The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

1T is not conclusive; there was no real
motive for Boyd 10 do such thing"
To whom did the knife beIong?"
1T was q long bread-knife that the two
used at the cabin"
There you are, Proof on proof"
Now, you keep silent Harley. and
come with me. Ike a good fellow, and
see Boyd IN the jail II you don't. l
swear I'll poster the life out OF you for a
week"
Harley rose reluctantly. as he knew
that Hobart would keep his word. He be
lieyed il the idlest of errands, but the jail
was only a short distance from them, and
the business would not take long. On the
way Hobart talked TO him about the three
witnesses MetZger. the cowboy. on the
day OF the murder. had been riding in
from a ranch farther down the valley;
the other two had been about the town
until a short time before the departure Of
Boyd and Wofford for their cabin.
They reached the jail. a conspicuous
stone building in the center Of the town
and were shown into the condemned
mans cell. The jailer announced them
with the statement:
Tim. here's two newspaper fellers from
the East wants TO see you
The prisoner was lying on a pallet IN
the corner Of his cell, and he raised him
self on his elbow when Harley and Ho-
bart entered
You are writers for the papers?' he
said
Yes. clean from New York: they are
with Jimmy GraysOn,' the jailer answer
ed for them
I don't know as I've got anythin' to
say 10 you" continued the prisoner. I
amt got no picture TO give you. an e
I had one l wouldn't give it. don't want
my hangin 70 be all wrote up IN the pa
pers with pictures an things, too, jest TO
please the people in the East II I've
got to die. I'd rather do It quiet and
l peaceful, among the boys know. I amt
! =" free circus"
We did not come 10 write you up: It
was for another purpose" Harley hasten
ed 10 say.
He was surprised at the youth Of the
prisoner, who obviously was not over
twenty-one. mere boy, with good fea-
lures and a look half defiant. half ap-
pcaling.
Well. what did you come for. then?"
asked the boy
Harley was unable TO answer this ques-
tion, and he looked at Hobart as il TO
indicate the one who would reply. The
mystery man did not seek TO evade his
responsibility in the least, and promptly
said;
Mr.. Boyd. I think you will acquit US
Of any intention TO intrude upon you It
was the best motives that brought US 10
you. I have always had an interest in
cases Of this sort, and when I heard Of
yours in the train, coming here, I received
an impression then which has been
strengthened on my arrival in GRANVILLE
believe you are innocent
The boy looked up. A sudden fash of
gratitude, almost Of hope, appeared in
his eyes.
I ann he cried. God knows I didn't
kill Bill Wofford. He wuz my partner and
We wuz like brothers We did quarrel
that mornin'-I don't deny it-and we
both had been liquorin'; but I'd never hev
struck him blow Of any kind. least OF
all a foul one"
Was it not true that you were found
with the bloody knife !n your hand.
standing over his yet warm body?" asked
Hobart
IT'S so. but it was somebody else that
used the kni%e Bill went on ahead, and
when / come into the place l saw him
on the floor an the knife In i'm. l was
struck all a-heap, but 1 did what any
body else would a dOne-I pulled the
knife out And then the felIers come in
on me- I was rushed into trial right
away. OF course, I couldn't tell a straight
tale; the horror Of It was still in my
brain, and the effect of the liquor too.
I got all mixed up-but before God, gen'le-
men. didn't do It,"
His tone was strong with sincerity. and
his expression was rather that of grief
than remorse- Harley, who had had a
long experience with all kinds of men in
all kinds of situations. did not believe
that he was either bad or guilty. Hobart
spoke his thoughts aloud.
Il don't think you did IL" he said
Everybody believes l did said Boyd,
with pathetic resignation. and I am to
be hanged for it. So what does it mat
ter now?''
i am going TO look for the guilty man,
said Hobart. decidedly.
Boyd shook his head and lay back on
his pallet. The others, with few words
OF hope, withdrew, and, when they were
outside Harley said:
Hobart, were you not wrong to sow
the seed Of hope in that mans mind
when there is no hOpe?"
There is hope. replied Hobart; Il
have a plan. Don't ask me anything
about tits vague yet-6Ut 1 may work
it,
Harley glanced at him, and, seeing that
he was intense and eager, with his mind
concentrated upon this single problem. |
resolved to leave him 20 his own course;
so he spent part of the day, wonderful
autumn Sunday. in a rocking chair on the |
piazza OF the hotel. and another part /
walking with Sylvia He told her OF the |
murder case and Hobart's action. and ner
prompt sympathy was aroused
Suppose he should really be innocent?"
she said. 1T would be an awful thing i
to hang an innocent man"
$50 II would. He certainly does not look |
like q bad fellow, but you know that
those who are not bad are sometimes
guilty. In any event l fail to see what |
Hobart can do"
After the walk, which was all too brief, |
he returned to his rocking chair on the |
piazza. but GRANVILLE, being a small place, |
he knew everything that was going on
within it. by means of sort Of mental