Arizona republican., 1903-05-17

still sitting up reading. when some one knocked at the door, The artist shout ed. Come in!' and in walked Cooking. For moment the artists blood froze It is somewhat uncanny to entertain mupederer in. your room at dead of night, particularly the author of a mur- der that is faseinatingly brutal and in human, and it occurred to the artist that possibly Cooking was homicidal maniac, who had a lust for human blood and wanted to begin with his
 'Wh-what's the matter?' demanded the artist.
 I'm lonesome. that's all. said Cock ing. simply. They left me all alore and I got lonely. so I came out to see if I couldn't find some one to talk to. If you don't mind. I'd take it as a great favor if you'd let me sit down here and talk to you
 "The artist recovered his self-posses- sion and told Cooking to sit down. The murderer's face beamed with gratitude as he sat down and began to talk The artist hauled out some of his sketching paper and told Cooking he would while the time away by drawing pictures of him. Cooking was pleased with the idea, and the artist posed him first in one position and then in another. Fi- nally he made Cooking hold his arms as he would if striking down with an ax at a sleeping victim. He was a good artist, and next day his paper had some startling, life-like pictures of Cooking in the act of murdering his family. As he sketched he asked Cooking ques- tions, and got a good interview out of him.
 At last the artist said: Well. I've got to get some sleep tonight, Mir. Cock ing, so I'll have to ask you to go. You'n excuse my frankness, but I'm dead tired
 That's all right said the murderer, gratefully. I'm really very much oblig ed to you. I feel sleepy myself. now, and guess can turn in
 Thanking the artist effusively, the assassin went out, and the artist locke1 the door and piled some furniture against it. to make sure that he wouldn't come back, and then turned in
 "The next morning the deputy sher- ifs, newspaper men, artists and the rest of the crowd assembled down stairs for breakfast. After a few min utes somebody missed the murderer and said: Where's Cocking?'
 Everybody looked around. and after a few seconds pause one of the deputy sheriffs said I ain't seen him since last night. Why. Jim, told you to keep an eye on him.
 cr0t 0arylS ratnrfad Him Think was goin' to stay up and watch him while you-all were playin' cards and havin' a good time?'
 That's a fact admitted the other deputy Well, it's all right, anyway. Cooking ain't gone far; he's all right
 "He stepped out into the ward, whis tied shrilly on his fingers, and yelled: 'Oh-h-h, Cooking! Hey. Cocking!' Then he paused to listen, and in mo- ment a faint, faraway voice was heard answering, 'Wha-at?'
 And Cooking loomed into sight travelling liesurely toward the house. He had been out to take an early morn ing walk, and was on his way back.
 Cooking never came to trial. There had been a good many murder cases there lately, and the farmers were grumbling a bit over the cost of them. They had actually raised the tax rate percetibly. One day there was a ball game and a lot of farmers came to town. Just after the game some of the spectators were talking over the recent murder cases and the heavy tax rate, and somebody said, Let's go and lynch Cooking
 "'All right said somebody else.
 "'No,' put in a third. Don't let's do it now. There ain't no hurry. Wen wait till after supper
 "This struck everybody as good scheme. so they dispersed and went to supper. In the evening, each man hitch ed up his team, and they drove to the jail and knocked. An old negro jailer opened the door and said, Come in gentlemen. What can do fo' you?'
 "They went in, took Cooking out without any fuss or disturbance. hung him up to a tree. and dispersed; all ir the same matter-of-fact and business like manner"