The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-05

score who could tell how he has tried
to throw suspicion on me and rob
me OF my gosd name. I heard him say
myself that he would ruin me IL IL took
every cent Of his property to do II
I came into this valley q e a g With
only n thought, and that was to sets
tie down and pass q peaceful and help
full old age. And I'm going to tell you
just why / anne / was born in this
valley. You have heard Of me, some
OF you. I left the valley because of Ira
Hartswick here. He was jealous OF
me because / took the lead of the boys
He insulted me, and / thrashed him,
as he deserved. Instead of taking hts
licking like a a he went nome blub-
boring and lied to his father. The old
man swore he would prosecute me for
assault and battery with intent to kill.
He sent for the sheriff, and I knew
what was coming, You all know, and
I say 1t fearlessly In the mans very
house, that no jury In this region would
have dared to bring In a verdict against
the win of old Hiram Hartswick. ]
was young and inexperienced, and J
ran away. / enlisted In the army. was
wounded at Gettysburg, and the pa.
pers got 1t that / was dead. ] did not
correct the report. After three months
In the hospital. / was h~onorably dis.
charged. Then / drifted to Paoli. and,
wishing to cut myself OF wholly from
my past. I called myself Allen Earth
ing. That's the English for the Ger
man Heller. / didn't change my lame,
] simply translated It into English.
just as the Zimmermans over In Sugar
Valley have changed their name to
Carpenter. / lived In Paoli until I saw
he old farm advertised for sale In q
Philadelphia paper. Then a longing to
get back to the old valley to spend my
10 az n "a ~ ,CoTno nxyoa ~ ..T Ia xra q luro 80
dreamed about the old place, and pinned
for 1t, and the temptation was over
powering. / bought II. as o all know,
and / said nothing of my past simply
to avoid unpleasantness. I'm q man OF
peace, n I knew that, IL once Ira
Hartswick recognized me, peace would
be impossible. But 1t seems that even
then I vas not to escape trouble. The
Squire has prosecuted me every minute
since I have been here. and now he
has tried to hang me and my boys. He
might have lone a good deal to me
without my retorting, but when any
body touches my boys, I fight. He's
gone one step too far. Now Til see him
to the end Of this business, IL there's
any law in the state to cover this crime.
There's been enough evidence brought
In here this morning to prison h man
He knows that. He's in a corner OF his
own making, and I'll see to 1t that he
don't get out easily"
Its all q lie," roared the Squire,
fairly shaking In his wrath. TITS q,
miserable trick, the whole OF II. You
know that amt AL Heller. He's dead
and / a prove It. It's a trick and a
thin one. It won't work"
ttA Heller is not dead" said Earth
ing. looking him straight in the eye.
Recognize that watch? Recollect that
picture in the back? Remember any
little story connected with that pic
ture? Remember what / said to you
when you tried to get that picture and
didn't? Remember what you called
my father and my grandfather, and
what / did to you for It? Oh, no, AL
Heller isn't dead. If he Is, then this Is
his ghost" There was an awkward
pause, during which all eyes were fixed
on the old man.
Squire Hartswick," said the Judge,
solemnly what have you to say In
view OF the evidence against you Shat
has been brought out here?"
Father, you are not we'll" Rose
sprang to her feet a~nxiously, and went
yer to his side, Don't father. Let
me get o some water"
TITS a lie from end to end" he
gasped, rising to his feet. It's all a
miserable lie, got up by that Farthing
to ruin me. But he can't do II. II
won't work. ri prove 1t yet that he
killed himl TIL make him suffer-
His face was twitching violently. He
took q step toward Farthing, then fell
In a heap on the loor. Rose was by
his side instantly.
concluded Next Weekly
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