Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-04-30
CHAPTER XVII.

II was court week, and the grand
jury was in session. There were
LIZ many people in the streets of the
shire town. They moved with a
slow foot, some giving their animation
to squints of curiosity and shouts of
recognition, some to profanity and plug
tobacco. Squire Day and Colonel Jud-
son were to argue the famous maple
sugar case, and many causes of local
celebrity were on the calendar.
The third day of that week-it was
about the middle of the afternoon-a
score of men gossiping in the lower
hall of the court building were hushed
suddenly. A young man came hurry
ing down the back stairs with q look
of excitement.
whats up?" said one.
"Sidney Trove is indicted" was the
answer of the young man.
He ran out of doors and down the
street. People began crowding out of
the courtroom. Information. surprise
and conjecture-a kind Of flood pour
ing out Of broken dam-rushed up
and down the forty streets of the vii
lage. Soon, as of old, many were
atioat and some few were drowning in
it. For little, busy hands fell limp
and feet grew slow and tongues halt
ed A group of schoolgirls on their
way home We're suddenly oyertaken by
the onrushfng tide. They came close
together and whispered. Then little
cry of despair, and one Of them fell
young man ran up the stairway at the
Sign of the Dial and raped loudly at
barrels door. Trove and the tinker
were inside.
"Old fellow" said the newcomer, his
hand upon Troye's arm, they've voted
to indict you, and I've seen all the
witnesses"
Trove had book in his hand. He
rose calmly and flung it on the table.
Its an outrage" said he, with a
sigh.
NAY, an honor" said Darrell quick
~. Hold up thy head, boy. The lau-
rel shall take the place O. the frown.''
He turned to the bearer of these evil
tidings.
''Have ye more knowledge O. the
matter?"
Eyes, all day have been getting
hold Of their evidence" said the new.
conner, a law student, who was now
facing his friend Trove. "In the first
place, it was man of blue eyes and
about your build who broke into the
bank ut Milldan. 1t is the sworn state.
ment of the clerk, who has now recov.
cred. He does not go so far as to say
you are the man, but does say it was a
man like you that assaulted him. II
appears the robber had his face GOV.
cred with red bandanna handkerchief
in which square holes were cut so he
could see through. The clerk remem
bers it was covered with a little white
figure, that Of u log cabin. Such q
handkerchief was sold years ago in the
campaign of Harrison, but has gone
out of use. Not store in the county
has had them since 1916. The clerk
fired upon him with pistol and thinks
he wounded him in the left forearm
In their fight the robber struck him
with slung shot, and he fell and re.
members nothing more until he came
to in the dark alone. The skin was
cut in little squares where the shot
struck him, and that is one of the
strong points against you"
Against me?" said Trove.
"Yes-that and another. 1t seems the
robber left behind him one end of q
bar Of iron. The other end of the same
bar and slung shot-the very one that
probably felled the clerk-have been
found.'
The speaker rose and walked halt
across the room and back, looking
down thoughtfully.
II tell We what, old fellow" said he
sitting down again, at is mighty
strange. If I didn't know you we'll
I'd think you guilty. Here comes de.
tective who says under oath that one
night he saw you come out of your
lodgings about II o'clock and walk tc
the middle Of the bridge and throw
something into the water. Next morn,
ing bar and shot were found. AS near.
~ as he could make out, they lay di
rectly under the place where you had
halted"
Darrell sat looking thoughtfully at
the speaker.
"a detective" said Trove, rising
erect, stern look upon him.
Eyes, Dick Roberts,
Roberts, detectivew said Trove in
whisper. Then he turned to Darrell,
adding, II shall have to find the
Frenchman."
Louis Leblancs" the young man
asked.
Louis Leblanc" Trove answered,
with surprise.
He has been found" said the other.
Then shall be able to prove my
point. He came to his home drunk one
night and began to bully his family. l
was boarding with the Misses Tower
and went oyer and took the shot and
iron from his hands and got him to
bed. The woman begged me to bring
them away"
HE declares that, he never saw the
shot or the IRON"
Darrell rose and drew his chair bit
nearer.
VERY well, but there's the wife,"
said he quickly.
"she will swear, too, that she never
saw them"
And how about the daughtery'
Trove inquired