Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-02-27

PENDANT" insinuatingly. you were
away"
How long prior do you mean?"
"Say q week."
mo"
1.-TWO weeks?"
"Yes."
"You had been away some timer"
1.-THE better part Of q year." con-
fessed Langford. with engaging can
: dor.
Eyes. Now. Mr.. Langford. I should
like you to tell me about how many
cattle you range-in round numbers!"
4 About 5000 head"
Eyes. Now, Mr.. Langford. you who
) count your cattle by the thousands,
on your own sworn word you have
been out OF the country q year. Don't
YOU think you are asking this jury to
swallow a pretty big mouthful when
you ask them to believe that you could
10 Enthusiastically distinguish this ele
} poor ornery steer. who has 80 little TO
/ distinguish him from thousands OF
others?"
Il have owned that spotted steer for
/, years." said Langford. composedly. Il
have never sold him because he was
rather an odd creature and 80 can
tankerous that we dubbed him tho
, Three Bars mascot"
Gordon called Jim Munson.
What is your name?"
GOSH"
| The question was unexpected. Was
there any one in the county who did
not know Jim Munson? And Dick Cor
don Of all people! Then he remem'
| bered that the boss had been asked
the same question. SO II must be all
right. But the ways Of the court
were surely mysterious and Outlines
foolish.
, Jim Munson. Jim Munson's my
| name-yep."
Gordon smiled.
you needn't insist on II, Mr.. Nun.
son." he advised. I'VE know It now.
Where do you live?"
"Hellity damn! live at the Three
/ Bars ranch"
IN Kemah county,"
1T sure Is"
What is your business, Mr.. Mum
, SON."
'Jim's shorter. Dick. Well, I work
for the boss. Mr.. Paul Langford."
I'm what capacity?"
'Tf you mean what do I do, why. ]
ride the range. punch cows. l always
/ 90 on the roundup, I'm q fair bronco
breaker and I make up hunks and
clean lamp chimblies between times. "
he recited, glibly, bound to be terse yet
explicit, by advice Of the boss.
There was gale Of laughter In the
bar. Even the court smiled.
"Oh, Jim! jim! You have perjured
yourself already" murmured the boss.
"Clean lamp chimneys-ye gods!"
"Well, grin away!" exploded Jim.
his quick Ire rising. He had forgotten
that Judge Dale's court was not like
Justice McAllister's. His fingers fair.
. ly itched to draw q pistol and make
the scoffers laugh and dance 10 little
music Of his own. But something In
Gordon's steady though seemingly
careless gaze brought him back 10 the
seriousness Of the scene they were
playing-without guns.
The examination proceeded. The
air was getting stiflng. Windows
were thrown open. Damp-loolline
clouds had arisen from nowhere seem.
ingly and spread over the little prairie
town. over the river and the bills. II
was very warm. Weather-seasoned
inhabitants would have predicted
storm had they not been otherwise on.
gagged. There was no breath Of air
stirring. Mrs. Higgins had said II
was q sorry day for the cattle when
the river was running In December.
Others had said 90 and 30 believed.
but people we're not thinking Of the
cattle now. One big-bonsd. lons.horned
ssteer held the stage alone.
|, The state proceeded to Munson's
identification Of the steer in question.
After many and searching questions.
Gordon asked the witness:
"Jim, would you be willing to swear
that the steer you had held over at
the stock yards was the very same
steer that was the mascot Of the
Three Bars ranchf"
|: s'This was inns big opportunity.
s'Know Mag? Swear to Magi Dick.
would know Mag Of / met him on the
golden streets Of the eternal city or
,ef my eyes was fun o soundin. cat
aracts! Yep"
3 Il am not asking such an impossible
feat, Mr.. Munson," cut In Gordon, net
Ted by the digressions Of one Of his
most important witness. Answer
briefly, please. Would you be willing
10 swear?"
Jim was jerksd back to the bsatsn
track by the sharp incision Of Cor.
don's rebuke. No. this was indeed not
Jimmie Macs court.
Yep" he answered, shortly.
ngIiv nrowvn 49, a.llaA ARN~-F A.