Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-13

The woman and girls proved no more available
for purposes of justice than the boy. Their testi
mony consistent and absolutely unshakable
it had been thoroughly beaten into them, tha
was clear.
When it came time for Rumpety to plead hi
own cause before the jury he proved quite equa
to the situation. He planted himself before then
and harangued them like any thrd-rate crlmina
lawyer.
Il tell you, gentlemen he declared, cts nc
small b'y's job to keep the fahmily in arder!
and he proceeded to describe them as a cantank
erous lot, to be ruled only by that ideal justice
tempered by mercy which he was apparently a
master in dispensing
At the last he waxed pathetic, and, in tear
full voice, somewhat at odds with his dry, wicked
little eyes, he cried, GIVE got row to hoe, that
if there lot of men in it they'd have hang
ed themselves from rafter!"
With which magnificent climax and profound
bow and flourish, he took his seat, and assumed
pose of invuinerable righteousness from which
no invectives nor innuendoes OF the prosecuting
attorney could move him. He had rested his
case on the testimony of his 'fahmily,' and he
knew his jury too well to have much anxiety
about their verdict.
| The lamps had been lighted long ago, and the
early winter evening had set in. The court took
recess, waiting the verdict of the jury. This
was the last case on the trial docket for that
| day.
Rumpety was standing, broad and anblushing
before the stove, whittier, in obedience to hi;
commands, his wife and children had also re
paired. With true prairie courtesy the men had
placed chairs for the Rumpety "fahmily," and an
unsuccessful attempt was made to converse with
them on indifferent topics,
Rumpety stood, plainly gloating over his vic
| Tins, the queer gleam in his eyes growing more
| intense every minute.
Mrs Rumpety did not share her husbands con
fidence in the issue. Once, when the judge spoke
| a kind word to her, she mutterd, "Ach, your
honor! don't let 'em put the costs on us! Don't
let 'em put the costs us!' and Rankin, stand
ing by, realized with pang that even this misery
could be increased.
Rankin sauntered out of the room and out OF
the courthouse, closing the door behind him
The air was intensely cold; the stars gttered
sharply. He liked it outside; he felt the same
relief and exharation which he had experienced
when ne first took possession of his "claim,
three years before, and felt himself lord ovel
the barren sweep of prairie There had beer
hardship in it; the homely comforts of his faith
ers little down-east farm were lacking, but il
was freedom Freedom 1t used to seem tc
Rankin, before he knew Myra Beckwith, that
| freedom was all he wanted in life. This shy
awkward long imbed fellow had desired nothing
so much as room enough, and he had wrested il
| from Fate.
He wondered, as he stood out under the stars
v,hv Mrs Rumpety and her children did moi
run away. The world was big enough and tC
spare. They would probably storve. to be sure
but starvation was infinitely better than bondae,
The door at his elbow closed sharply and
voice cried,-
"Hullo, Rank! did you know that those 'bIam
ed IDIOTS had acquitted him."
"I knew they would" Rankin answered
"Theres nothing left now but lynchiug' hi,
friend continued. 1t was Ray Dolliber one o.
the more reckless spirits.
Rankin grunted in non-committal manner.
"Say, Rank, would you lend hand?"
81 guess not" Rankin replied, slowly.
"Why not?"
"I never did believe in lynehing."
whats the matter with lynehing?"
"'Tant fair play Masked men, and a LOT
of 'em, onto one feller."
"P'raps you think it's fair play for great
brute of man to bully woman and six chill
dren."