The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-08-25
AFzXz&1azM
1 p MR. WAZ5M M

Copyright, 1905. by w. R. Hearst.)
Excuse me, sir. but isn't you name
Francfs-Joe Francis?"
The speaker leaned earnestly toward
the man who sat next to him IN the
street ar. His keen blue eyes were lit
with a friendly light, and he seemed
more than anxious to become acQuaint-
ed with the stranger.
Yes was the stolid reply.
DO you remember Dick? Dick Lev
the little town of Wisteria, back in
Illinois? Why, we used to play to-
gether when we were little chaps. Don't
you recall the towhead who wanted a
red wagon just like yours
The other ooked vacantly out of the
window. Seems to me I do recall him.
A good little devil he was, but I'd for
gotten all about that years ago. I
wouldn't have remembered your name
had you not told me. It's a long time
ago, chg"
And the wagon, 1t was a beauty as
I remember it. Francis. l nave had
some few prizes in life since then, but
mono of them ever equaled your red
wagon, and l remember l cried when
l broke it for you on the hill one day"
"H-m-m-m, you've got a better
memory than l have, for rye forgotten
It. What's in the paper tonight, I Won
der" and the bloated. e-xpressionless
over the Evening Blade, while the
questioner settled back somewhat
abashed. His gaze through the VIM
dow to the hills in the distance was no
reply to the big fellow by his side. but
neither one of them noticed that Fact.
Richard Lewiston, Esq, al a busy
man and yet he was more than tender
with his children -aC fhau y.n,o1ra1 fn.
gether after the days distractions in
the happy home on Pine hill. Eight
o'clock struck all too o for the fa-
Their as he thought of the duties of
the lawyer which called him down to
the city again that night. Hurriedly he
snatched his hat from the hall tree and
with. a CHEEKY parting to his wire,
strobe hastily down the street. Its
such a fine night" he muttered. "Tll
walk all the way down"
There was some excitement ahead in
the street. but Mr.. Lewiston was right
In the midst Of it before he noticed the
unusual demonstration. An angry crowd
of men and boys was gathered in the
middle of h avenue, and he could not
distinguish in the lark mass the center
Of attraction, or rather dissension. Gu
riously, he Joined the throng. Whats
wrong,'' he asked of a young man on
the outskirts.
Some fellow struck his wife down in
the front yard tonight. His neighbors
propose to give him a lesson"
It's not the first time, Mr.. lewiston
said another man, with whom he was
acquainted. The brute almost killed
her last spring. These people are mad
enough to hang him. You know, that's
much longer. There's been too much
of it,"
We'll ride him on a rail down to the
new house building yonder and give
him a coat of tar exclaimed one Of
the excited ones. and hang him up for
a while. twill do him good" came from
another quarter. 1t was a furious crowd
a good thing for the community. His
own blood commenced to boil.
Then he caught a glimpse of the pale.
distorted face of the burly fellow
squirming in the grasp Of half a dozen
strong men. He was athletic and quick
to act. Men," he cried. in a voice of
stern command. let me speak to
you."
A roar followed which drowned his
voice. but the diversion he had created
stopped the exertions of the guard
which had taken possession Of the Gull
prit, n he shook himself clear Of
their grasp and stood ~dishevelled and
almost beastly. covering in the middle
of the throng. BY a quick movement
Lewiston placed himself by his side. He
was a nan well known in the entire city
and there were few in the throng who
did not recognize him as Judge Lewis
ton, that title having attached itself
to him without yer having held an
Office SO far as a known. He was cool
and his tall figure was dignity itself as
he waved his and and said: Stand
back a minute, men. Don't disgrace
yourselves and you homes by q public
exhibition here tonight. There is a Sc
we're penalty for any offense such as
this man is said to nave committed.
He can be convicted if half what you
believe is true"
A brick shot over the heads Of the
crowd and just missed the speaker and
the victim, passing between their heads
as they stood there together. AN ex-
hibition such as you are seeking to
make here tonight" he continued un-
concernedly, will do more harm than
the crime itself. Let's call an ofacer
and send this man to jail. ] myself will
aaH-rMgNN