The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-19


Bob Steele and the chicken thief
Y-i-i-p, XII, vi" rang the cry through
the Sd ranch. Out poured the cow
boys; into camp came a roam horse with
two men on his back. In the saddle
WAS a typical cowman; behind him
rode, blinking. gentleman in minis
terial Earb. ''Water-bOyS-Qu
whispered steele. Both men dismOunt-
cd one easily. the other otherwise
Saddle a couple of fresh ones, viii
yah?" murmured Steele. between
drinks.
\ roar of hoof tore into the corral.
4 rope settled around the neck and
over one shoulder of the Rev John
Ashton keut. The man grabbed wildly
at the air as he was jerked over back
ward. Fourteen Of Old Man Mitch
cowboys had at that unlucky instant
returned from Il three days election
spree in HiOWa-
Jackson, Halt or I'll" Bang,
One shot from Bob Steele'S rifle was
enough. The bullet graZed Jackson s
ribs under the right arm and broke his
horses neck The animal collapsed i'm
mid-air Bob Steele had missed. 1t
was a snapshot. He had intended to
kill. but instantly was secretly glad OF
, the lucky accident.
Boys. none of that. 1t won't work
with me. This man goes to kiOWd
alive or we both go there dead. and
pany. He says he's innocent. ! don't
believe his tale, but we'll see when we
get to Kiowa."
The voice, though hoarse and raw,
was cold and firm as iron. The Win
chester was at his shoulder, cooked.
The sheriff elect spoke along the bar
rel. He i'm black, the tile, and feathers.
painfully arose to his feet. Calmly and
fearlessly he faced his would-be lynch
ers. No anger showed. on the face
was a beWildeTed. pleading expression,
but not unkind. With his handkerchief
he busted his clothes and patent Ieath-'
ers and smOOthed his wrecked tile.
All right, Dardner, just as you say.
Excuse us" the foreman FASTENED TO
say.
1t was a great day in Kiowa. The
whole town assembled before the White
Dog. The reaction from drink and pol
itics had set in. The town felt ashamed
of itself but Stoutly avowed otherwise
to avoid suspicion. 1t is human nature
for men in these circumstances to cast
about for d scapeGOat. The Rev. John
AShtou-kent, hypoCrite, drunkard, EN-
bezzler, chicken and hOrSethief, came to
hand just in the nick of time
But there was Bob Steele and Bob
Steele's rifle. That cold-bIooded gentle
man, with d fanatical regard for lawful
forms, cOuld-and, what was more,
Would-shoot. shot, hung and arrest
ed was said to be the way he some
times transacted official business.
So .piOuS kiOwa gathered. The COM
mittee who had run the sanity prison
err out Of the widows henCOOD acted
as a self-appOinted jury. with Paddy
Malone a chairman. As they were the
most influential men in kioWa, no OBJ
JectiOns were made.
The widow testified. Her story had
grown and changed, bit by bit each
time she had repeated it during the last
fOrty-eight hours. What early in the
tale were opinions later Oh became
facts; Surmises changed to realities.
and it was a very black story that she
Vehemently related TO the solemn jury
The Rev. John AshtOn-kent looked
aEhast. His exit from the henCOOD.
where the widow found him, was
known personally TO the jury one II
the ROSTERS spurs had drawn blood
from Old Man Mitch'S scalp. \ feather
still stuck with dried cOCkerel blood to
Andys shirt. The preachers theatrical
dash through town had already become
matter of local history. KiOwa saw
him steal the roam The church fund
was gone. Where?
Then the reverend young minister
was called upon for his defense He
really had none could not remember,
had confused remembrance of a
struggle, it was all 50 mixed. he was
so astouuded, so unable to account for
it aII-SOme terrible mistake surely, his
intentions had been the best. 4 grOan
from the crowd interrupted him. His
thin. delicate hands, still stained with
chicken blood. were straining with each
other between his trembling knees \
pure. girliSh face arose, mutely re-
proachful. before his eyes. Would she
believe it? How could she doubt it,
He himself believed il all, hideous as
il was It was all terrible. ineXplicable,
though in his heart he had been limo
cent Of any wrong intent. Tears came
into the mans eyes Then the mouth
moved i'm silent prayer. the lips tight
ened. the eyes cleared, and the face be
came calm.
steele vas seated beside his prisoner.
| While the jury retired he played care
lessly with the lever Of his rife. The
rattle of that lever kept the crowd re
sDeCtfuI. Things looked black for the
{ Rev. John Ashton Kent.
Better make "A clean breast Of Do,
man. and let me lock you up muttered
Steele to his prisoner.
The minister shook his head The
Proceedings had been irregular. Steele
did not approve of them in the least;
but then Andy Old Man Mitch, Sol
and Paddy were men not to be ignored
| in Kiowa, even by Bob Steele. Steele
had no idea what the proceedings were
for. If any one had an idea that they
were going to nang the prisoner on
general principles and telegraph pole
ne was mistaken. that was all. After
his prisoner, let the jury decide what