The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-10-28
An UNFINISHEDTRIAL
BIZ JAMES o'sHAUGHNEssY, JR.

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Word was running swiftly through the
redbush country, carrying the news that
Marion Marie was captured. While TIE
sun was still yellow and lusterless through
the morning haze, and before it had
reached over into the draws and hollows
Of the clay hills, the men Of the neighbor-
hood were in the saddle and the story OF
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 sawmill.
Along the winding roads Bill Ticket was
pressing his tired horses into a hard gall
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 associa-
ton that he wanted them at the trial
which was to be held at the sawmill.
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
Hez Tickets house. Nan Ticket had dared
to love this man over whose head hung
the odious charge of horse-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 lynching Marion
Marie. Her brother, Bill Telket, was riding
away in the darkness to 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-barreled squirrel rifles.
More than half of those gathered there
were friends Of Marion Marie and for that
reason the Anti Horse-Thief association
was subject to the humiliating spectacle
of legal inquiry into horse-stealing case.
/ The milshed, which served as the court
room, was crowded. Squire Yantley 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
broader of shoulders, but none was as hand
some in face and in figure as Marie. His
black hair hung down to his shoulders
! He had a red handkerchief knotted at his
throat. His trousers were tucked in the
tops Of his boots that were illuminated with
ed and yellow stars and with crescents
Even the heels of his boots did not escape
.dmiring attention, for they were high and
lender and were jingling with spurs.
Il amt never tried no hoss-thief cases,
aid Squire Yantley, but if yell just keeT
7 r,,,-1 v,o'II ,raE al rioh+
and he leaned over to Sheriff Moore fo'
dvce, as to methods Of procedure. Ther
le called upon the prisoner to enter hi
flea.
Il amt guilty" said Marie, as he stooc
erect and tossed back his hair.
well who is ," demanded the squire.
There's the thief" he cried, poin'
NJ with his arm outstretched. Bill Telke
stole the mare
Bill Telket sprang to his feet. The a.
,erlhage was suddenly in motion. Bach
ward and forward and sidewise. it swaye
1minously and weapons were clicking, bu
there was no outbreak or rush or clash.
A murmur arose in the rear Of the room
TIE crowd parted. making path throug
its center, till girl rushed into the ope
space where the prisoner stood in an att
tude of defiance, facing Bill Telket. Sh
pulled from her head a blue sunbonnet
whose edges dropped and half hid her face
As she did so her hair, red-brown an
glinting. fell in masses like mantle on be
, shoulders Red bushes fretted in her pa
lid cheeks. The murmurs of the thron
hushed and everyone was staring.
Nan, what brings you here" cried Bi
Ticket.
81 come ten save man that never"
Itch save hoss-thiefs"
"You'eh my brother, Bill, 'en love vel
'en come to stop yeh from sayin'
court tibet Marion Mares a hoss-thie
Squire, Marion isn't no hoss-thief. He neve
stole the mare!"
well, who did steal 'er, Nan?" aske
the court.
Don't ask me, squire. can't tell yel
but Marion didn't"
EFF yeh don tell, Nan, wen hef te
penitenshy i'm"
"Yeh CANT; yeh cainti They'se me
here; they won't let yeh!"
Here, Nan, theyse enough O. that" sa
Bill Telket, fercely, as he seized his sist
by the wrist and drew her rudely back.
She turned on her brother and he shrur
rom the flashing Of her dark eyes 81
released her wrist from his grasp. A ha
ubdued roar went up from the crowd al
it moved forward. A man in the fro
rank was holding up revolver The g
n sprang at him and snatched the weapt
z with such suddenness that she hi
y wrenched it from him before he cou
8 tighten his strong fingers on its hand
Y Quicker than the men were thinking s
n was at the side of the prisoner.
n 'Here, Marion" she whispered, placi
Y the revolver in his hand. run fur it. Fig
y yer way out. Yer boss is at the criek."
81 While she held up her face to him,
bent his head and kissed her. Then wi
y ringing yell, he leaped straight at t
81 crowd, which opened a pathway for h
Y and then closed in behind him. Nan thrt
~ herself in front of the sheriff and his de-
q uties and impeded them. 1t was for
Y second, only, but it was sufficient time
N put struggling frantic men between the
& and their prisoner, whose friends and Ell
Y mics closed in a savage struggle, fore
N one another forward and beat one anott
z back, but no one halted Marie or broue
~ him down He swung the revolver he he
81 to the right and left and his keen eyes
= lowed its motion. He went in clear spa
y that moved as he moved till he reach
81 the door. As he sprung out a pistol "