Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-08-16
CHAPTER ".
An Old Acquaintance.

sEs541 s3 aIt5 An Old ACQUAINTANCE @at
The Carson City lookup was an. i'm.
provised affair, although decidedly
popular resort 1t was originally a
4 zwo-room cabin with gable to the
street. the front apartment at one
time low GROCERY. the keeper sleep
ing In the rear room. Whether sud
den death, or financial reverses, had
been the cause, the community had IN
\ some manner become possessed OF the
4 property. and had at once dedicated
1t to the commonweal. For the pur-
pose thus selected it was rather well
adapted. being strongly built, easily
guarded and on the outskirts Of the
h town. With iron grating over the
windows, the back door heavily spiked.
and the front secured by iron bars.
any prisoner once locked within could
probably be found when wanted. On
the occasion OF Keith's arrival. the
portion abutting upon the street was
occupied by rather miscellaneous
assembly-the drunk and disorderly
elements conspicuous-who we're
awaiting their several calls to appear
before a local justice and make an
\ ewer for various misdeeds. Some were
pacing the floor. others sat moodily
I on benches ranged against the wall.
while a few were still peacefully slum.
bering upon the floor. 1t was frowsy.
disreputable crowd. evincing but mild
curiosity at the arrival of a new pris-
oner. Keith had barely time to glance
about. recognizing no familiarity OF
4 face amid the mass peering at him. as
4 he was hustled briskly forward and
I thrust into the rear room. the heavy
door closing behind him with the snap
" OF Spring lock.
sss$ He was alone, with only the faint
est murmur of voices coming to him
4 Through the thick partition. 1t was
room some twelve feet square. open
TO the roof. with bare walls. and con-
tanning no furniture except a rude
5 bench. Still dazed by the suddenness
OF his arrest, he sank down upon the
seat, leaned his head on his hands.
hcult to get the facts marshalled into
any order or to comprehend clearly
the situation. yet little by little his
brain grasped the main details. and
he awoke to full realization OF his
condition, of the forces he must war
against. The actual murderers OF
those two men on the trail had had
their suspicious aroused by his &C.
lions; they believed he guessed some
thing OF their foul deed, and had de-
K termined to clear themselves by
u charging the crime directly against
him. It was a shrewd trick. and II
4 they only stuck to their story. ought
20 succeed. He had no evidence. 9TH
Il er than his own word. and the marshal
Il mad already taken from his pockets
the papers belonging to the slain
man He had not found the locket
hidden under his shirt, yet a more
thorough search would doubtless re-
veal that also.
Even should the case come to trial.
how would 1t be possible for him to
establish innocence and-would it
ever come to trial? Keith knew the
character of the frontier. and OF Car.
son City. The inclination of its citi-
gems in such cases was to act first.
and reflect later. The law had but
slender hold, being respected only
when backed by the strong hand. and
primitive instincts were always in the
] ascendency. requiring merely leader
to break forth in open violence. And
in this case would there be any lack
of leadership? Like flash his mind
reverted to BLACK Bart" There was
the man capable of melting mob II.
/ for some unknown reason. he had suf-
1icient interest to swear out the war.
rant and assist in the arrest, he would
have equal cause to serve those fel.
dows behind him In other ways. Nat
nrally, they would dread trial. with
Its possibility of exposure. and eagerly
grasp any opportunity for wiping the
slate clean. Their real security from
discovery undoubtedly lay In his
death. and with the RED Light"
crowd behind them they would ex-
perience no trouble In getting fol
lowing desperate enough for any pur-
pose.
The longer Keith thought the less
he doubted the result. 1t was not then
q problem of defence, but OF escape.
tunity to defend himself would ever
DE allowed. The arrest was merely
part OF the plot intended to leave him
4 helpless in the hands of the mob. In
this Hicks was In no way blamable-
he had merely performed his sworn
duty, and would still die. II need be.
IN defence of his prisoner. He was
no tool but only an instrument they
/ mad found means of using.
Keith was essentially q man OF ac-
aion, fighter BY instinct, and SO long
accustomed to danger that the excite
ment Of 1t merely put new fire into his
veins. Now that he understood exact
1y what threatened. all numbing feel
ing of hesitancy and doubt vanished,
and he BECAME Instantly alive. He
would not lie there in that hole wait
Ing for the formation OF mob; nor
would he trust in the ability OF the
marshal to defend him.
He had some friends withou:--not
many, for he was but an occasional
visitor at Carson-who would rally to
4 Hicks assistance. but there would not
be enough on the side of law and or
I der to overcome the Red Light" out
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