The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-15


The colonel had not told the story
quite without intention. He argued
subeonsciously, that II Mercer were a
good sort under an, he would have a
movement Of sympathy for more
cruelty wrunged man than he; If not.
he would drive ahead 10 his purpose,
whatever that might be- His keen
eyes looked a llttle more gentle as he
answered He poisoned himself The
best way out, | reckon i should hate
10 have had him shot after knew the
story But there was really no option.
But I'm interrupting YOU You did
your work well and won Keateham 5
conhdenceg"
He isn't very coniidng man. |
didn't see him often My dealings
were with Atkins. He didu't know
that had found him out he thought
that he had only to explain hts two
names, and expected gratitude for bis
warning, as he called II. He is sliRy;
but was able to repay little Of my
score with him. was employed by
more than Keatcham, and saw a
good many Industrial back-yards. Just
chance. / came on a clew, and Endy
Tracy and worked Il up together
Atkins was selling information to
Keatcham's enemies We did not
make out complete case. but enough
Of one 10 make Keatcham suspect him,
and at the right time. But that hap.
uened later-you see, don't know
how TO tell a story even with so much
at stake" He pulled out his handker-
chief and Winter caught the gieam Of
the beads on his sallow forehead Ut
was this way, he went on. "At FIRST
was only looking about for a safe
chance to KIN him. and to kin that
snake OF an Atkins, but then Il grew
on me; Il was an too easy a punish.
ment lust a quick death. when his
victims had years Of misery. I wanted
him to wade through the hell had
to wade through wanted him to
know why he was condemned Then
II was began to collect Just the cases
knew about just one little section
OF the horrible swath ol agony and hu.
initiation and poverty and sin he and
hts crowd had madeihe one knew
every foot of, because I'd gone over
Il every night wasn't SO dead tired
had to sleep God DO you know what
1t il to have the people who used to
be running out Of their houses Just 10
say howdy to You. curse you for a
swlndler OF fool or turn out Of ono
street and down the other not 10 pass
youg Did sou ever have q little won-
an who used 20 give you frosted cake
when ynn we're a boy push her Grape
veil of her gray hair and hand you the
envelope with her stock. with your
handwriting ON the envelope, aud beg
yop--trylng so hard not 10 cry twas
worse than II she had-bog you % lind
her Just half her Interest monoY-aad
You couldn't do IN DID you--never
mind ! said | waded through hell.
dbl Not ! alonelhat was the
worst all The people that had trusted
mel And just that some rich men
should be richer Why should they
have thu lions share2 The lions
share belongs to the lloa. They are
nothing but iaekals They're meaner
than iaekals, for the jackals take what
the lion leaves. and these fellows steal
the lions meat away from him We
made honest money, we paid honest
wages. folks had more paint on their
houses and more meat IN their store
houses. and wore better clothes Sun.
day, and there were more schooihonsea
and fewer saloons. and the negroes
were learning q trade instead Of loaf.
ing. The whole county was the better
on for our prosperity. and there isn't Il
mill In the outilt--and | know what
I'm talking about there isn't shop
or 4 mine that's as well run or makes
as big an output now as Il did when
the old crowd was in You find Il that
way everywhere; and that's whal Is
going to break things down. We saw
to all the little affairs; they were our
atfalra. don't you know But Keatch.
ans new men draw their salaries and
LAT fhfass sltda Vat lfeAfcham sa n