The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-03
THE FEuD's FINALE.

would but an end forever to the Dillon.
Guthrie feud- To the younger generation
l. was indeed 10 more real than q dozeT
other tragedies and romances that fis--
ured in the history OF Doan counIy's stir
ring past Bat when the older folks be
came aware that the dernure and pretty
Susan was 10 marry the last OF a family
supposed TO be the hereditary enemies OF
the mousse of Dillon the old stories OF
cLel, assassination and mortal hatred that
had decimated both factions in the din
past were reviewed and recited with re-
enforced interest and detail Tom Guth-
/ re, though a big. brawny youth OF .
was a studious and Yniid-mannered young
lawyer Henry and King Dillon, Susie :
brothers, were older men. farmers of the
greatest industry. silent, hig-eyed men
who petted their sister as they might
have petted their children if they had
any. But they were bachelors and spent
most OF their days afield and they never
I suspected the tender feeling springing uu
between Tom and their Susie Till tie
young man came forward and manfully
asked them for her.
Henry contented himself with saying
no; but King, who was a cuTiey- head ID.
irascible giant. lost his temper and or
dered Guthrie of the plaNe. or a month
the scared girl cOntrived u see her lover
| clandestinely, bus without openly defy
her brothers. She was a sly, gentle crea-
ture, very fond Of her big brothers; but.
like most southern women, OF a constant
and even stubborn heart It was carly III
the spring that they found Kings dead
body in pathway leading from his corn
field to the yard. The news of the murder
! spread like wildfire, and the sheriff. an
/ ticipating reprisal from Henry Dillon
/ induced Captain 'BTien CT the Doanboro
I militia company 10 SCI out his command
/ for the double purpose OF guarding Guth-
Hsrn I al.
! killing, and to keep w5ceh on the brother
/ of the victim. The mililltnp-n fully ann
Z ed accompanied the prisoner t. Bender
! the county seat, but as the jail had icen
! recently burned. they A,pt Guthrie IN 4
tent. the wall and flap IF which We're
! carefully closed.
I As for Henry Dillon. he showed no dis
position toward violence, and nobody who
/ talked with her could divine whether
/ Susie was more stricken by the death Of
her brother or the awful plight in which
) her lover now found himself. She went
about as silent and furtive as a mouse,
and everybody pitied her. because, come
! what might. she seemed the chief. as she
was also the innocent sufferer There was
Il small frame cottage across from the
court house which happened to be va
cant, and there Henry King installed his
sister. O'Brien refused 10 permit Dillon
20 sleep anywhere but in the camp, so
carefully did he watch him, and they
ate, slept and spent every day together.
Dillon had willingly given up his weapon,
protested that he contemplated no vio-
lence and gave parole right readily.
Susie, red-eyed and pale prepared the
meals for her brother and the captain,
and served them herself until the day on
which she was obliged to add her unim-
portant testimony as TO the quarrel be-
tween Tom and her brother King. She
Wept bitterly as the lawyers strove to
elicit questions damaging 10 Guthrie, and
had tainted as soon as the ordeal was
over. She had never visited the prisoner
nor even spoken his name except on the
witness stand. but it was easy to see that
her small body was wasting away with
grief. She didn't know anybody in Ben
der, and her hours passed slowly enough.
a shady spot on the little back porch
vas her chosen retreat, and she spent
most of the day sewing. She Stunned the
courtroom and never appeared at the
door or windows from which, if she chose.
She might have watched the tent in which
her lover was kept. AS If to shut away
every thought Of the narrowing scene. the
curtains were tightly drawn and the front
door was always locked.
Even if Henry Dillon had wished to
wreak his vengeance upon Tom Guthrie,
and had stalked him with good rife, IT
would have been almost Impossible to get
aim at him. O. Brien never opened the
tent. never marched his man TO court
without first making sure that Dillon was
out Of the way and under surveillance.
There were no other members of the fam
lily likely to take up the quarrel and final
" the captain began to notice that his
display of force and military activity
locked ridiculous. He had about made
ur his mind to disband his company and
leave Tom to the sheriff, when Saturday
came around. Court had adjourned until
Monday. and Henry Dillon and Brien
We're sitting on a soap box chatting in
the bright. balmy sunlight. They could
see the tent in which Guthrie was con-
fined, and, as O'Biren looked idly across 1
the lawn ne saw ono of the soldiers push
omen the Zap of the guardhouse or prison |
tent. to toss out some straw and litter.
T ne prisoner, manacied and IN his shirt /
sleeves. lOunged up TO the pole which di- |
vided the entrance, and, with his hands |
resting on the pole. leaned his head on his !
arms. Henry Dillon had just said There /
ne is" when there was indistinct /
and distant sound ike the dull stroke OF /
q hammers single blow. O'Brien saw /
Guthrie sink slowly 10 the ground. with 4
his face in the straw and his forehead I
almost touching the soldiers feet. The 1
captain rushed across the lawn to help /
his men lift Guthrie and Dillon, uncertain 4
what 10 do, followed hesitatingly. They /
found their prisoner diving. with a clean /
bullet hole in his left temple The guard 4
was quickly summoned Dillon was ar
rested. more in haste to do something /
summary than for any reasonable sus-
p.cion. He was unarined. The captain 4
had been with him when Guthrie fell.
None Of the soldiers had heard a shot.
O'Bnen recalled the sound he had heard, /
but could rot believe it had been from Q
pistol or rife.
He scattered his men about 70 make O
hasty search Of every possible hiding
place. He asked Dillon. who suddenly
looked haggard and excited. whether he
had heard q shot No. he had heard
nothing He was thrust into The guard
house. where the doctors were already
standing hopeIessIy and helplessly over
Guthries corpse. Being quick-Witted
soldier and having noticed that Guthrie
death wound at least came from the DE-
rect!on Of DiHon's cottage. az least ~
ards away. the captain. much against
his genfler nature took a SQUAD n men
ana surrounded the little house. He found
Susie sitting sadly in her rocking chair
1u the hack uorch. sewing. The tears
ran down her wan checks rs she looked
az M him. He told her what had hap
renrd aud she burst into 2 passion cf
ars. b-rviug her pretty head in her Zap
sud s1hbing untl her fran body shoolr-
Captain O-Bricn searched he house al
alone Ii was empty but Tor the few
small pieces Of furniture He found The
tt'e froat window fronting Ehe court
.ouse square crrtained rs usual But
& WAS raised aea-iy an inch. IN tte
zitcheu closet down stairs be found
-ife It vsas eruty. and as cican - II x
1zd NOT been sired Tor months. he then
.mclie6 r. There vas NJ cd9T - powder
81 smoke. no empty smell 10 loaded
-lrtritses. lie searched fa- a. hour. and
u last felt ashamed when ne touched
Susie on thc shoulder ard. showing her