Marie, as he stood
erect and tossed back his hair.
"Wcll who is" demanded the squire.
"Thcrc's the oss-thiei.' he cried. point
ing with his arm outstrctehed bill Telket
stole the mare"
Bill Telket splang to his feet. The as
was suddenly in motion. Back
ward and forward and sidewisc, it swaycd
and weapons were clicking, but
here was no outbreak or rush or clash.
A murmur arose in the rear OF the room.
The crowd parted. making a path through
its center, ill girl pushed into the open
pace where the prisoner stood in an atti-
ude Of defiance, facing Bill Telket She
pulled from her head blue sunbonnet,
whose edges dropped and half hid her face.
she did SO her hair, redbrown and
,lintng, fell in masses like mantle on her
shoulders. Red bushes fret,ed in her pal
i'd cheeks. The murmurs of the throng
lushed and everyone was staring.
Man, what brings You here!' cried Bill
relkct.
Il come teh save man that never"
Itch save hoss.thef!'
"You'eh my brother. Bill. EN- love yeh,
en- 7 come to stop ych from sayin in
.ourt thet Marion Mares a hoss.thief
squire. Marion ism no hoss-thie. He neveh
,tole the mare.s 4.tI,t
"Well, who didsstcn 'er, Nam" asked
he court. .-
Don't ask me, squire. l can't tell yeh,
,ut Marion didn't
"Et yeh don tell, Nan, we'll hef teh
oeni;c"shy I'M
lcrc: they won't let yeh"
Here Nan. thcy,e enough o that said
Bill Tclket, iicrrcly. as he seized his sister
" the wrist and drew her rudely back.
She turned on her brother and lie shrunk
rom the flashing Of her dark eyes. She
r'eascd her wrist from his grasp. A half
ubdued roar went up from the crowd and
t moved forward A man in the front
ank was holding up revolver. The girl
prang at him and snatched the weapon
With such snddenness that she had
srenched it. from him before he could
ighlen his, strong fingers on its handle.
quicker than the men were thinking she
vas at the side OF the prisoner.
"Ilerc, Marion" she whispered. placing
he revolver in his hand. Run fur it. Fight
er way out. Yer hoss is at the crick."
While she held up her face to him, he
ent his head and kissed her Then with
ringing yell, he leaped> straight at the
rowd, which opened a pathway for him
nd then closed in behind him. Nan threw
crself in front of the sheriff and his dep
ties and impeded them. 1t was for a
acond, only, but it was sufficient time to
Ut SiukkilHk iIdHtlC HleH between Ihem
nd their prisoner, whose friends and enc. 4
lies closed in savage struggle, forced
ne another forward and beat one another
ack, but no one halted Marie or brought
m down. lie swung the revolver he held,
} the right and left and his keen eyes fol-
WED its motion. He went in clear space
nat moved as he moved till he reached
le door. As he sprung out pistol was
red. Savage yells were raised and fusil-
de OF shots rang and the crowd became a
lngled, seethng mass.
Along the tortuous and forest. sheltered
'urse OF Muscle Ford creek, Marion Marie
as riding fast, by the time the sheriffs
i'd got out Of the battling, savage crowd.
hat night he rode out on the upland
dges where the redbrush country yields
5 gnarls and knobs to the gentlcr undula-
ons Of the Missouri prairies on the west.
ia broad.rimmed hat was cooked in front
the cool wind. his black hair wac hang