Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-30

| Huotsf ouo Ira Aemmerer 5ayes they met
| Jim IN the road here with his colt driving
down Gum Run way at 10 o. clock last night
HoWs that for evidelice?' He stepped
across the room and rang the telephone with
snap that threatened to break the crank.
They're started" he announced. hanging
| up the receiver. They've jest gone the
sheriff and dozen young fellers. Now get
ready all Of you. for we're goin to hustle
one OF .em safe in jail Rose. she's Jest
ABOUT distracted, poor girl. I never saw
ANYBODY 50 broke up over anything, never.
AND no wonder! She and Karl was to be
| merrled on the 10TH I've heard of them
| that's dummed fools enough to think she
cared for that low skunk. Farthing / wish
I tney could see her now She's jest grievin'
| ner neart out over Karl. poor girl. By
| mighty, / want you to stand by me- men.
III hang the whole tribe OF EN-, If 1t takes
every cent OF my property to do it." He
| brought his fist down on the counter like a
pound OF pork. The crowd had gathered
| uenseiy about the old man. and no one no.
ticed new arrival until he close upon
| them.
How'd do?" they heard CHEEKY voice.
| All turned as by a common impulse.
| It was Allen Farthing
Instantly the same awful hush came over
| the room that might have come had it been
| the dead man himself, or his ghost For a
| moment one could hear even the breathing
| OF the old squire.
/ I've just got home from Sinking Springs.
| N'NCi ~ ItUCk SItck they tUlU me the report
| was that Karl Keichline had been muir
| dered.' He fumbled deliberately in his
! pocket, drew out clay pipe, then leaned
| over and begged a match of Ulie, who pro-
| duced one with amazing alacrity.
ANY evidence about who done it?" he
| asked, seeking out an egg-crate and pulling
| as unconcernedly IL his head were not
thrust completely into the lions mouth,
| There was no answer, but silence ominous
| and deep, like that in the best room when
fhA sit hon oil md f6.N
| clock strikes one.
The full significance of the visit was
/ growing on the crowd Allen Fartbing
had not once visited the store in six
| months. Why at this critical moment
| Either 1t was an attempt to pull wool over
| the eyes of the town with a stupendous bluff
| or it was case of sheer ignorance secure
| in the belief that no one could connect him
| with the CRIME, he had come down to learn
/ the drift of suspicion. Squire Hartswick
| stood by the counter, curled up like u rat
| tier.
Now, look here. folks" Farthing
| Strengthened up suddenly and put away his
| pipe. A nervous stir went over tie group
| as If the desperate was about 10 begin
| revolver practice on the lamp chimBeys and
| Oil barrels. There's something wrong here,
| and we're going to have it out-rig ht-now.
| I'm going to talk fair and square, and
| want you to. What's this heard down to
| Rock Creek about being mixed up in
| this murder? What did you go up to my
|
| you've been making? Why did you sag
| when come in that you'd hang our whole
| tribe If 1t took every cent of your property ?
| Now don't mince matters; let's have IL
| straight" There was an imperious tone IN
| the mans voice that demanded hearing.
| The old man squirmed a little under his
sharp gaze.
| done this job; proof that's good and suffi-
| cient"
For instance now?"
You'll have Jest all the chance to hear
| 1t that you want" snapped the squire ven
omously And it won't be long either. 1
| amt called on to go over it now
| You may do as you please Squire Harris
wick" There was steel ring in the words ,
| the man was cool and seff-contained as
| a surgeon. His cold eye bored the man
| through. You do Just-as-you-
| please, but 1 want to tell you one thing;
| you are laying yourself open to mighty
serious charges" He rolled the words men
| acingly. Il know that you've sent all over
| this region charging me and my boys with
| the murder of Karl Keichline, and know
| the sheriff is on his way here this minute
| and all on your charge. l heard You say,
! sir, myself, that you'd hang our whole tribe
| IL 1t took every cent of your property. Now
| give me your evidence.
The squire did not finch or squirm He
| eyed the man like wrestler waiting for an
| opening. He made no answer. The wrath
| in his face was apOplectic.
You are doubtless aware, Squire Harris
wick, the man went on ditci d pahSct NhSAJ
| word clear and round. you doubtless know
| that unless you can substantiate these
| charges you endanger yourself to consld-
| cradle degree. A man of influence can't
| ruin a poor neighbor in these days by false
| charges That time is in the past. There
| is some very stringent and precise law on
| that point. as you doubtless know. now
You'll please accommodate me by statihS
| the full charges against me and my boys
i He. stopped with cold precision and waited
| the suure'S answer
| 81 shan't do anything of the sort You'll
| be under arrest in jest thirty minutes ana
| YOU won't leave this store before then.
| There,u be plenty of time for charges IN
| the proper place" The old man was mold
ing himself with difficulty.
Srhat may be; 1 snail make no resistance.
But let me add one little thing. For rome
reason, God knows why, youve connected
me with this wretched murder I've
got no call to defend myself now pc
| fore l know the charges against me put l.
don't want needless trouble either Tor my
self or for anybody else; and to save trou-
BILE and scandal III simply say that II II
ever becomes necessary L can prove oeyoho
the shadow of doubt that Tom and We're
thirty miles from Sugar valley last night
on business that l can make perfectly
clear
ITS a lie-it's all bluff. You can't prove
IT." The suuires voice was pitched unnat-
| urally high.
"You are acquainted with Lawyer Trout
man of Sinking Springs, a competent Wit
ness YOU IL ADMIT. man htiit oh
nT4e and his wife and two boys will swear
that Tom and were in their house until 10
o'clock when went up to bed. and that
we came down and ate breakfast at
o clock This d make. you will admit
some lively work If we went to Sugar valley
and back-forty-odd miles each way, over
the devils own make of roads, in the dark,
In eight hours. Now. you've got telephone
here I'll wait for you to phone the squire
right off now before leave the store"
The old man made no move; he sat gium
and black.
VERY well. The saure's in his office by
this time and you can get him IL you wish.
You can call my bluff in just one minute II
YOU care to. Furthermore. i can bring one
hundred OF the best men in Paoii. where
I've lived for twenty years and where the
boys have lived all their lives till they came
here, who'll give US character that be
all any man could ask for. I'll give you
the names of some of them who'ye got tele-
phones and you can get EN- right off now
on the. long distance If you want to. There's
another way you can call my bluff All
right; You can do as you please. Now
man don't usually defend himself until he's
given the evidence against him, but things
have been going mighty strange down here