The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-01

Inc better part OF year, con-
fessed Langford, with engaging can
dor.
Yes. Now, Mr. Langford, / should
like you to tell me about how many
cattle you range-in round numbers9"
About 5000 head
Yes. Now, Mr.. Langford, you who
count your cattle by the thousands.
on your own sworn word you have
been out of the country 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
so Enthusiastically distinguish this one
ZOO of-4~.y steer, who has so lltIle TO
distinguish him from thousands of
otherso'
II have owned that spotted steer for
years. said Langford, composedly. Il
have never sold him because he was
rather an odd creature and SO can
tankerous that we dubbed him the
Three Bars mascot
Gordon called Jim Munson.
What is your Nance
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 it 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 it, Mr.. Nun
SON. he advised. We 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.. Nun
SOM"
Jims shorter, Dick. Well, / work
for the boss, Mr.. Paul I.angford'
In what capacity?'
III you mean what do I do. why,
ride the range, | punch COWS, / always
go on the roundup, I'm a fair bronco
breaker and | 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 pistol and make
the scotfers laugh and dance to a little
music OF his own. But something in
Gordons steady though seemingly
careless gaze brought him back to the
seriousness of the scene they were
| playing-without guns.
The examination proceeded The
| air was getting sitting. Windows
were thrown OPEN Damp-looking
clouds had arisen from nowhere seem
ingly and spread over the little prairie
| town, over the river and the hills. II
inhabitants would have predicted
storm had they not been otherwise en-.
| gagged. There was no breath of air
stirring. Mrs. Higgins had said it
was sorry day for the cattle when
the river was running in December
Others had said so and so believed,
but people were not thinking of the
cattle now. One big-boned, long horned
steer 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 rancho"
This was Jim's big opportunity.
know Mag? Swear to Mag? Dick,
would know Mag eff met him on the
| golden streets of the eternal city or
eff my eyes was full O. soundin' cat
aracts. Yep"
Il am not asking such an impossible
| feat, Mr.. Munson,' cut in Gordon, net
tied by the digressions of one of his
| most important witness. Answer
briefly, please. Would you be willing
\ to Swear?"
Jim was jerked back to the beaten
track by the sharp incision of Cor
dons rebuke No, this was indeed not
| Jimmie Macs court
Yep he answered, shortly.
Billy Brown was called After the
| preliminary questions, Gordon said to
him.
Now, Mr. Brown. please tell the
| jury how you came into possession of
| the steer"
We'll, was shippin couple O car
loads to Sioux City, and | was drivin'
the bunch myself with a couple o.
| hands when ! meets up with Jesse
| Black here. He was herdin a likely
| little bunch O. half dozen or So
l am cd IL -,