Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-02
CHAPTER xv-continued.

were IN tnelr mouse until 10 O'Clock
when we went up to bed. and that W.
came down and ate breakfast at
o'clock. This d make, as you'll admit
som lively work IL we went TO Sugar
Valley and back-40 odd miles each
way, over the DEVILS own make o
roads, In the dark, in eight hours. Now
you've got a telephone here. I'll walt
for you to phone the Squire right of
now before / cav the store"
The old man made no move; he sat
glum and black.
Very well. The Squire's In his Of
nee by this time and you can get him
II you wish. You can call my blum
IN just one minute IL you care to-
Furthermore, / can bring 100 OF the
best men In Paoli, where I've lived
for 20 years and where the boys have
lived all their lives till they came here,
who'll give US a character that'1 be all
any man could ask for. I'll give you
the names of some of them who've got
telephones and you can get 'em right
off now on the long distance IL you
want to. There's another way you can
call my bluff. All right; you can do
as you please. Now a mar don't us
ually defend himself until he's given
the evidence against him, but things
have been going mighty strange down
here and they're going to stop now,
right--off-short."
The words snapped like trap teeth.
You can bring n charge against me
and my bows, Squire Hartswick, but /
give you fair warning that it'll go hard
with you IL you fail to prove your case.
MY boys mean a good deal to me, and
they are going to nave fair play
It's a damned bluff" sneered the old
man, "a devillsh bluff" His face was
fairly blue with rage. The veins stood
out plump and black on his forehead.
I've given you a way TO call my
bluff II you care to. If you don't. YOU
place yourself in a serious position, as
you'll admit. If you fail to make your
case, I'll promise you here M now
that It's going hard with you. / shall
push 1t to the very limits of the law,
and I'm somewhat of a lawyer myself.
1 know perfectly well what I'm about.
DO n OF you wish anything of me be-
fore / go?"
He arose and swept a keen glance
over M crowd. There was that In his
manner md look that awed and domi-
mated them.
Here. hold right on there The
Squire was r~egaining his self posses
sion. How about Jim? The evidence
all points to him. What have you got
90 say about JIM"
He was at home last nioht with his
mother"
How 90 you know he was? You
want there"
His mother III testify to 1t. or
course he was there"
wal. he want, that's all. Wait q
minute, men. See he don't get away"
He BUSTED over to the telephone and
rallied for Lawyer Troutman.
I 'Hellol Is that you Squire? Say, did
AL Farthing and Tom spend the night
with you last night? Heigh?
Jest what time was 1t? Sure, are
yeh? . :" Then the old man hung UP
the receiver with an angry jerk and
wheeled about.
Wal, that don't make any difference
with Jim,' he snapped. That won't
clear him, and all the evidence anyway
is against him."
win Q kindly EXPLAIN"
Yes, sir, l will, and you won't want
10 hear Ii, either. In the first place, as
said, Jim want at home last night.
We a prove by two good men that at
10 o'clock he was driving with his colt
down towards Sugar Valley. Then he
had a motive for the crime that alone
is enough to convict him. He's hated
Karl like hell all the spring, and he's
threatened him. He could have done
that Job himself alone. he's stout
enough TO. Then, as a ~ciincher, a
hammer with your letters on IL was
found close to the body. What have
you got to say TO that?" The confidence
of the man weakened a little at the re-
cital. He turned slightly pale.
II don't know anything about this"
he said perplexedly, but my boy
didn't do II; i know that. There's a
mistake somewhere"
It's as clear as daylight. Jsm's the
man, and We'll have him before sun
down"
You'll have him before then" He
stepped toward the door. but turned
short about. TN bring Jim right down.
There's a mistake, that's all, and I'll
clear II up. Ira Hartswick. TO your full
satisfaction. There won't be any sneak
ing or lodging about this. It's going
going TO fight fair" He went straight
out through the door and no one OPP
posed him.
There was silence for the space OF
10 pipe-puffs. Then Amos raised his
voice:
Observation-Disclosures"
He's a cold blooded. desperate man."
exploded h Squire. Hes the coolest,
brazenest devil / ever met in all my
ute and not size him up as an expert
enced criminal you're a pack of fools.
But he cant fool me. / called his bluff
for him. See how he backed down.
did yeh? He knew Jim was In a trap
and he came in here to brazen us. but
1t didn't go. He's gut the wrong man.
BY mighty, I'll run this gang down IL
II costs my whole property" Again he
smote the counter with ~resonnding fist.
Now. I amt quite so sure. Squire"
drawled Amos, refi~ectively. WED bet
ter go q little slow. don't yeh think?
The man kinder locke to me as liz he
was honest In what he said, and I amt
very often deceived In q man." He was
rubbing his chin absorbedly. a puzzled
scowl on his face. He seemed to be
thinking ALOUD Now what could ne
want TO blum us for? That's what
don't understand. He cleared himself
and Tom all right, but how could ne
think he was going to get Jim out OF
it, How was II goin' to help the bust
ness BY comm down here? BY hunkey
IL looks TO me as Ii he believed Jim was
innocent. I don't got fooled very often.
and Il looks to me as IL them proofs
ug'in Jim was all new 10 him. They |
kinder passed him. I'll bet q quart Of
beans he'll have Jim here on schedule
time
IIumph!" snorted the Squire. ~pont
be q fool"
but what's the uste arguin' about
II :" broke In Lem Fisher. ~Hain't
told you-uns over and over ag'in that
Al Farthing didn't have TO 60 down TO
Sugar Valley In order to knock over
Karl? Hain'f I told yeh a,ready? |
IT'S clearer n mud to me. Don't you see