The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-05-01

Suddenly, some one caught me
from behind, my arms were pinioned
to my sides, something was clapped
over my mouth. I was flung over a
horse and strapped to the saddle all
in less time that it takes to tell it.,
and was borne away in company with
the man who had overpowered me-"
| He paused a moment in his recital
Faces strained with expectancy de-
! voured him-his every look and word
and action. Mary was very pale, car
ried thus back to the dread realities
of that night in August, and shud-
dered, remembering that CHASTITY gal
| Looping. Langford could scarce re-.
strain himself. He wanted to rip out
blood-curdling Sioux war-whoop on
| the spot.
asked Gordon.
Jesse Black"
Small was on his feet again, gesticu-
lating wildly.
II object! This is all fabrication,
put in here to prejudice the minds of
the jury against this defendant. It is
a pack of lies, and l move that it be
stricken from the record"
The little lawyer bowed his head to
the storm and shrugged up his Shout
ders. Perhaps he wished that he, or
his associates-one of the unholy al
lance at least-was where the wicked
cease from troubling, on the far-away
islands Of the deep seas, possibly, or
home on the farm. But his expression
told nothing.
"Gentlemen! gentlemen!" expostu-
lated Judge Dale. "Gentlemen! l in
sist. This is all out of order" Only
one gentleman was out of order, but
that was the judges way. Gordon had
remained provokingly cool under the
TRADE.
Again the soft touch. Small fell
into his chair. He poured himself
glass of water from the pitcher stand
ing on the attorneys table and drank
little of it nervously
Il move" said the little lawyer,
that all this touching upon the per-
sonal matter of this witness and hav-
ing to do with his private quarrels be
stricken out of the evidence as not
bearing on the case in question:"
All in vain. The Judge ruled that it
did bear on the case, and Williston
picked up the thread of his story.
I'VE rode and rode hard-it must
have been hours; daylight was coming
before we stopped. Our horses were
spent. l had no idea where we were.
From the formation of the land,
judged we were not far from the river.
We were surrounded by bluffs. I can
hardly make you see how clearly this
little retreat had been planned. It
was In valley-one of a hundred
similar in all essential respects. The
gulch at the bottom of the valley was
heavily wooded with scrub-oak, cot
tonwood, woodbine and plum trees,
and this tangle Of foliage extended for
some distance up the sides Of the
hills. In the midst of this under
brush-a most excellent screen-WaS
a tiny cabin. In this tiny cabin I
have lived, closely watched prisoner,
from that day until escaped"
The defendant stirred a little uneas-
lily. Was he thinking of Nightbird
with the dark, frozen face-who had
not answered to his call?
"Black left me soon after. He did
not unbind me. rather bound me the
tighter. There was no one then to
watch me. He deigned to inform me
. that he had found it rather inconven-
lent to kill me after the relief party
| rode up, as then there was no absO.
lutte surety Of his making clean get.
away, and being caught in the act
i would be bound to be unpleasant, very
unpleasant just then, so he had alter
ed his plans a little-for the present
He gave me no hint either that time
nor either of the two times saw him
subsequently, as to what was to be his
ultimate disposal of me. l could only
suppose that after this trial was wei
over in his favor, and fear of indict
ment for arson and murder had blown
over-if blow over it did-he woul(
then quietly put an end to me. Dea(
| 1u0u IS1l III LdlCS. uc SuduIy Ia LIN
gulch did not seem to be much OF {
rendezvous for secret meetings. I LEI
a lonely existence. My jailers were
mostly Enthusiastically Charlie
Nightbird. Two or three times Jak'
Sanderson was my guard"
Then from the doorway came ,
loud, clear, resonant voice, a Joyful
voice, voice whose tones fairly ooze'
rapture.
"Hellity damn! The Three Bars ;
gettin' busy, Mouse-hair!"
Judge Dale started. He glare
angrily in that direction.
Remove that mani" he ordered
CURLY. He liked Jim, but he coul
not brook this crying contempt O
court. Jim was removed. He wen
quietly, but shaking his head reproact
fully.
II never would "a thought it O. tn
jedge," he murmured, disconsolately
Il never would "a thought it,
There was movement in the bac