Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-01-09
CHAPTER WI.
The Preliminary,

VIM EN- VII.
The Preliminary.
Very early in the morning OF the
day set for the preliminary hearing Of
Jesse Black the young owner Of the
Three Bars rode over to velpen. He
identified and claimed the animal
held over from shipment by Jim's per
euasion. Brown gave possession will
Q rueful countenance.
First time Billy Brown ever wa:
taken in." he said. with great disgust
Langford met with no interruption
TO bis journey. either going or coming
although that good cow-puncher OF his
Jim Munson, had warned him to look
sharp to his pistols and mind the
bridge. Jim being Of a somewhat
belligerent turn of mind, his boss had
mot taken the words with seriousness
As for the fracas at the pontoon, COW.
men are touchy when It comes to a
question of precedence. and II might
well be that the inflammable Jim had
brought the sudden storm down on his
head. Paul Langford rode through
the sweet early summer air without
let or hindrance and looking for none.
He was jubilant. Now was Willis.
tons story verified. The county at.
-ytt.,y, Richard Gordon. had consid,
cred Wiilisfon's story, coupled with
his reputation for strict honesty,
strong and sufficient enough to bind
Jesse Black over to appear at the
next regular term Of the circuit court.
Under ordinary circumstances the
state really had an excellent chance
of binding over: but It had to deal
with Jesse Black, and Jesse Black
had flourished for many years west Of
the river with an unsavory character,
but with an almost awesome reputa-
ton for the phenomenal facility with
which he slipped out OF the net in
which the LAWN the person Of its
unpopular exponent, Richard Gordon
was so indefatigably endeavoring to
enmesh him. The state was prepared
for q hard fight. But nowhere was
the very steer Williston saw on the
island with its Three Bars brand I'M
der Blacks surveillance. Williston
would identity II as the same. He.
Langford. would swear to his own ami
NAL. The defense would not know he
had regained possession and would
not have time to readjust its evidence.
II would fall down and hurt itself for
the higher court, and Dick Gordon
would know how to use any inadver-
teneies against it-when the time
came. No wonder Langford was light
hearted. In all his arrogant and un-
hampered career he had never before
received such an affront to his pride
and his sense Of what was due to one
Of the biggest outfits that ranged cat
tie west of the river, Woe to him who
had dared tamper with the concerns
Of Paul Langford OF the Three Bars.
Wiiliston drove In from the Lazy
8 IN ample time for the midday din
ner at the hotel-the hearing was set
for 2 o'clock-but his little party con-
tented itself with q luncheon pre-
pared ut home and packed neatly and
appetizingly in tin bucket. It was
not likely there would be repetition
Of bad meat. Il would be poor policy,
stlll. one could net BE- sure. and It
was most important that Wtlliston ate
no bad meat that day.
Gordon met them In the hot statx
little parlor OF the hotel
ssif was good Of you, to, come" ha
said, to Louise. with grave, sincerity,
II, didn't want to" confessed Louise.
honestly. I'm afraid It Is too big and
lonesome for me, !, am sure I should
have gone back. TO, Velpen last night
10 catch the early train had II not
BEEN Tor Mar, She g. so--good."
-The worst IL over now that you
hnSo conqiored your nrst impulse to
ny,n be said.
4 cried. though. hated myself ]
for X. but couldn't help It. You sees
never was 30 far from home before"
illa was an absorbed. hard-worktng
lawyer. Years Of contact with the
pain. hard realities Of rough living
IN = new country had dried up. some |
what. his stream Of sentiment. Maybe
the source was only blocked with !
debris. but certainly the stream was
running dry. He could not help |
thinking that a girl who cries be
cause she Is far from home bad much
better stay at homo and leave the
grave things which are mems work TO
men. But he was q gentleman and .