The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-09-28
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THE PARDONIIN6
OF SIDEWHFEL
DhUOUN ByD. H. IaImat
Copyright, 1901, Dg D. Il. Taimaa0s
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MI Dawson's nm was weary from
vigorous shaking, his back was sore
from repeated slaps. his neck was
chafed by tAe collar to which it had
long been stranger, but his state of
mind was one of most excellent salts
faction.
a man who has been sentenced to
twenty years of hard labor in the pen
itentiary and who comes forth free
and in the full possession of his health
atsilbc end Of five is certainly entitled
% some felicltation That was pre-
eisely what had happened to Mr. Daw-
som, lie had killed lis man under
whnt appeared cold blooded eircum-
stances TO ain intelligent jury. He had
pleaded SELF defense conventionally,
but the testimony was such that there
Seemed no doubt Of his guilt. True,
there had been no eyewitnesses to
the slaughter Those who testified
merely told of threats he had made, Of
his had reputation, Of the peaeeable
character OF his victim. The defense
had called no witnesses.
"Tain't worth while" Mr.. Dawson
had said TO his attorney. "'Twould do
more harm than good for any OF me
friends To testify TO the gentleness Of
NE disposition. snapper Griffin'd have
had nc dead in another wink If l
hadn't jerked the trigger when l did,
and that's straight He begun the
trouble and kept pushin it on while l
tried me leyelcst to reason with him.
He'd been dopn' with somethln' l
think, but he didn't wiggle q wiggle
When he pointed his gun He was
himself all right and there's some
comfort III KNOWN it, for I'd hate like
hlazes to feel that the only man I ever
Killed wasn't responsible for himself.
I've got a mighty tender conscience,
whether you know it or not. and it's
perfectly comfortable now IN take
whatever the court gives me, and l
won't whimper a whimper"
The first night he slept in the peni-
tentiary his attorney was delivering in
the levee district message to his
friends. Hump yourselves to get Van
Altren elected governor" was the bur
den Of it, The leyee gang did not
know exactly what to think but they
We're sufficiently well acquainted with
Mr. Dawson to accept the Instructions
ia good faith
Mr. DaWson's message was entirely
responsible for their action. To the
contrary it was only an important
drop in a tolerably large tub Of politi-
cal suds Their. own candidate had
done them dirt7-quite by chance,
certainly not by Intention He had al
lied himself in moment of mistaken
wisdom with the rrohibitionists. Tley
were engaged in hesitating and grum-
bling ana seOwlng when Mr.. Daw-
sons message came throwing the bal
ance over to the Van Altren side. Side
wheel Dawson never did anything
without 4 good reason, but what his
reason was IN this particular instance
they could not conjecture. They We're
still in the dark on the day when Mr..
Dawson Xpectedly and triumphant.
~ returned
~Say, said hc after the first wave
Of welcome had passed and he was sit
ting comfortably in the rear room at
sRgssy eliy's place with a number
OF old . l@Sflied associates about him,
I'm OWN you boys a lot for the way
yon helped old Van to the puddin'
was a bic leary you wouldn't get next
to what | was mp to, but it didn't cost
nofhin' 10 try"
we didn't get next; we Amt next
yet, candidly observed Mr.. Kelly. rs
Van a particler friend Of yoursT
Mr. Dawson smiled. NO" he re
Piled but he's got reason for believhf
me when | tell him | shot Snapper
Griffin cause snapper Griffin was dead
set on givin me the long trip and for
no other reason.
= I'VE believe that" said Mr. Kelly.
1--WE knowed your story was true, but
we couldn't do notbin'."
Course you couldn't. If any Of you
had stuck your mugs into the game.
Ia have been queered to the limit.
Likely I'd have got the drop and CUR
gle. and then Van couldn't have
reached me even if his gratitude WIS
twice as long"
Then Yam was OWN you some
thlmr MIR, Kelly ana the others look
ed ut Mr.. Dawson with Il common ex-
preston Of curiosity and admiration
mingled. '.You've got us in the air.
SideWheel. Take us down or Wen
bust
Mr.. Dawson laughed this time and
rubbed bis hands together. Sure, ri
take you down" he said. Twon't
take me long to do it either. Muggsy,
do sou remember a little job we had
OH six years ago this summer down at
Bayside, when
When you was out all night and got
nothn but a pair of red eyes and
fit Of sickness and stink Of gasY' Mr..
Kelly put in. Eyes, ! remember. / al
:a1st lest me faith in you that time"
4Yesl7 Mr. Dawson ehuckIed i'm
moderately. II was to diyyy what
got from the place that dead easy
place with the open cellar windows
vou spotted one Sunday afternoon
when you was strolling home from
church. was to diyvy, and l got
nothiu' but He suddenly assumed
a reflective attitude. his hand upon his