Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
DosVn the mississippi

81 dunno. They just stopped there, and
come on down the river"
Come" said the officer, who had bee
locking the afterdoors, and now approache
the boys, you must go with me; but if you
promise not to attempt to run away, | won
put the irons ON you."
Look here, sir" said True, gravely; "hov
ever much things may seem to prove thf
we are guilty, you must admit that there
a chance that we are innocent. We are read
to go wherever you say, and have no lde
OF making any resistance, but it is possb
Tor you to do your duty and yet give I
a fair chance. If we have time to send fc
Mr., Harmar, or the man who sold us tn
chickens, we can easily prove that the me
who gave you the information, and not us, al
the guilty parties. Now, instead of marci
ing us at once through the town, to be hoo
ed at as thieves let us remain on the boa
here, guarded by you and your men, whll
you send for a lawyer with whom we ca
consult. A message sent to our fathers WI
soon convince any one that we could have n
motive to steal"
1t was long speech for True to make, bu
| it was spoken so earnestly, and the boy ha
such an air of truth about him, that the off
Ger began to"think it might be mistake ha
been made. He held a short whispered cor
versation with one of his assistants, and the
made the result of it known.
I'm willing to give you a show, and
| you'll stay peaceably in the store part of tn
| boat, I'll send for Squire Talbot, and we
see what he says"
! To this True willingly agreed The office
| then sent one of the assistants in quest {
Squire Talbot, and the boys, grouped in on
corner of the room, awaited the coming of tn
man of law on whom dhey relied to releas
them from their unpleasant predicament.
In about an hour, Squire Talbot, as tn
officer had called him, made his appearance
The lawyer was portly, jolly-looking oil
rcflfla aff1a tubn XxToH Ion
lated to give confidence to his clients, NOR
especially when they were innocent, and wht
judging by the Difference paid him by tn
officer and assistants was man of consider
able Importance in the town.
| 1t was evident that the messenger had give
| the lawyer version of the case, for he lool
ed at each one of the prisoners intently b.
| fore speaking, if trying to make up hi
own mind in advance whether there was an
truth in the charge that had been made.
Now tell me all about it," said Mr.. Ia
bott, kindly, after he had finished his scru
tiny of the young trader and Jimmie's tw
friends.
Jim and Bent looked at True, to show tina
they expected he would act as spokesman
and he began at once
He told the story of the fitting out of th
hatboat, of the trip down the river, th
meeting with Mr.. Harmar the trouble the
had had with the robbers, the visit of Pet
! the purchase of the chickens, and, in fac
! everything as has been related in these co
umns. True also gave the address of hi
father and of Bent's father.
| 81 don't think there will be much troubl
about getting you out of this difficulty" oil
served the lawyer, with an encouraging smil'
| 81 know that you have told the truth, an
all l ask is that you will promise not to leav
| town until | give you permission to do so"
eve couldn't if we wanted to-" said Tru,
eve are arrested, and the officer is going
lock us up"
"He won't do quite that" replied Squir
all you will have to do is to remain here unit
we can hear from Mr. Harmar, to whom W
will send at once"
| The boys were Of course overjoyed at thi
arrangement of affairs, and the required prom
ise in regard to remaining in regard to remair
ing in the town was readily given.
"I'll go, now with Mr.. Compton to arrang
the question of ball. concluded the lawyer
as he went toward the door; "then | wi
send him over to Mr.. HarmaE's, and by tc
morrow at this time you will, think, be FIRE
to depart"
The officer made no objections to accom-
panying the lawyer, and the arrest whic
an hour before had seemed so terrible nov
appeared to be hardly more than disagree
able incident.
Jethro hustled around with the intention
of preparing an unusually good dinner +
celebrate the changed aspect of affairs jim
got ready to open the store for trade, believ
ing that the townspeople would pay a visit t.
the River Queen as soon as they knew the
were at liberty to do SO; True and Bent sa
down to write detailed account of tn
"arrest" to their parents, and Pete was evel
seen to smile.
CHAPTER XII