Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-07

Loneys brother"
-. DID you make the break at KeichIine's?
Or course you did or that Stamp book
effects"
Your honor. I object"-The squire par
tally arose but the justice did not notice
Il say yau have no hope of trying to es-
isn't that true?'
Yes" he admitted sulIenly.
Did you kill Kari Kefchline?'
1t was in self-defense." He spoke ca
gerry. He had Leon down and was chok-
In the life out of him. I tried to yank
him off, but couldn't break his hold Leon
was ehokin' and 1 grabbed that pipe and
swatted him. l didn't try to kill him, SO
help me, didn't and didn't know / had
I'll next day. He so near finished Leon that
had to carry him all the way home"
No"
Have either of these prisoners here as
ISOLATED with your
mo"
DO you recognize this book?"
Yes; 1t Is the one we got at Keichline's."
"Sure?" The prisoner examined it atten-
lively.
YES"
Your honor" spoke up Amos. heres
the book we found in the cave. The sher-
If gave 1t to me last night to take care
of" He handed 1t to the judge. who passed
it to the prisoner.
Are you sure THIS am 4 the DOCK! the
judge asked.
II can't tell 'en apart They look jest
alike" -
Your honor" interposed Amos again,
Karl Ketchline's clerk is outside. / ask
that he be called to identify the book"
Bring him in,' commanded the Judge
The sheriff went out and came in imme-
diately with a nervous young man. who
was duly sworn.
Here are two books VIII you tell the.
court which of them Is Karl Keichlness
stamp book?' The young man picked up
one of them instantly.
That's the one" he said with decision.
How do you known"
Il used it every day for years; know by
the looks of it,
IT'S the book found in the barn" an.
nounced the squire.
'Nosuh, it's not" retorted Amos; cts
the other"
You've got 'em mixed up; you can't
tell now which is which," he sneered
Your honor" spoke up Jim deferential-
ly, II haven't examined the book found In
the barn, but the one found in the cave
has knife-cut the back. where the
squire tried to mutilate 1t last night when
stopped him.
'Here-here; I object" Numbered the
squire.
Vas" interposed Amos with a drawl,
"and IL you turn to page 1876 you'll find a
little piece of paper with some of my writ
In on 1t. l kinder thought they might get
mixed up
''Then the book found In the cave is the
genuine one announced the judge deci-
sively.
Say. your honor, may speak," plead
ed Amos
'If you have any evidence bearing on
this case"
wal, now. I amt very much on stickin
my nose into other peoples swill barrels
I've allus caplated 1t was a man first duty
to mind his own business. but 1t sometimes
takes judgment to tell when you're mindin
1t. I'm willin the squire here should fight
the Farthings here till there amt any
thing left of AIRY one Of EN- but yeller
fuzz. I sorter like to see good fight
goin on; but IL folks, cats or ROSTERS
fight before me. they've got TO fight fair
I won't stand round with my hands In my
pockets and see q man licked with S2ul
hold. Now 1t looks amazingly to me as II
the squire broke into his own store, and hid
the goods there in the barn himself, and
doctored up that book so as to get Jim
here convicted of murder
'Here-here, judge, I protest." broke In
the old man excitedly. THAT amt evil
dence. That's personal spite. I protest"
He sat down. his face fairly purple; his
hands working convulsfvely.
You're out of order; you'll be seated
Amos" ordered the judge sternly. ALLEN
Farthing will arise and be sworn"
The man arose calmly and took the oath,
the squire cycling him all the time like
cornered lynx The old man was laboring
under high excitement; the veins in his
face stood out like purple cords
Il know nothing about this business"
the man began in clear tones. I've had
no connection with 1t whatsoever. I've al
ready proven to the squires satisfaction
an albi for myself and Tom, and now an
alibi has been proven for Jim. We. there
fore, are concerned in no way with the
Keichline murder Moreover, this man here
confesses that he did it himself. An alleged
robbery Is committed In the squire's store.
He bases his suspicious on the finding Of
handkerchief that we can easily prove
never belonged to any of us. He leads
the sheriff to the hay-mow in my barn,
and uncovers the goods and the Keichline
stamp book. II that's the genuine stamp
book, then the same parues that stole the
book stole the goods but. remember. We are
free from all connection with the neichline
business The true stamp book Is found in
the cave, and there can be but one conclu-
sion; the book found in my barn is a coun-
terfeit, made deliberately to throw suspicion
onto me and my boys. l do not lock my barn
at night, and it could easily have been put
into my hay-mow by any one who had
wished to do so.
Now, what's the motive? You all know
that the squire has hated me all winter be-
cause I opposed him honestly in trade 1
can call witnesses by the score who could
tell how he has tried to throw suspicion on
me and rob me of my good name. l heard
him say myself that he would ruin me If it
took every cent OF his property to do it. /
came into this valley year ago with only
one thought, ana InaL was TO settle down
and pass a peaceful and helpful old age
And I'm going to tell you just why 1 came
1 was born In this valley. You have heard
of me. some of you. 1 left the valley be-
cause of Ira Hartswick here. He was Jeal-
GUS of me because / took the lead of the
boys. He insulted me and I thrashed him,
as he deserved. Instead of taking his lick
ing like a man, he went home blubbering
and He'd to his father. The old man .swore
he would prosecute mo for assault and bat
terry with intent to kill He sent for the
sheriff, and l knew what was coming. You
all know, and l say It fearlessly in the
mans very house. that no jury in this region
would have dared to bring In a verdict
against the will OF old Hiram HartswIck
/ was young and inexperienced, and I ran
away I enlisted In the army, was wound
ed at Gettysburg and the papers got 1t that
I was dead. l did not correct the report.
After three months in the hospital / was
honofably discharged. Then / drifted to
Paou. and, wishing to cut myself off wholly
from my past, / called myself Allen Far
thing. That's the English for the German
Heller. l didn't change my name, simply
translated # into English, just as the Zfm-
mermans over In Sugar valley have changed
their name to Carpenter. l. lived In Paon
till saw the old farm advertised for sale
In Philadelphia paper. Then longing to
get back to the old valley to spend my last
days came over me. have always dreamed
about the old place, and pinned for 1t, and
the temptation. was oyerpowering. bought