The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER I.

|. nut Bob. q seems TO me the height
a cowardlce for a man to carry IRE
arms IN n civilized community.
neyer carried q pistol In my life. nor
anew the need OF one"
swell. you will know the need OF
one when you meet Bin Hamilton
slons An some Of those lonely forest
roads you travel. and you are a fool
hardy fellow II you don't provide
yourself with some means OF defense"
4 am not afraid OF Bill Hamilton,
Boz
That fact does not diminish the
danger 10 which you are exposing
yourself while travelling about these
lonely roads. unarmed and unprotect-
cd.~
do you really think. Bob. that Bill
Hamilton would make an unprovoked
attack upon me?"
Think7 Why man. I know that he
wouldl he II a desperate fellow, and
has made threats that when ne meets
yon alone. one or the other OF you
ain bite the dust"
4 never did BII Hamilton an in
Jury
4 know that you never did. John,
but Bil insists that Il was through
VI your fundamentally he and his bro
Their were arrested last week. Besides
he thinks. by harming you. he will
have revenge ON Sheriff Adrian. Bill
70 fully aware OF the deep attachment
which exists between your stepfather
and yourself. and knows that he could
deal the sheriff no more serious blow
than 90 take your life. Now. John, do
be sensible. either take my good old
trusly and carry II well loaded I'm your
pocket 90 just get up and cut the
country until the law disposes OF BIZ
ard Jess Hamilton. as Il undoubtedly
Niil DO At our next term OF criminal
court
ht Well 90 please YOU. Bob. will
T. lept the loan of your pistol. although
believe that your fears are ground
icsa. and I know I shall feel as IL I
we're n desperate myself as long as
carry q pistol
No you wOnt-that's all nonsense"
replied the owner 90 the pistol as he
sadly passed the weapon into his
eomranion's keeping.
n VAS . lovely morning i'm May.
svery blade Of grass and sweet wild
Hover growing peacefully upon the
hanks ~ the cool. sparkling spring.
beside which the above conversation
took place. was beneath a flashing dia-
dem Of dew drops
strip Of tall. graceful pines STREET
lining away to the southwark fringed
the tender blue sky. and the gentle
summer winds soughing through their
~aving branches fell with n soothing
nurmur upon the quiet scene
The two young men To whose con-
\ ersation We have listened. unlimited,
Fere mere youths. stalwart. hardy and
Y 'onest sons OF the red clay hills and
Pine forests Of Northern Georgia.
One Was John Lorimer who was the
'epson OF the sheriff Of Mount Vernon
county. and his companion and friend
!, vas Bob Anderson. zone OF the boys"
I'D The sparsely settled neighborhood
here both young men resided.
Tin This neighbOrhood usually was a
"A peaceful and law abiding one-com-
POSED OF honest farmers. and their
amilies all industrious and simple
ountry folk. living their quiet, peace
al lives. shut or from the great rush
'E turmoil Of the outside world. as
guarded over by the soughing pines,
banding sentinel-like around their un-
retentious dwellings.
. strange TO say. however, the evil one
yer In search Of prey had even
'and his way into this quiet. pastoral
ene and w9s rejoiced In find ready
Tor his poisonous seed in the
eartn % two young men in the set
Nb*emenL
ihese We're known as Bill Hamilton
ia MS elder brother. Jess. The rep
A'ion OF thesc boys had never been
AeePing with the respectable neigh
Fhood In which they were born and
AIRED. but no one was prepared tc
them develop, as they suddenly
~ INTO regular young desperadoes
Der deeds Of wicked daring had
81 o~ever' been cut short by the arrest
eosh brothers; and now Jess. the
Iont ~ Daring of the two, was behind
~ bars of Mount olivette jail, while
'- who had been released from GUS
upon heavy bond, roamed about
- country while both brothers
aited their coming trial.
"A ms recent arrest had not had sal
ssf&a1y effect upon Bill and his fierce
&MXtAn0r, with his threats of van.