Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-05-23
NCopyright. A c.
CHAPTER w.
An Old Acquaintance

The Carson City lookup WAS m I'm.
provised affair. although a decidedly
popular resort. II was originally a
'wo-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 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 spil,ed
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 a rather miscellaneous
assembiy-the drunk and disorderlv
clements conspicuous-who we're
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-
oering upon the floor. II was a frovsv.
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
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 a spring lock.
He was alone. with only the faint
est murmur OF voices coming 10 him
through the thick partition II was
room some twelve feet square. omen
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 diff
hcult to get the facts marshalled into
any order OF to comprehend clearly
the situation. yet little by little his
brain grasped the main details. and
he awoke to a 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 hts a.
lions; they believed he guessed some
thing of their foul deed, and had de-
termined to clear themselves by
charging the crime directly against
him. II was shrewd trick, and If
they only stuck to their story, ought
to succeed. He had no evidence. 9th.
or than his own word. and the marshal
mad already taken from his pockets
;he papers belonging to the slain
man. He had not found the locket
hidden under his shirt, yet q 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-
Zens 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 a leader
to break forth in open violence. And
In this case would there be any lack
or leadership? Like a fash his mind
reverted to BLACK Bart" There was
the man capable Of melting a mob. IT,
for some unknown reason, he had suf
hcient interest to swear out the war
rant and assist in the arrest, he would
have equal cause to serve those fell
lows behind him In other ways. Nat
urally, they would dread trial, with
us possibility OF exposure, and eagerly
grasp any opportunity for wiping the
slate clean, Their real security from
discovery undoubtedly lay In his