The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-14

have feared a few words, for he did not In
the least understand those with which the
eminent surgeons favored him, and they at
once took their departure. He did under
stand, however, what Horner told him. Mr..
Barrett, Warren Smith. and the sleepy young
man had re-entered the ward, and Horner
was following, but waited for Meredith
Somehow, the look of the sheriff's Sunday
coat, wrinkling forlornly from his broad,
bent shoulders was both touching and SOL
emn. He said simply: Hes conscious and
not out of his head. They're gone In to
take his ante-mortem statement" and they
went into the room. Hi T..
Harkless's eyes were bandaged. The law
yer was speaking to him, and as Horner went
awkwardly toward the cot, Warren said
something indicative of the sherifs presence,
and the hand on the sheet made a formless
motion which Horner understood, for he took
the pale fingers in his own, very gently, and
then set them back. Smith turned toward
Meredith, but the latter made gesture which
forbade the attorney to speak to him, ana
went to a corner and sat down with his
head In his hands.
The sleepy young man opened NOTEBOOK
and shook stylographc pen 80 that the ink
might flow freely. The lawyer, briefly and
with unlegal agitation, administered an oath
to which Harkless responded feebly, and then
there was silence.
Now, Mr. Harkless, II you please" said
Barrett, insinuatingly, ''if you feel like tell
ing us as much you can about 1t!
He answered in a low, rather lndlstnct
voice, very deliberately, pausing before al
most every word. It was easy work for the
sleepy stenographer.
II understand. l don't want to go or my
head again before finish. OF course know
why you want this. II 1t were only for my
self should tell you nothing, because, IT
am to leave. should like it better II no one
were punished. But that's "a bad community
over there; they have always heen bother
to us, and It's time it was stopped for good.
don't believe very much in punishment, but
you can't do a great deal Of reforming with
| the Cross Roaders until you catch them young
very young, before they're weaned-they
| wean them on whisky. think. I realize you
| needn't have sworn me for me to tell you
| this"
Horner and Smith had started at the men
| tion Of the Cross Roads, but they subdued
their calculations. while Mr.. Barrett looked
as II he had known it, Of course. The room
was still, save for the dim voice and the
soft transcribings of the stylographic pen.
| II left Judge Briscoe's. and went west on
the pike to a big tree. 1t rained, and
stepped under the tree for shelter. There was
man on the other side OF the fence. 1t was
Bob Skillet. He was carrying his gown ano
hood-I suppose it was that-on his arm
Then l saw two others little farther east
In the middle OF the road; and l think they
had followed me from the Briscoes', or neal
there. They had their foolish regalia on, a!
all the rest had-there was plenty Of lightning
to see. The two in the road were simply
standing there in the rain, looking at m,
through the eye-holes in their hoods. I knew
there were others-plenty-but thought the!
were coming from behind me-the west.
Il wanted to get home-the courthouse
yard was good enough for me-so l started
east toward town. I passed the two gentle
men; and one fell down as I went by him
but the other fired shot signal, and
fot his hood of his face for 1T stopped Ion,
enough-and it was Force Johnson. l know
him we'll. Then ran, and they followed.
little ahead of me I six or eight OF then
spread across the road. I knew I'd have ),
time getting through, SO I jumped the fenc
to cut across the fields, and I lit in a swarm
of them-and 1t rained them just where
jumped 1 set my back to the fence, bu
one Of the fellows in the road leaned owe
and smashed my head in, rather-with tn
butt OF a gun, believe. I came out fro1
the fence and they made little circle aroun
me. No one said anything I saw they ha
ropes and saplings, and I didn't want thai
exactly, so l went into them. I got goo
many hoods off before it was over, aud ca
swear to quite number besides those tol
YOU
ITO he continued Tomorrow