The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-29
CHAPTER w.



The Carson City lookup was an I'm.
provised affair, although a decidedly
popular resort II was originally a
two-room cabin with gable to the
street, the front apartment at one
time low groggery, 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
property, and had at once dedicated
IL TO the commonweal For the DUR
pose thus selected IL was rather well
adapted. being strongly built, easily
guarded. and on the outskirts OF the
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 acutting upon the street was
occupied by rather miscellaneous
assembly-the drunk and disorderly
elements COMPREHENSIVE were
awaiting their several calls TO appear
before a local Justice and make an
swer for various misdeeds. Some were
pacing the floor. others sat moodilv
on benches ranged against the wall.
while few were still peacefully slum-
bering upon the floor. II was q frowsy,
disreputable crowd. evincing but mild
curiosity at the arrival Of a new prts-
oner. Keith had barely time to glance
about, recognizing no familiarity of
face amid the mass peering at him. as
he was hustled briskly forward and
thrust into the rear room. the heavy
door closing behind him with the snap
OF spring lock.
He was alone, with only the faint.
est murmur OF voices coming to him
through the thick partition. II was
room some twelve feet square. open
TO the roof. with bare walls, and con.
tanning no furniture except a rude
bench. Still dazed by the suddenness
OF his arrest, he sank down upon the
seat. leaned HIS head on his hands
and endeavored to think. II was dif.
hcult TO get the facts marshalled into
the situation. yet little by little his
brain grasped the main details, and
ne 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.
tions; they believed he guessed some
thing OF their foul deed. and had de
termined to clear themselves by
charging the crime directly against
him. IL was a shrewd trick. and If
they only stuck to their story, ought
TO succeed. He had no evidence, 9th
er than his own word. and the marsha
bad already taken from his pockets
the papers belonging TO the slain
man. He had not found the locket
ridden under his shirt. yet a more
thorough search would doubtless re-
veal that also.
Even should the case come 20 trial
how would II be possible for him 10
establish innocence. and-would It
ever come to trial? Keith knew the
character OF the frontier, and OF Car.
son City. The inclination OF It's citi
Zons In such cases was 10 act first.
and reflect later. The law had but
slender hold. being respected only
when backed by tho strong hand, and
primitive instincts were always I'm the
ascendency. requiring merely leader
TO break forth In open violence. And
In this case would there be any lack
OF leadership? Like a flash his mind
reverted 90 BLACK Bart" There waf
the man capable Of melting a mob. II;
for s"n'a unknown reason. he had suf-