Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1910-07-29

and thoroughly angered in a quarrel
over bunch of cattle. Six or eight
steers had been branded twice, one
! mark over the other, and the dispute
arose over this. Duke. the victim Of
the shooting, had borne bad reputa-
ton, and the village street was usually
more or less uneasy during his infre-
quent visits. He had killed his man
! and had been known to boast of it sew
eral times in Flynn's saloon. After
! this last quarrel he had sworn to shoot
| COpperthWait on sight. The quarrel
had occurred in the morning. That
afternoon CopperthWait had just left
the Eagle hotel to mount his mustang
tied to the hitching post in front when
Duke happened to turn the corner.
Here comes Dukew bystander ex-
claimed. Copperthwait started and
caught sight of his adversary. Duke
stopped short and put his hand be-
hind him, and COpperthwait, quick as
a fash, fred once and put a bullet
between Dukes eyes. He had offered
no resistance to arrest and now was
in the rough little Jail near by while
the twelve good men and true deliber-
ated in the hot back room under the tin
roof Of the courthouse
Il guess my hands are a little too
soft to play" said the judge good ma
turedly, feeling a qualm as to the ap-
propriateness of his joining actively in
the sport, but I'll be umpire if you
want me-"
The two teams were quickly formed,
the "Comanches" against the Sioux"
The Sioux won the toss and took the
field, and the Comanches were struck
out in one, two, three order. When the
sides changed Hardy, the prosecuting
attorney, took the box, and Blake, the
junior counsel for the defense, caught
him. After much urging the judge had
consented to preside over first base
since Mr.. Hackett had positively re-
fused to play and had been made UNI
pire by general acclaim. AS soon as
his honor found himself cOatless and
on the field he threw himself into the
battle with the greatest enthusiasm.
The runs were frequent and the err
rors numerous, and at the end of the
third inning so many hands were sore
and so many arms growing stiff that
it was mutually decided by the teams
to call the next inning the last. The
score stood II runs for the Comanches
(the team made up of Judge Hitler.
Hardy, Blake, the keeper Of the Eagle
n%a1 nd 0fhnr VuifnoccocN
and 9 for the Sioux, the battery Of
which was formed by the court clerk
and the sheriff, whose heavy. long
boots, extending far up inside his cor
duroys, detracted somewhat from any
grace of movement he might have had
as he lent his entire soul and mind to
the clerks cratic curves. ably backed
up by the assistant prosecutor, the ste
nographer and several witnesses.
At the beginning Of the fourth and
concluding inning the deputy sheriff
had come up with the prisoner, who
was not handcuffed. and they became
interested onlookers. Copperthwait's
nerve had been superb throughout the
trial, and he seemed to take an instant
interest in the game.
Just after play had commenced
Hardy knocked a hot grounder to
short, who tielded the ball swiftly to
first base. The baseman caught it, put
ting Hardy out, and then quietly re-
marked:
That settles me. Look at this
thumb
"See here, old man." Hardy painted.
examining it; Its broken"
"WeIl, never mind; let somebody
take my place. Here. some one-you.
Mulligan. Come and take the base.
Pm out Of it,
Guess not" said Mulligan, the dep
uty. 81 amt played ball SINCE
go on with the game" cried a
dozen others excitedly. Some one,
any one, take the base"
Here, Copperthwait, play first base.
We've only got to hold 'em down this
inning and We'll beat 'em easy. There's |
one out already"
Copperthwait looked uncertainty at |
the deputy. then at the judge, and
quickly pulled off his coat and stepped !,
to the base His face showed clearly
the prison pallor. and this warm sun
light and fresh air seemed wonderfully
sweet to his spirit. Taken suddenly |
away from the active. vigorous life Of |
the ranch. for seven months confined |
in a dreary prison. the world had |
seemed gradually to recede from his
life This sudden contrast of green.
open field. ringing with the hearty
voices OF his fellow men. and the vi
sion Of the free, limitless prairie on all
sides was a tragic one to the man.
go ahead" he said quietly, "I'H |