The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-30
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I would rather escape without blood
shed. ] viii find a place where honest
men are not accounted rogues and VIII
write you from that remember,
as namesake, if not a relative. 1 de
mand your protection"
Early the next morning a deputy
sheriff from joplin put i'm an appear
ance. He was new to the ON. and he
fairly swelled with official Importance.
and puffed his cheeks until he resembled
a cherub in their fatness.
1'me here to arrest that boss stealing
teller and take the crack roadster OF
Leonard & Co back to EN-. Lord, what
nerve the thief had to unite that boss in
its stan and ride off With him2 In
broad daylight too. and folks that seen
him, thought he were takin' him out for
airin'. Here's my orders and credentials
to get the animile and have the feller
taken back to Joplin for a trial-if he
lives to get there and he Winked at
the crowd that was gathering and in
creasing every minute.
Can you describe the man2" asked
Lawyer Denison stepping to the frcnt.
Moo" said the deputy, "but 1 know
the boss. and the feller that rode it is
the thief-he can't explain that away"
Wait moment my friend You are
not judge and jury in this case, and 1
have heard the prisoners story, that he
bought the horse from a man who was
a stranger to him. He must be given
time to prove that. Meanwhile can you
identity the horse2"
Yes yes fetch out the horse-he's
the evidence i'm this case, called out an
authoritative voice from the crowd
Read description of the animal
first" commanded Lawyer Denison in
cool curt tones.
"Certes Here it goes. A red bay,
black name and tail. white star in his
forehead-high stepper-gets over the
ground like a bird"
That's him an he's beaut" brawl-
ed a loafer who had not seen the horse
or its rider. The heart Of Andrew Deni-
son sank within him. To gain time he
began to badger the deputy.
You are positive that your descrip-
tion of the stolen horse is correct2"
Sure. Got it from the owner, the
man that raised him from colt"
you are willing to swear that the
( horse which is here is the same ami
mal2"
Sure. That's what I'm here for
! we've had pointers. Why the star on
his forehead Will be evidence enough
/ won't it?7
Bring out the horse" ordered the
lawyer turning to the keeper of the Jail
We viii see if the identification is
complete. Keep back to the threat
ening crowd, the prisoner has not yet
4 been proven guilty"
/ A murn ur of admiration burst on the
arr as the proudly stepping horse was led
forth, also a howl of derision and chagrin.
Inc nnsiy proportiOned roadster was a
dingy brown instead of a bright bay. lie
had not white hair in his coat and the
star in mis- forehead was not ever so faint
+ ly visible. His mane and tail were Of the
same pale brown, and ne gave no evidence
+ Of having been carefully groOmed during
7 the season His shape was good and there
was speed in his apparent action-these
were his best points.
well, I'll be d-d,r said the deputy,
what kind of fools errand am I on any
+ way never saw that horse in Joplin or
any where else. Y GU can give the stranger
his nag for all me. T. m takin the next
/ train home myself"
The prisoner was free He did not delay
Tor thanks or pariey but mounting the
waiting horse was Off like the wind A
/ Deniscns : heart throbbed high with dread
ard -n8aksg iVing-his neluezakc had es-
taped by q narrow margin few weeks
: loAsr ne received q letter frcm distant
state 1t read.
LAWYER Denison-Your dislike of lynch
ing bees would have saved my life even
I u nay own devices had failed Only a sure
4 fool like that deputy would have seen that
+ the horse was dOctOred-a little powder had
cnanged bay to brown and erased the tell
tale star. I feel certain that YOU were
+ mind reader enough to know the truth
and humane enough to save me for a re-
latDns sake. Pardon the ruse. ] have
+ sold the horse for a goodly sum which I
/ would gladly send YOU, but dare not. My
/ name is not and never VIII be-Andrew
/ Deuison
The lawyer tore the letter into shreds
and cast them to the winds Something
T tolls me that have compounded a felony"
j DE said 10 himself hut even so. better
that than Tie death Of one criminal at
the hands of Judge Lynch. But What
+ Pccord-I3erald
Fourth of July Rates, Santa Fe.
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