The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

X OIL. IKE NORRIS walked restlessly
| back and forth the length of the
plank sidewalk. The group of men in
front of Wolverton's drug store
watched him in silence. Suddenly he
turned, where the last sun-blistered
plank curled up menacingly, and said:
'I've killed two men, and came clear,
an I'll come clear this time. No"
He stopped abruptly. A slender
woman in black, baby in her arms,
slipped out of the door and moved
across the sandy square toward the
courthouse. She was the widow of the
colonels last victim.
The colonel didn't finish his remark,
to the disappointment of his friends,
but turned quickly and moved down
the street to Bradshaw's ranch supply
store. At any other time he would
have gone straight to the Cattle King
saloon, but it was another of his late
eccentricities to avoid that popular re-
sort. This last affair, it seemed, had
had SOLDERING effect on him.
Montague county district court had
been in session three days, and the
case, State VS.. Morris, was drawing to
a close. 1t was the only murder case
for the term; this fact, and the prom
inence of the colonel, had drawn the
men from the farms and ranches. They
thronged the courthouse eager to hear
the details of the murder, and the de-
Tense Norris would make for shooting
Dave Blevin.
There had been little to hear. Morris
made plea of self-defense, but, as no
one had witnessed the tragedy, there
was no confederation. a gun had been
found by the side of the dead man. but
his widow testified that it was his hab-
it to carry his gun with him when
working in the woods. The neighbors
could give but meager information
concerning the deceased. Like the
other of the coloneFs victims, he was
unknown till his tragic death put his
name on every tongue. 1t was learned
from his widow, during the trial, that
he had not been in the county long. He
had bought a little farm in the Cross
Timbers, and the drought cutting
short his crop he had gone to work on
Morris ranch that he might be able
to meet the fall payment. When Mrs
Blevin, in her simple way, had finished
telling Of his struggle to get home,
and the hard luck" he had had, many
listeners were touched with pity. and
a sentiment sprang up against his
slayer.
At last the case was closed. The
judge began to read his instructions to
the jury. A silence fell on the room
jury filed out. 1t was out all that
afternoon, that night, and to the mid
die of the next afternoon. Then a
''hung jury was announced. Col. Nor
ris stared at the IL men in astonish-
ment. A Montague county jury had
questioned his word. 1t was an insult
that would be adequately met. He
rose and left the room. A crowd focked
about him on the square. He invited
them to join him at the Cattle King. He
was himself again. By night pande-
monium reigned in the saloon and
overfiowed into the street. Morris and
his staggering, yelling, shooting satel-
iites mounted their horses, dashed
through the sleeping village, and gal
Hoped on to the prairie.
Mrs. Blevin hitched the pony, now
weary with the enforced idleness, to
the cart and started home. The emo
tions in her bosom were too confused
for analysis. Perhaps the most pre-
dominant were the consciousness of a
great loneliness that seemed to en-
velop her, IA dread of the future, and
bitter resentment against fate.
"Howdy do, Miz Blevin." The man
who spoke had been attending the
trial and recognized her. you're not
goin' ter try ter go home ter-night p"
Well, now, yell not do anything NV
the kind. Ye must be most tagged out
nursin' the baby an'-an' the heat so
aggervatin' last few days" He did
not wish to refer to the trial.
Its only mile er so outen yer way,
an my wife'll be glad ter see you. Did
MT know whar we lived till-lately.
Let me rest you NV the baby" he said.
leaning over and taking it from her
arms.
The unexpected kindness came like
A shock. With a great sob she bowed
her head in her hands. The man
turned away his face and "booed" at
the baby.
Early the next morning she told her
new friends good-by and started home.
The pony was jogging along across a
stretch of reddening sedge, when he
stopped suddenly, pricked up his ears