The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-06-24

seemed to come in the whtrlWlnd oil
events. But 1t was Of short duration
Oh the very heels OF the verdict the
sheriff received q telephone message
from Squire Hartswick, OF Hell Bot
tom, and the excitement instantly In
creased tenfold.
The news had come to the Bottom
like a thunderclap. In all the history
of the region there had never been such
a sensation: June first was the day
when Karl was TO have received his
final answer from Rose; Jim Farthing,
ii was known, was infatuated with her;
the hammer with it's brand could mean
only one thing.
The squire's suspicious were right.
1t was clear now who had been COM
hitting the robberies, and who had
been responsible for the doings in the
Heller cabin.
The thought came to the valley like
a cold chill. AS IL by agreement, the
men everywhere dropped their work
and congregated at the store. There
was no loud talk and no noisy excite
menti the feeling was o intense for
that. A sullen undertone, deep and
menacing, came from the little groups.
The uncanny element in the affair APP
pealed to many and caused them to talk
in fearful whispers. The squire said
nothing at all, but the Hartswick wrath
was in his face as no one had ever
seen 1t there before. Men glanced at
him fearfully and avoided him. All
ering volcano; the eruption was yet
to come,
1t came with the report Of the coro-
ner. Suddenly he burst into furious
action; three minutes after he had
heard the final details he telephoned
the sheriff to ride with all speed to
the Bottom, and to come with a force
4 $50 - %. -. ..A. .. NJ ....LIA
to wait a single instant, he rode up to
the Farthing place to reconnoiter. BY
mere luck he came upon Mrs. Farthing
In h roa and learned from her that
her husband and Tom had gone the day
before on business to Sinking Springs,
but that they were expected home be-
fore night. Jim was up in the wood
lot cutting fire wood. The old man
drove back in fierce haste.
They hain't got back yet from their
butchering," he burst In stormily even
before he had reached the store. They
hain't, unless the old woman's lying.
Here, two of yeh go up there where
you can see the house and keep watch.
Don't let 'em see yeh. But they won't
come back; it's their trick to hide in the
mountains till this blows over, but 1t
won't work. Dang 'em, they can't get
away now"
He hustled from the buggy and strobe
to the telephone, where he began Civ
ing orders like a general at the front.
He called up one by every station
on the line and ordered a strict watch
to be set on all roads. From Sugar
Valley he got word that the sheriff
would start In half an hour with a full
force of deputies prepared to scour the
mountains till the 'murderers were
found. Then he turned to the crowd in
the store.
Its a clear case" He swung his
fist in windy wrath. I'VE know who
this gang is now. and damn 'em, we've
got 'em. We've got every link; the
motives as clear as the light of day
and SOS the proof. The sheriff IL be
here against four and you must stand
by us, every m of we. We shall need
we ALL" He strobe out Of the door like
an avenging fury
For a m there was silence; the
crowd got its bearings slowly.
Now. / amt quite SO sure began
Lem Fisher after a time. I'D just as
quick think the Farthings want there
as to think they was. Did you hear
about that black ring around Krrt,s
neck still? Helm? Recollect what I
told you down to Dams fifth? Didn't
| say as how you'd find Karl some fine
morning with a black ring round hfs
neck and his eyes bulgin' out like he'd
saw the devil wunst? Helm? Wal, sub,
know what | think still? Somebody's
been pow-wowin' Already" nodding his
head m~ysteriously. "Umph-huh! and
is to pow-wow him. Umph-huh! Seer"
"Oh, pshaw!" sneered Amos. Let
up, won't yeh, on this pesky pow-wow
business. We've gut facts enough, the
Lord knows, without going into that in
fernal rot. The thing was done by the
gang that's been operatin' in this region
all the spring. That's plain enough to
me. They'd jest gut the safe down
ready to blow when Karl, who's been
sleepin' with n eye open these three
months, heard the noise and bounced
down o 'em. They're old hands, I tell
you. They know that country post
masters have stamps ready for custom
ers generally in some old book, and
that they don't always remember to put
it in the safe at night. They looked for
that first thing, and they fond 1t.
They can't have been extra stout fell
lows, for Karl seems to have gut the
best Of the two of 'em for a while, Jest
as If they'd been wimmen. 1t looks as
IL he threw one of 'em and the other
smashed him over the head. That don't
exactly pint to the Farthings, for they
could handle Karl, AIRY one of 'em,
Jest like a fly. The main thing 1 can
see az III Gil Is LH6 MANNER. amen
again, nobody knows where they come
from, and these breaks begun Jest about
the time they moved here"
"Humphl" grunted Ulie. There amt
a jury in this state that wouldn't hang
all three of 'em higher n Haman on
half the evidence there is ag'in 'em.
Not one. Rose didn't set n store by
that Farthing Teller. When the news
vas broke to her they say she turned
whittier n milk and she pretty near
keeled right over. You wouldn't Think
that Of q girl like Rose, now, We ~ |
you? but il amt strange to me. They
was goin' to be merried, she and Karl,
pretty soon now, and there want only
one way to head 1t off, and Jim he took
1t. It's all plain enough to me-" -.
plain? By mighty! why, it's prima
facie." The Squire had pulled in again.
'I've gut another piece of evidence.
Dan Huber and Ira Kemmerer sayes
they met Jim in the roe here with
HIS colt driving down Gum Run way
at 10 o'clock last night. How's that for
evidence?" He stepped across the room
and rang the telephone with q snap that
threatened to break the crank.
sThey'Va starfed - he annnuncad hang.