Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.

mutterlng.
CHAPTER XIV.
All that night Ronald Fanshaw lay
awake. The coming of dawn-its first
gray streaks in the east-was like the
sight of land to a starving, shipwrecke6
man, and yet when the sun was up it's
genial rays failed to dispense the shad-
ows in his heart; he found that it ached
as well by day as by night.
After breakfast Mr.. Redding called
to see him.
"Wel, this is pretty howdy-do!" he
exclaimed, in a CHEEKY voice, as the iron
door changed to after him. 1.-THE sher-
if rode out to Kings plantation last
night to tell me the news, but I couldn't
get back till this mornin'. He's bent
on gettin' you out o. this if he cam
II am awfully sorry to have to call OH
you in such a disagreeable NATTER" re-
turned Ronald.
Redding thoughtfully pinched his
nose between his thumb and torefnger
"Ratcliff 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 a chance
to practice little on your own hook.
The main thing is to keep a stiff upper
lip and take cheerful view"
81 am afraid I take detected view of
it," said Ronald. 'sYou will find me
hopeless sort of client. feel so awfully
knocked out over taking a human life
that even the prospect of being publicly
justified does not brighten my hor-
izon."
II can sympathize with you, my boy"
the voice of the lawyer softened and
he pinched his nose again. 81 once told
you-or rather limited at a great sor-
row in my ife-a big drawback to my
energies, we'll" Redding broke off and
waved his hand, as he sometimes did
when expression failed him.
81 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 as he went on his face grew
more serious than it had ever appeared
to Ronald. 'It took place right down
thar in front of the courthouse door
just after the close of the war. never
stepping over his body. People don't
nCAlAOA ~ ~ Lie AOWs L SOAAASlAAAOS
wish they would rank it with other
silence that hurts.
'Me'n him was candidates for the leg
islature; it was sort of duel. was
ready for Uncertainty was loaded for
bear; I had three revolvers an AK
handle. I proved, without much trou-
BILE, 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 it was all over an
wanted ten dollars. I can't forget the
hell in his eye. 1 knew he had perjured
himself, but was afraid to refuse him
the money. Then thar was the young
widow. 1t left her as pore as Jobs
turkey. She let me supply her an the
boy, that had his daddy's eyes, with the
necessaries of life, an then she began
to make eyes at me. Somehow 1 took
fool notion that ought to marry 'er,
an the thought weighed on me till
nearly got off my nut. Jest about then
Judge Bates began to see whar the
wind was BLOWN her bangs an said
one day: Looky heer, Reddin', let that
slide-it never will mend matters bit;
you'll always feel as if you killed i'm
to get his wife She married another
fellow. Oh, yes" Redding broke off
with deep drawn breath, "I know all
about it, an that's why didn't sleep
much last night. The worst feature
in yore case is the evidence Thad Will
liams threatens to give. AS far as
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"
answered Ronald; 81 think Thad Will
liams told me that to brighten me-"
"But Ratclih says you actually heard
the two talking together just before
sgd died."
Ronald nodded. "That is fact, /
was not near enough, however. to over
hear what was said"
Redding unused a moment and then
he looked up suddenly.
81 must see him at once, my boy, be-
fore the prosecution gets i'm to commit
'imseH to Their side. shall try to show
up the consequences of perjury in
strong light and brighten him of o.
that line. He's good natured sort of
Teller if you strike him right. never.
shall forget" Redding seemed bent
on cheering up his friend9 'sThad 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
lanta for trial. They made sort of
picnic of it an got drunk together, an
postponed their trip till that night.
They was waitin' in the Office of the
hotel to ketch a train, an Jim had gone
in to hissupper, leavin' Thad smokin' at