The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1906-04-06
pencil and piece


the guard, a curt reply in voice
which Ogden knew; then silence toi-
lowed by the sound of key turning III
the door, then
Out of this, boy Come" A tall
figure stood in the doorway, reckoning.
old man-Hame." John gasped.
That's me. No word on it now
There amt time
John looked around. All about him
were mounted men, a strange mixture
cowboys, bronco busters, and sheep
herders, red faced Texans, and swarthy
Mexicans-usually the bitterest of en-
emies-now for the first and only time
in their lives standing shoulder to
shoulder as comrades, to fight in a COM
mon cause.
ITO the hotel. boys" said voice, Ed.
Clinchers. Not n sound. We have
clear around him before We throw"
They wheeled, and. with John and
Hame in the centre, galloped down the
one road Calhoun possessed. reaching
Sanderbach's hotel in few minutes.
Lights were dancing in the windows
there, people running to and fro in
mortal fright, for 1t was said that
party of cowboys mad with drink were
about to shoot up the town. The scare
had Just begun, and before anyone
could leave the place Hame, Clincher,
Collett and Bacon, with a force of fifty
men, were round 1t in an unbroken
ring
Judge Sauderbach portly and respec-
table, stepped out upon the porch.
Behind him on the stairway to the
upper story. We're pale-faccd visitors.
The judge. n tall, fine-looking man.
asked with an injured air of dignified
surprise what they wanted.
The storekeeper answered. 1.-The
Sheriff of this town, judge
The Judge smiled, "He is not here,
my friend"
room. Boys, Clincher spoke over his
shoulder, ten of you follow me, and
needn't say. keep your guns handy"
He moved a pace nearer, and the
men behind him gave their rifles
sling forward. raising a shrek of
terror from the ladies on the stairs.
stay, SIR" the Judge said solemnly.
You shall answer for this to the Gov
ernor of this Territory, though / can
not resist you now.
He stepped inside a room near the
door, and the men waited in grim
silence. At last a tall slouching figure
came slowly down the passage into the
lighted hall.
Cover him" said Clincher sharply,
and ten rifles We're swung to shoulder,
and again the ladies shrieked. The
sheriff. however. raised his hands
above his head and stood still. In
moment they had closed around him,
In a few more the porch of the Sand
erbach Hotel was deserted.
ATa1nWbf1a in tho 1riTphaO Of Ed
Clincher's house collected a small COM
pany of men. the same who had supped
there some hours earlier. Before
them stood Burt Lassiter. guarded. At
a table in the center of the room sat
Ed Clincher, Bible at his left hand
and big siX-shooter at his right.
Burt Lassiter." he said, rising, and
taking up the Bible, Swear on this
Bible to tell the truth" The prisoner
advanced, and in husky tone took
the oath, touching the Bible with his
lips.
You are on trial" the storekeeper
continued, before these men who are
responsible for this town in right of
being the first settlers in the country.
and having most stake in it.
You have this day accused an inno-
cent man of murder and by means OF
Now, answer this question. and re-
member you are on your oath-Who
killed Ben Slade?"
The prisoner breathed hard His
habby face was yellow and his fin
gers tvitched, but he held his head
high and smiled in Clincher's face.
John Ogden, the man l arrested
to-day"
Clincher turned his head, and made
sign to a man near the door.
Bring in Maxine Gallegos." The
Mexican boy came in, very frightened
but able to give his evidence clearly.
The prisoner laughed. Did you ever
know greaser to tell the TRUTH"
Call John Ogden"
John was cool now, and spoke short
ly, to the point. When asked If he
had any questions, Lassiter merely
shook his head. But he was not smil
ing now. I'll swear against thous-
and oaths. | did not
Clincher held up his hand.
Drop that" he said sternly. give
him the bullet
A small conical pellet of lead was
shown to the prisoner, who started and
then tried to smile contemporary.
ut is rifle bullet" Clincher said
very quietly. Ogden, by your evil
dence, only carried a revolver Yet
the bullet you hold now was found in
SHADES body, and fits your rifle eX-
actly."
A moment of silence, while Lassiter
tried to speak-and failed
Answer me again" Numbered
Clincher.
There was a low gurgling cry. and
the Sheriff fell grovelling at Clincher's
feet.
Mercy, mercy" he whispered. "For