Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07

the end of her peScils with a critical
eye IL would be a busy day for the
gal reporter" Then Langford came
showing his way down the crowded
aisle with a sad-faced. brown-eyed,
young woman in his wake, who yet
held herself erect with a proud little
tilt to her chin. There was not an
empty seat outside the bar. Louise
motioned. and he escorted Mary to a
place within and sat down beside her.
The jurymen were all in their chairs.
Presently came in Gordon with his
quiet. self-reliant manner. Langford
had been right. The county attorney
was not tired today
Shortly after Gordon came Small
Small, the dynamic, whose explosives
had so often laid waste the weak and
abortive independent reasoning pow
ers OF "Old Necessity and his sort.
and were the subject OF much satire
and some admiration when the legal
fraternity talked shop" AS he strobe
TO his place. he radiated BOMBS CT Just
and telling wrath. He scintillated with
aggressiveness. With him came Jesse
Black, easy and disdainful as Of old.
After them, small man came gliding
in with as little commotion as II he
we're sliding ever the floor Of a waxed
dancing hall in patent leather pumps.
He was an unassuming little man with
quick, catlike movements which one
lost IL one were not on the alert.
When he had slipped into a chair next
his associate. Small. the infammable
Small, lowered above him head and
shoulders.
Every inch the criminal" audibly
observed a stranger. an Englishman
over TO invest in lands for stocking
horse ranch Strange how they al
ways wear the imprint on their faces.
No escaping It. I fancy that is what
the Scriptures meant by the mark OF
Cain
The remark was addressed to no in
particular. but IL reached the ears OF
Jim Munson. who was standing near.
Good Lord. mani" he said. with
grin. that's the plumb smartest Grim
inal lawyer in the hull county. That's
fac. Lord. Lord, Him Jesse Black?"
His risibiliues continued to thus get
the better OF his gravity at FREQUENT
failed TO snort aloud in pure delight
whenever he thought Of Il. What a
tale for the boys when he could get
20 them
These cattle meni" This time the
tenderfoot communicated with him
self-he had a square chin and di.
rect eve; there were possibilities in
him. Their perverted sense OF the
ridiculous is diabolical"
There We're others who did not
know the little man. He hailed from
the southern part OF the state. But
Gordon knew him. He knew he was
pitted against one OF the sharpest
shrewdest men OF his day
Gentlemen, think we are ready"
said the judge. and the game was on
again.
The state called Paul Langford its
principal witness in default OF VII
liston.
Your name. place OF residence and
business" asked the counsel for the
state.
Paul Langford- reside in Kemah
county and own and operate a cattle
ranch"
After Langtord had clearly dc.
scribed and identified the animal in
question, Gordon continued:
Mr.. Langford. when did Won first
miss this steer?"
ION the 18th day OF July last"
How did you happen 10 miss this
steer?"
My attention was called to the fact
that an animal answering this de
scription and bearing my brand had
been seen under suspicious detention"
Prior 20 information thus received.
you were not aware this creature had
either strayed away or been stolen?"
Il was not?"
who gave you this information.
Mr.. Langford?"
George Wnliston OF the Lazy S"
Now you may tell the jury in what
words winiston told you about the
steer he saw"
This, OF course, was objected to and
the objection was sustained by the
court, as Gordon knew il would be.
He only wanted the jury to remember
that Williston could have told a dam
~o-+-o @NNA- AAA AAC htNA ANANf anu A4oO
70 remember how mysteriously this
same Williston had disappeared. He
could not have Willston or Williston's
story, but he might keep an impress
sion ever before these IL men that
there was story-he knew IL and
they knew it-a story OF which some
CROCHET OF the law forbade the telling.
What did you do after your atten-
ton had been called to the suspicious
circumstances Of the steers deten-
| tion?"
1 informed my boys OF what 1 had
heard and sent them out to look for
the steer"
That same day."
yes"
Were they successful"
mo"
Did this steer have a particular
stamping ground?"
HE did"
Where was that?"
He always ranged with bunch on
what we call the home range"
Near the ranch house?"
IL