Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-04

The sudden noisy clamor OF many
voices, high-pitched and excited. hoat-
ed QUITO them under the hot sky, X II
wonder" began the Judge. and paused
as he saw the crowd stream into the
road before the. tavern. Then a. cloud
of dust enveloped 1t, cloud OF dust
that came from the trampling of many
pairs of feet and that swept toward
them, thick and impenetrable. and no
higher. than tall mans head In the
lifeless air. II wonder II we missed
anything" continued the judge. finish
ing what he had started to say. FL
The score or more OF men were
quite near, and the judge and Mahaffy
made out the tall figure Of the sheriff
in the lead. And then the crowd. very
excited. very dusty, very noisy and
very hot, flowed into the Judges front
yar6. For a brief moment that gem
tleman fancied Pleasantville had awak-
ened to fitting sense OF its obligation
to him and that it was about to make
amends for it's churllsh: lack OF hospi-
tally. He rose from his chair, and
with a SPLENDID ford gesture, swept
of his hat.
TITS the pussy fellow" cried voice.
ooh, shut up--dont you think
know him? ?" retorted the sheriff tartly.
| Gentlemen" began the Judge
blandly.
Get the well-rope!"
The Judge was rather at loss proper
| ly to interpret these varied remarks
He was not long left in doubt. The
sherin stepped to his side and dropped
a heavy hand on his shoulder.
'Mr Slocum Price, or whatever your
name is your little game Is up"
Get the well.rope! Oh, hell
won't some one get the well.rope?"
The voice rose into q wall OF entreaty.
The judges eyes. rather startled
slid around In their sockets. Clearly
something was wrong-but what
what?
"Ain't he bold?" it was q woman's
voice this time. and the fat landlady,
her curls awry and her plump breast
heaving tumultously, gained q place In
the forefront of the crowd.
Dear madam, this Is an unexpected
pleasure!" said the Judge. with his
hand upon his heart.
Don't you make your wicked old
sleeps eyes at me. you brazan thing!"
cried the lady.
you're wanted" said the sheriff
grimly, still keeping his hand IN the
Judges shoulder.
For what?" demanded the Judge
thickly. The sheriff had no time In
which to answer.
II want my money!" shrieked the
landlady.
Your money-Mrs. Walker, you
amaze mel" The Judge drew himself
up haughtily. in genuine establishment.
! II want my money!" repeated Mrs.
Walker in even more piercing tones.
II am not aware that I owe you any
thing, madam. Thank God, I hold your
receipted bill Of recent date" answered
the Judge with chilling dignity. i
Good money--not this worthless
trash!" she shook q bill under his nose.
The Judge recognized 1t as the one OF
which he had despoiled Hannibal.
| "You have been catched passing
lcounterfieit," said the sheriff. A light
'lbroke on the Judge, light that dax-;
zled and stunned. An Officious and Inn
patient gentleman tossed looped end:
Of the well-rope about his neck and
the crowd yelled excitedly. This was
something like-it had a taste for the
man-hunt! The sheriff snatched away
the rope and dealt the ofiicious gentle
man a savage blow on the chin that
sent him staggering backward into.
the arms of his friends. s3 Il.
| Nov, see here, now--I'm going to
arrest this old Teller! am going to
put him In Jail, and amt going to
have no nonsense-dO you hear me?n
he expostulated. Il
II can explain" cried the Judge
Make him give me my money!
Iwailed Mrs. Walker.
/ "Jezebel!" roared the Judge, In
passion Of rage. B, slsS{
| CAMS the word, or you'll get 'em
started" whispered the sheriff. The
Judge looked fearfully around. At his
side stood Mahaffy, yellow pallor
splotching his thin cheeks He SEEM
ed to be holding himself there by an
effort
Speak to them, Solomon speak to
them-you know how / came by the
money! Speak to them-you know
am Innocent" cried the Judge, clutch
ing his friend by the arm. Mahaffy
iopened his thin lips, but the crowd
drowned his voice in a roar.
/ Hes his pardner"
| (Tn hes Confiu,ad \