The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-05-28

c"; .'.';''NEIcted nor one more
-" -. ;"'Te'. They robbed realm
ar, '.n:'""a its people. they defiled q
corr. ara made justice wanton. they
iai.c:, good rlen and sent others to
ruin: and fer this they are to suffer
how: Ry paltry fine or a short i'm
prisonment perhaps. by an ephemeral
disgrace and the loss of their stolen
goods. Contempt Of court is The ac-
cusation. but you might as we'll con-
Wet a murderer for breach Of the
peace. We've thrown them of. it's
true. and they won't trouble us again
but they II never have to answer for
their real fanny. That Will 60 un-
punished while their lawyers quibbe
over technicalities and rules Of court.
I guess it's true that there isn't any
law OF God or man north Of fifty-three;
but If there is justice south Of that
mark. those people will answer for
conspiracy and go to the penitentiary.
You make 1t hard for me to say
what l want to. l am almost sorry
we came. for l am not cunning with
words, and l don't know that you'll
understand" said the Bronco Kid
gravely. I'VE looked at 1t this way:
you have had your victory, you have
| beaten your enemies against odds, you
have recovered your mine, and they
are disgraced. To men like them that
last will outlive and outweigh all the
rest; but the Judge is our uncle and
our blood runs In his veins. He took
Helen when she was baby and was
q father to her In his selfish way. low
Ing her as best he knew how. And
she loves him."
81 don't quite understand you," said
Roy.
And then Helen spoke for the first
time eagerly. taking packet from her
| bosom as she began:
This will tell the whole wretcbed
story. Mr.. Glenister. and show the plot
in all its vileness. It's hard for me to
betray my uncle. but this proof IS
yours by right to use as you see Mt.
and can't keep It."
"Do you mean that this evidence Will
show all that? And you're going to
give It to me because you think 1t is
your duty?
at belongs to you. have no choice
But what | came for was to plead and
ask little mercy for my uncle. who
Is an old. old man. and very weak.
This will kill him."
He saw that her eyes were swim
ming. while the little chin quivered
ever so slightly and her pale cheeks
were flushed. There rose In him the
old wild desire to take her in his arms,
yearning to pillow her head on his
shoulder and kiss away the tears. to
smooth with tender caresS the wavy
hair and bury his face deep in 1t till
he grew drunk with the madness OF
her. But he knew at last for whom
she really pleaded.
So he was to fOrSwear this venge-
ance. which was no vengeance after
all, but in verify just punishment.
They asked him-a mana mans man
"a northman-to do this. and for what:
For no reward, but on the contrary to
insure himself lasting bitterness. He
strove to look at the proposition calm
", clearly. but it was difficult. II only
by freeing this other villain as well as
her uncle he would do good to her,
then he would not hesitate. Love was
not the only thing. He marveled at
his own attitude This could not be
his old self debating thus. He had
asked for another chance to show
that he was not the old Roy Glenister.
Well, it had come. and he was ready.
Roy dared not look at Helen any
more, for this was the hardest moment
he had ever lived.
You ask this for your uncle, but
what of-of the other fellow? You
must know that il one goes free SO
will they both. They can't be sepa-
rated"
"It's almost too much to ask" the
Kid took up. uncertainty. But don't
you think the work is done? 1 can't
UcIp Uut dUuulTC MS->ouoio, oAN ASA
! ther can you-he's been too good an
enemy to you for that-and-and-he
loves Helen"
II know-I know" said Glenister
hastily, at the same time stopping an
unintelligible protest from the girl.
you've said enough" He straight
ened his slightly STOPPING shoulders
and looked at the unopened package
wearily, then slipped the rubber band
from 1t and, separating the contents.
tore them up-one by one-tore them
into fine bits without hurry or osten-
tation and tossed tho fragments away,
while the woman began to sob softly,
the sound Of her relief alone disturb
ing the silence. And 90 be gave her
his enemy, making bis offer samely.
according to his code.
You're right-the work is done. And
now I'm very tired"
They left him standing there, the
glory Of the dying day illuminfng bis
lean, brown features, the vision OF
great loneliness in his weary eyes.
hn oh -