The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-02-12

IessIy in shrin Voices. b06tng a. -
lice and acting = nrebrands 70 IL
masculine element 81 the crowd, .
women have done from time immemo
rial in outbreaks Of popular feeling
and indignation.
Something OF the sort had been an
ticipated by the authorities. and An
extra number Of police had been post
ed on duty outside the entrance to
the town hall.
Inside, In the court where the mag
istrates we're sitting, Jack Lathom.
his face FUN Of angry, defiant bitter
ness, listened to the evidence against
him on which the police founded their
case, occasionally breaking In upon
the slow proceedings with a passion
ate interruption.
The mounted constable who sepa-
rated the combasants on the road
gave evidence Of the fracas he had
witnessed; Of the nrnvncatinn the
prisoner had received-the blow from
Hume's stick; of the prisoners pas
sionate threat as he went sullenly
away. The farmer Grierson. who had
come up about the same time. gave
corroborative evidence. The notori-
GUS iii will existing between the two
men, as well as the cause OF It, was
gone into; the fracas at the club on
the day before the crime was retold
by several witnesses; there was the
evidence of the gunsmith. who proved
that early In the evening couple OF
hours before the second quarrel be-
tween the two men. the prisoner had
called at his shop for the revolver he
had left there for some trifling re-
pair. and had taken 1t away with him;
all the evidence on which the case Of
the policerested. Undoubtedly q case
for committal; the magistrates were
quite agreed. And Jack Lathom was
committed for trial at the forthcoming
assizes.
Scarcely had the magistrates record.
ed their decision than the news
seemed, as IL by magic. to become
known outside; 1t ran like wildfre
through the crowd. Sullen. angry
murmurs and cries rose, the mill girls
taking the lead.
IF you're men, you know what to
dol" more than one cried to their
male companions. There was every
sign of threatening rush and an at
tempted rescue the moment the &C.
cused man appeared.
An inspector came out and gave
whispered instructions to several Of
the constables on duty outside.
Two OF the police began to push the
people back, making path to where
cab was drawn up. The crowd part
ed grimly: time enough to show their
hand when Jack Lathom appeared.
They waited In a state of sullen ten
sion; minutes passed. but still NO
sign Of Jack Lathom.
AS a matter Of fact, the police, per-
fectly alive to the danger. had NO
intention Of risking It: these elabo-
rae proceedings were q ruse to keep
the attention Of the crowd occupied.
Meanwhile the prisoner was being
smuggled out at the back. where .
four-wheeler waited in readiness to
take him back to the district Jail.
/
noon was already closing In as La
thom was taken out quickly through
small side door and hurried into the
cab. Just as he was getting In. fol-
lowed closely by the two constables,
a motor car dashed up: Jack turned
his head to see that the driver was
Freddy Thornton.
/ old rhnn
dy. excitedly. to his friend. Freddy
was pretty wide awake. and he had
been prepared for some such ruse as
this on the part of the police. Il have
a message for you"
But Freddy's message was never
given. The two constables hurried
their prisoner into the cab. followed
and slammed the door. and the drievr
whipped up his horse smartly, long
before The crowd on the other side Of
the building had realized the trick
played on them.
TIE cahman. who had been instruct
cd to avoid as far as possible the main
thorouehfares of the town, took cir
cui,ous houe through network of
side streets. Jack Lathom leaned
back against a cushion. with his face
dark and bitter. as he was driven past
the familiar scenes back to the prison
sell from which he had been brought
that morning.
Il COX. That's why We had to Snug.
gle you out by the back way" The
more loquaeious of the two constables
jerked his thumb towards one Of the
windows of the cab. The driver had
taken a devious route to avoid passing
near the front OF the town hall. but
some little distance away Jack La
tkoms could see the dense. excited
crowd gathered there. the lights from
the windows of the great building
falling on a white sea of upturned
faces. Friends Of yours. those!
They're waiting for you to come out