Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-02-27
Langford
of the
3 Bars.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Trial.


The Trial.
The next morning every available
seat was fllled early People had
blocked the rough Sank walks lead.
ing TO the courthouse long before the
doors were unlocked. The day prom.
ised to be hne, and the many teams
coming and going between Kemah and
the river to pick up the velpen peop-
pie who had crossed the Ice on foot
gave to the little town somewhat OF
the gala appearance Of fair time. The
stately and blanketsd Sious from their
Temporary camps on the nat were
standing around. uncommunicative.
waiting for proceedings to begin. Long
before the judicial party had arrived
from the hotel the cramped room was
crowded to its limits. There was
loud talking. laughing and Joking.
Local wits amused themselves and
others BY throwing Qnips at different
members Of the county bar or their
brethren from across the river as they
walked to their places inside tho rail-
ings with the little mannerisms that
were peculiar to each.
The door in the rear Of the bar
opened and Judge Dale entered. A
comparative quiet fell upon the peo-
pie. He mounted 70 his high bench.
The clerk came IN. then the court re-
porter. She tossed her note books
on the table. leisurely pulled on her
gloves and took hsr place. examining
the end Of her pencils with q critical
eye. It would b . busy day for the
gal reporter" Then Langford came
showing his way down the crowded
aisle with q sad-faced. brown-eyed,
young woman IN his wake. who yet
held herself erect with . proud little
tilt to her chin. There was not an
empty seat outside the bar. Louise
motioned, and he escorted Mary to q
place within and sat down beside her.
The jurymen were all In their chairs.
Presently came In Gordon with his
quiet, selfreliant manner. Langford
had been right The county attorney
was not tired to-day.
Shortly after Gordon came Small
Small, the dynamic, whose explosives
had 20 often Laid waste the weak and
abortive independent reasoning pow.
ofs Of -Old Necessity" and his sort.
and were the subject Of much satire
and some admiration when the legal
Fraternity talked shop" Az he strobe
20 his place. he radiated bombs Of just
and telling wrath. He scintillated with
agyresslveness. With him came Jesse
Biiek. easy and disdainful ~ Of old.
Amer them, Q small man came gliding
IN: With ~ little eommotion a. n he
wSfs sliding over the floor Of waxed
dkicing hail IN patent leather pumps.
Ho.was an unassuming little man with
o6lSk. cat.lil<e movements which one
lqf6 if one wore not on tho alert.
WlisnsAe had slipped into chair next
his associate, Small, the infiammable
Small, lowered shove him head and
shoulders.
.ERssy Inch the criminal" audibly
observed q stranger. an Engiishman
over to invest IN lands for stocking .
horse ranch. strange how they a.
Ways wear the imprint on their fAces.
Nd escaping it. ] fancy that ID what
IL Scriptures meant BY the mark Of
Can = .sa
sThs remark was addressed to no in
particular, but it reached the ears OF
jim Munson, who was standing near.
Good Lord, mani" he said. with q
min, that's the plumb smartest GRIM
III lawyer in the hull county. That's
a3ac,. Lord. Lordi Him Jesse Biackr
His risibilities continued to thus set
lie better Of Ais gravity at frequent
Intervals during the day. He never
filled 10 snort aloud IN pure delight
Whenever he thought Of t. What .
tide for he boys when he could set
- theml
zThsss cattle msni" This time the
t{iderfoot eoumunicGted with him.
a6if-he had q square chin and . d.
ret eye; fhsrs we're possibilities In
I'm. Their perverted sense Of tho
rldicnlous e diaboIical."
Th,fo we're others who did not
1er4 - IItflo nan He hniled nom
15elhein part q TIE state. But
6ts1sa knsW hin. He knew be was
r'Iled against one e the sharpest
a6Feudsst msn q his day.
f'Csniismsn, think We are ready"
"a n iudEs. and the game was on
ne state called Paul Lsnsford. It's
principal witness in default q WI
Ilstun.
-Tour sAms. place q rssidsnes and
buslnsssf" azksa The counsel Or the
ntnte.
~Rssl Llnsl,gl. ggyolss a Kemsh
county sad J eva aBd eDsssts . cattle
ma