The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-24

The next day. or, rather, that day a
! few hours later, Rancho Meddaugh, cap
I italist stopping temporarily in camp, was
found in his room at the tavern murder
ed and the only person who had been
seen to go to his room was young man
with black curly hair-a stranger. One
more bit Of evidence was in a bundle Of
Kitty's sewing found on his table. The
man had been killed early in the even
ing. and was found dead, stabbed to the
heart, where he sat at a table writing.
He had been robbed Of a large sum OF
money.
Hugh McDavitt no longer temporized
with his conscience for the sake Of the
woman he loved. He arrested her hus-
band and with scant ceremony landed
him in jail Hugh pulled at the carroty
hair, expecting It to come of in the
shape Of wig, but ii grew fast 20 the
narrow. degenerate head Austin was just
what he appeared to be, and in addition
a criminal Of the worst type. He worked
through confederates.
As a prisoner the man was model. he
preserved a logged silence, even when II
was proved that he was an escaped con-
Wet. His wife never left his side dur
ing the trial, which was held in a bar
room, the Judge with his feet on a pine
table, a cob pipe in his mouth On the
fifth day of the trial, when II was clear
the prisoner would be convicted, a slight
young man in dark clothing walked into
the court and threw q roll Of bills on the
table. His hair was the same that had
been described. black and curly.
7 killed Rancho Meddaugh-you can
put rae in the prisoners steadr' he said
ooolly, and everyone started as II shot.
For oh, Il was the form OF a stranger.
the dress OF q masQuerader. and the voice
Of Kitty. The Judge looked at her and
You cannot testify. You are the prs
oner wife
There was a hush. and the fair face
glowed with a divine red; then she said
fl a clear and certain voice:
Put me IL his place I am cot his
wife"
Kitty Austin was convicted on the
strength OF her own testimony and sen
fenced to ten years IN the peniteEtiary.
'eXtenuatin' circumstances being ad-
mitted. She was sent 10 the Detroit
House OF Correction. ard Hugh McDa witt
was appointed 20 take her there. Her
husband was not at the stage to see her
or
As they left the camp Hugh climbed up
ana said 90 the driver q the stage
Drive Ike the devl. Bill. when you get
% the Picnic Grove and with nat De
took his place inside With Kitty. and
when they had passed the grove ard The
particular object hanging 70 one o. the
trees there. he wiped the sweat from bis
honest face and felt ike uttertrg a PRAYER
q thanksgiving that she did not know.
II was on q Sunday morning that I sax
kitty Austin il the House Of Correction
she was sitting amo1s the other Eor-er
III TIE LOTT % the C hapei- Captain Joe
Nicholson. the good superintendent. was
there then. conducting TIE services n HE
usual interesting and breezy wav. a
sweet Soprano voice Led The singing. and
as the words u the hgun rolled out e
clear. musical bass caught them ~ Re-
srcrse. Z looked az Captain Joe
ITS al rghtF be SID u an u-ler-
tone -yoa couldn't keep Rim o1r e here (
Wlth q GatIlE gun. aid she Erss cut
ton rrt hardened fcr a crime she newer
committed Slug ~ L RaFue. ln CHI I
caE1 Record Herald