Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-01-18
An Able Advocate

Eist, seeking specimens IN Arizona,
rode up to a tavern, hitcbed his horse
to a post, went into the house and
called for something to eat. To say
that the professor was engrossed In
his profession to the exclusion of all
else is to convey but a faint idea Of
his enthrallment
But the moment had come when an
other kind of fora crossed Professor
Driesback's path to turn his mind tenn
porarily in a new channel While he
was sitting Mt table eating his dinner
and thinking on the latest varieties Of
plants he had picked up a girl in a
short skirt, cowhide boots, buckskin
leggings and sombrero entered the
room aud. deposlting a rife In a cor
ner, sat down at the table opposite the
man of science.
"Mornin', stranger" she said. Don't
know who you are, but I'm Kate Nc
Clennon, ranchman's daughter Who
are your"
Professor Herman Driesback Of -
university, at your service"
Now, the professor was thirty-two
years Of age and, although he wore
spectacles, had pair OF mild blue
eyes behind them. with which he look
ed at Kate McClennOn. II Kate was a
revelation to the professor the pro-
fessor was a revelation TO Kate, whose
gentlemen admirers had thus far been
made up of cowboys, gamblers and
such like rude material The acquaint.
ance develops more rapidly than GRO
cuses in springtime. After the meal
both arose. The girl took her rife, and
they went out to where the professor
had hitched his horse. Learning that
the girl was going his way, he offered
her a seat In his rattletrap buggy,
which she accepted, and they took
their departure In company.
They had not gone mile when
there was clatter Of horses hoofs
behind, shot over their heads. and
before the young woman could get her
rifle In position for defense a man
rode up, crying:
Halt, you horse thief"
Now, that the professor was horse
thief was proved by his own state
ment. When asked the color OF his
horse he frankly avowed that he was
black, while the hue Of the nag he
was driving was white.
1t didn't take the people whereabouts
long to collect jury Of twelve good
and true men to try the professor.
There were no lawyers In those parts,
but Professor Driesbach was assigned
counsel In the person Of cowpuncher
who had spent three months In town
lawyers Office. The professor was
permitted to make his statement. He
said he had driven up to the tavern,
hltched his horse. gone out, got into
his buggy and driven away. But since
meanwhile his horse had changed
from black to white his story did not
impress people who had heard much
more probable stories from horse steal
ers. Ills counsel was stumbling along
with a cock and bull story ESQ 1t was
considereD Of a real horse thief hav-
ing taken the prisoners good black
horse and substituted poor white
one when Kate McClennon took
hand In the proceedings.
What do you ROSTERS mean any
wayf know this here gentleman and
have known him since he was a kid.
Him and me used to play together In
his mothers yard back In Missouri"
Professor Drlesbach opened his eyes.
when he was six years DID," con-
tlnued his advocate. "he had a at.
After that he kept having fits. Then
he began to steal things. Mother
couldn't keep anything in the cubbard
but he'd come In and steal It. And |
couldn't save any pennies because he'd
git 'em 10 spite Of all could do to
hide 'em. DO you s'pose told on him
and got him llckedl Not much.
What'd l want to git kid that had
fits and scarlet fever aud spinal menin.
gifts into trouble for?"
The professor held his breath In
amusement
And how could any one handicap
ped this way as boy expect to make
man OF himself or course he's a
horse thief, and any one Of you who'd
had chicken pox and measles ana
mumps and fits when you was a boy
would make a horse thief yourselves
when YOU grew up. This here prisoner
throws himself on the mercy OF the
court"
Before the plea was half finished the
minds Of the jurymen were made up.
and Professor Drieshack was acuuit.
ted without their leaving the boards
on which they sat.
After the verdict the court. the &C.
quilted man. his attorneys and the
spectators went outside and were
about TO dispense when a couple OF
mounted men were seen driving a
man on black horse before them at
the points OF their revolvers. They
rame up and stopped before the crowd. |
Good gracious" exclaimed the pro- |
lessor, that's my hoFser' Then to the
man on his back. "where did you ina |
himY'
Find himr' growled one Of his
guards. "He took him."