Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-07-03

your nerve. Remember, whatever hap
pens, Tom and mother and i are right
with you, and we'll fight 'em till we
drop, every one OF us. There's mis-
take somewhere, but it's coming out
all right. Goodbye Jimmy" There
was a tear in the cold eye, but the man
stood erect and alert. ri
Fall in," ordered the sheriff again
in military voice.
Then the unlocked for happened
No one but Jim had noticed FEM
mime figure on the borders of the
crowd. When they first saw her she
was standing close by the squire with
her hand on his arm.
Father, wait" she was saying
eagerly. Every one turned at the voice,
and a hush fell instantly.
Jim didn't do II. He was out last
night with me. / rode with him down
Gum rum"
"Why-why, Rose, you
Yes, / did. 1t was all arranged.
went up to my room and stole down
the back stairs. Jim wouldn't tell be-
cause he wouldn't bring my name in.
IL you arrest him, then you arrest me-"
You went with him?" gasped the
old man, too surprised to act or talk
or think
yes, sir; 1 did" A low murmur
swept over the crowd. She Strengthened
up at the sound of II and faced them
almost with defiance in her eyes. IT
tell you he never did IL: he was with
me-"
"But-but, Rose, why did you drive
with him? And down Gum Run-at
10 o'clock? / can't believe II, Rose"
II was as II the old man was think
ing aloud.
Because 1t was impossible for him
to ride with me at any other time,
you've been so harsh with him." Her
face was pale with bright spots in the
Chpaka. naryOIIa tension was evident I'm
every feature and movement. 1t was
magnificent-the lone woman amid the
rough crowd of men, defending her
lover and confessing publicly her love.
Jim's heart beat smotheringly; his
impulse was to leap from his horse and
stand beside her, protecting and shell
tering her. He wrenched nightly at
the handouts. but they held.
The sheriff had edged along until he
stood at the girls elbow.
Say, look here" he spoke sharply,
what are you riding at night for with
a feller like this Farthing, when you
were engaged to marry Karl Keich-
line?"
81 was not engaged TO marry Karl
Keichline." She turned TO him with a
look of scorn. What's more, never
should have been. hated him."
"Ah! then let me ask you one ques-
ton: You and Jim both hated this
man, and had reason TO have him out
of the way before June 1. Do you know
anything about his death?' He peered
up into her face, and her manner
changed instantly.
"Why-why, no. We were back be-
fore one, and the murder, you say, was
committed at one"
Answer my question" he insisted
harshly. Did you suspect anything
was going to happen when you started
out with jim? Did you have anything
to do with his death? Answer me. Did
you do anything either directly or in
directly toward bringing II about?"
"Oh, don't please-don't," she cried
nervously. Then she Strengthened sud-
denly. "Jim's perfectly innocent and
know 1t. He didn't have the slightest
thing to do about it,"
Sheriff" ordered the squire sharply,
"let the prisoner go. l withdraw all
charges. Ny daughters testimony is
sufficient"
But, Squire Hartswick, it's not law
full; / can't"
II say let her CO." roared the man,
I'm satisfied. Let him go; do you
hear? And, Rose, you go into the house
this instant" The sheriff wavered a
moment and then unlocked the hand
cuffs. II was not safe for an officer
in that region to oppose the old squire
If he had ambitions for reelection.
(contiaued Mex. weekl