Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-08-06

score who could tell how he has tried
10 throw suspicion on me and rob
me of my good name. / heard him say
myself that he would ruin me Ii IL took
every cent OF his property 10 do II.
/ came into this valley a year ago with
only one thought. Inc that was TO set
tie down and pass a peaceful n help
full old g And I'm going to tell 0
just why / came. / was born in this
valley. You have heard of me, some
OF you. l left the valley because OF Ira
Hartswick here. He was Jealous OF
me because / tool the lead of the boys.
He insulted me, and / thrashed him,
as he deserved. Instead of taking his
licking like a man, he went home blub-
bering and lied to his father. The old
man swore he would prosecute me for
assault and battery with intent to kill.
He sent for the sheriff, and / knew
what was coming. You all know, and
l say 1t fearlessly in the mans very
house. that no jury In this region would
have dared to bring In a verdict against
the Will OF old Hiram Hartswick. I
was young and inexperienced. and I
ran away. I enlisted in the army, was
wounded at Gettysburg, and the pa
pers got ii that l was dead. / did not
correct the report. After three months
in the hospital, i was honorably dis
charged. Then l drifted to Paoli, and.
wishing to cut myself off wholly from
my past. / called myself Allen Earth
ing. That's the English for the Ger
man Heller. / didn't change my NAME,
l simply translated II into English.
just as the Zimmermans over In Sugar
Valley have changed their name TO
Carpenter. / lived In Paoli until I saw
the old farm advertised for sale In a
Philadelphia paper. Then a longing to
get back TO the old valley 10 spend my
\ a CD a Nva ~ 40 $50 - Il 10 SO InvAws-
dreamed about the old place, n pinned
for ii, and the temptation was over
powering. / bought IL, Is you all know.
and | aid nothing OF my past simply
to avoid unpleasantness. I'm a man OF
peace, and / knew that, II once Ira
Hartswick recognized me, peace would
be impossible. But ii seems hat even
then l was not to escape trouble. The
Squire has prosecuted me every minute
since I have been here, and now he
has tried TO hang me n my boys. He
might have lone a good deal to me
without my retorting, but when any
body touches my boys. I fight. He's
gone n step too far. Now I'll see him
to the end Of this business, If there's
any law In the state 70 cover his crime.
There's been enough evidence brought
In here this morning to prison the man.
He knows that. He's In a corner OF his
own making. and I'll see TO II that he
don't get out easily"
It's all a lie,' roared the Squire,
fairly shaking In his wrath. IT'S a
miserable trick, the whole OF 1t. You
know that amt Al Heller. He's dead
n | can prove II. It's a trick and a
thin one. 1t won't work"
"Al Heller is not dead" said Earth
ing, looking him straight In the eye.
Recognize that watch? Recollect that
picture In the back? Remember any
little story connected with that pic
ture? Remember what / said to yoA
when you tried TO get that picture and
didn't? Remember what you called
my father and my grandfather, and
what / did to you for 1t? oh, no., AL
Heller isn't dead. IL he is, then his Is
his ghost" There was an awkward
pause. during which all eyes were liked
on the old man.
Squire Hartswick," said the judge.
solemnly, what have you to say in
view of the evidence against you that
has been brought out here?"
Father, o are not we'll" Rose
to her feet anxiously, and went
over to his side. Don't. father. Let
me get you some water"
It's a lie from end to end" he
gasped, rising to his feet. IT'S all a
lie. got up by that Farthing
to ruin me. But he can't do II. 1t
won't work. I'll prove it yet that he
killed him! III make him suffer-
His face was twitching violently. He
took a step toward Farthing, then fell
In a heap on the door. Rose was by
his side instantly.
Concluded Next Weekly