The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-01-31


physician, "tbat this ball could not
have been Ared from Mr.. Fanshaw's
revolver. II IL clear 10 me now that
Sydney Hart accidentally shot himself
with his own pistol. II carries q 3s-cali-
Der ball; the other only 49,"
Not sound broke the silence OF the
room for brief space OF time and
then the people began TO applaud.
"Order In COURT I will have order!"
thundered Squire Richardson, and the
room became still again.
With sheepish look the solicitor
went to the table and picked up he two
rcvolvers, and then sickly smile OF ac-
knowledged defeat passed over his face
as he threaded his way back TO his seat.
"Now, your honor" said Redding. "i
want to have the states witness, Mr..
Thad Williams, called to the stand.
understand he Is prepared to swear that
sgd Hart told i'm jest before he cx-
pired that my client not only shot i'm,
but that he attacked i'm first. Iwapt
TO help i'm consign himself to the peni-
tentiary for perjury"
The solicitor. after all, took defeat
gracefully. lie shrugged his broad
shoulders at this and broke into laugh.
"You are welcome to Thad as o wit
ness, Brother Redding," he said. I'VE
don't want to hear from him any more"
Thad Williams looked like n moving
corpse as he stood up.
81 hain't swore n thing yet, rs know
Of" he faltered, amid laughter all over
the room. ~ reckon can talk as much
as I want to when hain't kissed the
Book"
"What I want you to do" said Red
ding. his sharp eyes bent on the gaunt,
coatless witness, "is to clear my clients
reputation OF all the lies you have told
to-day"
you'd better tell n straight story,
Thad," smiled the solicitor. "f you
will, I'll forgive you for the way you
| took me in"
"I'm willin' to tell all know" con-
sented Williams. 81 don't want no
trouble. I've got q wife and six children
to support"
Williams was then put under oath,
and confessed that sgd had said that he
had shot himself while trying to hold
| his horse In check. the animal being
thoroughly frightened by the firing.
Thad showed the court how his friend
had evidently tried TO hold the rens and
revolver in the same hand, and how IL
had been discharged by striking its
hammer against the pummel OF the
saddle.
81 wouldn't a-tricd to testify ag'in
Fanshaw." he added, "if sgd hadn't
axcd me to revenge his DEATH"
When the witness had sat down amid
n storm OF Kisses from the rear Of the
room and in the crowded hallway ad.
joining, the solicitor rose.
"Your honor" he began, "the state
has not shadow of case, and I want
to ask you to dismiss II. When think
how near I came to using my efforts
towards the conviction Of one OF the
most prominent young men in this
statc-when think how near l came "a
being the tool OF the unprincipled
scamp on my right, I feel, say, like
thanking God for my escape. want tc
he the first to congratulate Mr.. Fan
shaw. TO beg his pardon with all my
heart and to wish him all success II
the legal profession. to which, under
stand, he is n brilliant candidate"
The house beloved with applause Al
the solicitor crossed over and graspet
Ronald's hand. 4 look OF dissatisfac
tion clouded Capt. Wrinkles face, ant
Col. IIasbrookc, with an inexplicabl'
/ ,t,, IL
towards the door through the nov
standing crowd.
The sheriff, when the case had beer
formally thrown out OF court. sprnnl
upon bench and pounded another will
his walking stick.
Boys" he beloved, ~ driv' Mr.. Fan
shaw into town in my turnout, an
same way"
Ronald, In the midst OF surgin,
, throng eager to grasp his hand, locke,
over their heads and nodded to Itatclifi
: When the crowd was thinning some
what he found Dave at his elbow. DuS
had accumulated on the rough fellow
cheeks. and through II were the dam
| VI wars. susC
brother was cold and quivered.
IL don't want to do anything thou
consultin' you. Rom" he began. $50
thought / would ax you about Tha
Williams"
, "what about him." questioned Ron
: alo, mystiiied.
, Dave drew him out OF carshot OF tn
= others.
~ don't think ! can ever respect my
self" he said, with gulp, "if don
. call i'm to account for the way he
? done you. Ron, have got TO fight III
! thar haln't no two ways aboutit. II
{ armed, an so is he. II don't turn u
8 home tonight, tell EN-"
v His brother laid both OF his hands o
$ his shoulders.
e 'l'd rather you would not, Dave" h
: said. This must end the whole thinl
5 You must not put yourself into the ja
;. from which have escaped"
!, "Ron, I'd ruther die than let tina
b trifiin' skunk"
G hut Ronald would not listen to hin
and In few minutes persuaded him I
= drop his desire for revenge.
e ITO Be contlnued.l
III |