The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-26
Sidewheel DawsOn's Pardon.
~ o. Il. TALhsApoE.

~ - tt- tFtA~Ht<&hAEs
MIR. Dawscn's FIN" was weary from
vigorous shaidng. his back was sor.
from repssted slaps. his neck wal
shafsd By the collar to which Il hat
lang been a stranger, but his state o.
mind was one Of most excellent salts
faction.
A man who had been sentenced 4
twenty years Of bard labor in the pen
itentiary and who comes forth free
and In the fun possession OF his health
ut the end Of five h certainly entitled
10 some fezicitatipn. That was pre-,
cisely what had happened to Mr.. Daw.
son. He had killed his man under
what appeared cold FLOODED circum-
stances 10 an intelligent jury. He had
piendsd self defense conventionaliy,
but the testimony was such that there
seemed no doubt OF bis guilt True,
thcre had been no eyewitnesses to the
slaughter Those who testified merely
told Of threats he had made, OF his
bad reputation. OF the peaceabie char
actsr Of his victin. The defense had
called no witnesses.
"'Tain't worth whfIe" Mr.. Dawson
had said to bis attorney. "'Twouid do
more harm than good for any Of me
friends 10 testify to the gentleness of
me disposi<ion. Snapper Griffin "a have
had me Dead Ia another wink II /
hadn't jcrked the trigger when I did,
and that's straight. he begun the
trouble and kept pushin' II On, while
tried me levelest to reason with him.
He'd been dopin' with sonethin',
think. bat he didn't wigsIe wiggle
when he pointed bis gun. He was
himself an right, and there's some
comfort In KNOWN Il, for I'd hate like
blazes to feel that the only man ever
killed wasn't responsible for himself
I've got mighty tender conscience
whether you know 1t or not, and it's
perfectly comfortable now. TIL take
whatever the court gives me, and
won't whimper a whinper."
The first night he slept In the peni-
Tertiary his attorney was delivering in
the levee district a message to bis
friends. Hump yourselves to get Van
Affrsn elected governor" was the bur-
den Of IT. The ievee gang did not
know exactly what to think. but they
were sufficiently we'll acquainted with
Mr.. Dawson to accept the instructions
In good faith.
Mfr. Dawson's message was entirely
responsible FOR their action. To the
contrary, n was only an important
drop in toierably large tub of politi-
cal suds. Their own candidate had
''done them dirt"--quite BY chance,
certainly not by intention. He had al
He'd himself In q moment Of mistaken
wisdom with the Prohibitaonists. They
were engaged In hesitating and grum-
bling and scowling when Mr.. Daw-
sons message came, throwing the bal
ance over to the Van Altren side.
Sidewheel Dawson never did anything
without a good reason. but what his
reason was In this particular instance
they conld not conjecture. They were
stfli In the dark on the day when Mr.,
Dawson unexpectedly and triumphant
~ returned.
say" said he after the first wave
of welcome had passed and he was sit
ting comfortably In the rear room at
Muggsy Keliy's place with q number
Of old and tried associates about him,
'T'm OWN you boys lot for the way
you helped Old Van to the puddin'. |
was bit leary you wouldn't get next
to what was up to, but It didn't cost
nothin' TO try"
I'VE didn't get next. We amt next
yet" candidly observed Mr.. Kelly. @Is
Van partfc'ier friend OF yoursi'
Mr.. Dawson smiled. NO" he re-
piled, 'but he's got reason for believin'
me when | tell him shot Snapper
Grimm cause Snapper Griffin was dead
set on givin' me the long trip and for
no other reason"
I'VE believe that" said Mr. Kelly.
Eve knowed your story was true. but
we couldn't do nothin'."
Course ron couldn't. re any Of you
had stuck your mugs Into the game
I'd have been queered to the limit.
Likely I'd have got the drop and CUR
gle. and then Van couldn't have
reached me even il his gratitude was
twice as long"
'sThen Van was OWN you some
thin'!v Mr.. Kelly and the others look
ed at Mr.. Dawson with common ex-
preston OF curiosity and admiration
mingled. you've got us In the afr.
sidewheei. Take us down or wen
bust"
MFR. Dawson laughed this time and
rubbed bis hands together. Sure. I'll
take you down." he said. "'Twon't
take me long to do it either. Muggsy,
DO you remember a little job we had
on six years ago this summer down at
Bayside. when
when .you was out all night and got
hothin' but q pair Of red eyes and
at Of sickness and a stink cf gas7" Mr..
Kelly put IN. yes. I reaember. al
most lost ne faith m you that time"
"Yssr Mr. Dawson ehuckled I'M
moderately. 81 was to dfvvy what
Eet fron the place-that dead easy
place with the open cellar windows
you spettsd enc Sunday afternoon
ehen yen was stroilin' home from
shttrnh I urse ~ aEvrv and I got