The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER ~.
An Old AcaualntancA.

An Old Acquaintance
The Carson City lookup was an I'm
fprovised affair, although O decidedly
popular resort. 1t was originally q
ifwo-room cabin with gable to the
street, the front apartment at one
Ifime . low GROCERY. the keeper sleep
fang In the rear room. Whether sud.
den death. or financial reverscs. had
hesn the cause. the community had In
ssome manner become possessed Of the
property. and had ut once dedicated
Il to the commonweal. For the pur-
pose thus selected 1t was rather we'll
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
che occasion Of Keith's arrival. the
portion abutting upon the street was
occupied by q rather miscellaneous
asBembly-the drunk and disorderly
elements conspicuous-who were
awaiting their several calls to appear
before a local Justice and make an
aver for various misdeeds. Some were
pacing the ioof. others sat moodily
On benches nged against the wall.
while a few were still peacefully SUM
boring upon the floor. 1t was a frowsy.
&iareputable crowd. evincing but mild
rsuriosity at the arrival of a new pris-
pner. Keith had barely time to glance
about. recognising no familiarity Of
lace amid the peering at him. Al
10 was hustled briskly forward and
thrust into the rear room, the heavy
door closing behind him with the snap
u q spring lock.
He was alone. with only the faint
est muSmur Of voices coming to him
through the thick partition. 1t was n
Soom some twelve feet square, open
20 the roof. with bare walls. and CON
tanning no furniture except a rude
bench. Still daxed by the s%uddenness
- -;J srrest, he sank down upon the
Ssal, ieaned his head on his hands.
tond endeavored to SS.nk. It was DIFF.
hcul. 10 get the facts marshai.cd into
any order or b comprehend clearly
ahe situation. yet little by little his
brain graspUd The main details, and
Ne awoke to Q full realization Of his
lwondition. of the forces he must war
against. Tho actual m%urderers OF
nose two men on the trail had had
their suspiciuns aroused by his sc-
Hons: they believed he guessed some
thing Of their foul deed. and had de-
aermined TO clear themselves by
charging the crime directly against
Aim. II was . shrewd trick. and II
tAey only stuck to their story. ought
% succeed. He had no evidence, 9TH
Rv than his own word, and the marshal
lad already taken from his pockets
Ae papers belonging to the slain
man He had not found the locket
.sadden under his shirt. yet q more
thorough search would doubtless re-
Zeal that also.
Even should the case come to trial,
0ow would It be possible for him to
establish innocence. and-would II
over come to trial? Keith knew the
character Of the frontier, and Of Car.
con City. The inclination Of It's citi.
sens In such cases was to act FIRST.
md reflect later. The law had but
aaender hold. being respected only
when backed by the strong hand, and
primitive instincts were always In the
escsndsncy. requiring merely q leader
b break forth In open violence. And
ID this case would there be any lack
81 leadership? Like . lash his mind
ssvertsd to BLACK Bart" There wa
0e man capable Of melting a mob. II.
Or some unknown reason, he had sui.
1cient interest 70 swear out the war.
Ant and assist b the arrest, he would
have equal 20 serve those fol.
ows behind him In other ways. Nat.
AaraI2y. they would dread 4 TRIAL. with
~ possibility u exposure, and eagerly
grasp any opportunity for wiping the
slAts CLEAN. Their real security from
<lscovWy undoubtedly lay In hss
6satA. and with the RED Light
crowd behind them they would sx-
Dsrisnce no trouble In getting Q fol.
Dwfng desperate enough for any pur.
DoOe.
The longer Keith thought the less
he doubted the result II was not then
q problem OF defence. but Of escape.
Or he believed now that no oppor.
entity TO defend himself would ever
he allowed. TIE arrest was merely
part of the plot intended to leave him
helpless In the hands Of the mob. In
mis- Hicks va IN 10 way blamablsr
- had merely performed his sworn
outy. and would still de. II need b.
= defence a his prisoner. He vas
- tool. bat oaly q instrument tAsy
- 1eund moano g using. 3.
Ms11h - snanhny = ~ g -