The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-02
THE LYNcnINe BEE.

a
story in tt added straghtway turned
ton TO other matters forgetting this time
after the of city editors Smahers being expert
enced looked first at the clock and then al the arsy
TO make OF the Of the place he and
then, stuing the paper his pocket for
on. he hurried from the Office without word
When he arrived next morning at the county OF
-. whittier he had been sent. he wondered little.
He had been in struggling little times
before. and had always found something him
in the quaint frank speech of the mountain
who made its population uncouth they
ed city they sociable and friendly enough
and perceive and appreciate of their
number, which stranger simply delicious.
Today, however. there visible constraint that
puzzled him The station master with whom he had
chatted freely his previous visits. made perfectly
transparent pretext of being extremely youoh
safed whatever when began
ing him concerning the story had zgate-
The grizzed old stage driver who drove HINT the village
tavern where smahers had stopped before equally
communicative. and this seemed equally unaccount
able. since he had voluble habit
Had there been a lynching party in the night
before? Well, really he couldn't Feared like he
heerd sumpin about sumpn. but he didn't know nothn
about ii for certain. And SmatheIs being said.
experienced in his business forebore quesfio
further when he found that he really reluctant
talk. And the landlord the tavern who had
vousy taken pride guiding live reporter around
the place and had htched up team with his
hands TO drive him the of a tragedy
miles giving him minute details of the family his
tory of one concerned. while the horses trotted
aiong the smooth roads they a record
he taciturn this morning ana Smathers'
queries with the counter Of what lie would lk1
for breakfast Nor did these three other
citizen whom smathers saw That morning give him
smile Of welcome meet his eye Willingly
Now there and for getting story for
publication. Much depends upon the has
work in; perhaps. on the temperament of the
the number of he has been in the bus
In this instance Smathers knew that other
porter with him and that othet
train would arrive for several hours. Moreover he had
until midnight, if TO get his story I'm at the
Office Thank fortune his paper was not one Of those
regular editions the afternoon. with
extras at irregular intervals between times.
Under the circumstances he determined adopt the
method which had found by repeated experiments
tolerably bring maximum of result with
minimum of effort; after finishing his breakfast he
lighted big black cigar, which he did not buy at the
tavern, and, choosing conspicuous seat the front
piazza he his feet the railing and smoked. watt
ing with calm and confidence for village gossip to
approach him bursting with Importance and great masses
of information interesting and otherwise but
A mile the road stood the county Jail Legally it
penitentiary but architecturay and in the COM
very imposing that we'll adapted to tho
keeping any desperate experienced criminal
but serving enough the purposes of a community
where law seldom violated and customs were as
primitive they we'll ordered.
AS walked up the dusty road he here and there
small groups the townspeope talking together
estly, though a subdued fashion, much people
gather churchyard while gravediggers busy
a gruesome task, but with the difference that
those whom he this morning seemed 10 be excited
in curious No noisy. but there were
suppressed energy their and in
their sufficient his wonder had he not
known had been happenings But he
group another they all dispersed quiet
ly without in his direction The stroled
away amlessy. and the women vanished inside their
houses before he came near enough to accost them
This must be the way the lepers walked abroad in
the olden times he muttered himself grimy but hs
steadily wasting time in any effort TO gain ths
speech of those who had none for him.
h.. iosh 1e III
sitting low steps He had him
before, admired rugged strength that kept
the whte-haired old erect and active as boy.
Though he had passed his three-score years his eye
was dimmed nor his abated.r in
his sturdy. simplicity he had seemed ideal
figure in a place of great responsibility
Today he with his bare head bowed low and his
dsorderd hair tossing about in the breeze Sitting thus
relaxed and his eyes fixed the ground.
he old indeed and feeble Nor there ami
n manner when he heard Smathers tread
the neatly graveled walk and looked up inquringly.
you dep'ty?" asked. duly
NO" said Smathers I'm reporter"
oh said the old Il thought mebbe
from the sheriff. sent him word this mornin'. He'd
oughter been here by this sent some can't look
myself up
srnathers sat the step beside him. 1t seemed
brutal thing to ask questions
After few minutes the old reused himself. You
say you're a reporter" he asked nstiessly.
Yes said Smathers
We'll you'll know II ALL then. Mebbe it's
better o Then you'll It ra.ght"
paused and shudderins violently dropped his face
again, putting up both hands hide st. Presently the
old spoke again. slowly and monotonousy II read
difficult manuscript uncertain OF some Of the words
decphering all after little delays here and there
1t nigh shutdown yesterday" he said. when
there fetched a prisoner here. They
ketched him the woods close the road with white
girl The girl had holered that's what set en- LOOK
find what the trouble but when they
she night couldn't hoiler They
caught the a nigger-an three Of EN- then
brought him here the other-there four Of EN-
put the girl in the an drove of TO find doctor
4 locked him up He's in there now" mo.ionins BE-
hind he spoke. You him II want 70, but
he hain't spoke q word since he in Then about
half he come some the reighbors
round told the girl my little granddaughter
Salle She pretty little giri. to. OILY fourteen
cd, but SHOULD die after what hap
pened.
Well her father-that John. fine a
there the county an my only son-he
away business. he didn't get home TIL late
When he did SaiIe dead. they tnl3 him
about IT. forty fifty the neishbors ready
70 the jsu here the niger and Ia
been warned. - lookin' fer en- bat pears Ike
they'd agreed for John when ne heerd about
IL he with
7 had everything locked an barred s.roag as
coulj make a. when they % the door I stuck