Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-09-25

smiled widely ana sweetIy. The shsr.
III gave him a hostile glare. DO you
know that Morrow has left town
the Judge went on.
Il amt got nothin' to do with Judge
Morrow. It's my duty TO see that
this building is ready for him when
he's a mind to opef court In 1t"
You are willing to assume the re-
sponsib'lity OF throwing open these
doors?' inquired the Judge affabiy.
Il shoEely am" said Belts. why.
some OF these folks are our leading
peoplei"
The judge turned to the crowd, and
spoke in a tone of excessive civflity.
Just word, gentIemeni the sher-
in is right; It is your courthouse ana
you should not be kept out of it. No
doubt there are some of you whose
presence in this building will sooner
or later be urgently desired. We are
going to let all who wish to enter, bur
beg you TO remember that there Will
be five men inside whose prejud.ces
are all in favor of law and order. .
He pushed past Hues and entered the
courthouse. followed by Yancy and
Hannibal. We'll let 'em in where /
can talk to en-" he said almost gaily.
Besides. they'll come III anyhow when
they get ready, so there's no sense In
exciting them"
In the courthouse, Murrell, bound
hand and foot. was seated between
Darlington and the Earl of Lambeth
in the little railed-off space below the
judges bench. Fear and suffering had
olanehed his unshayen cheeks and
given wild light to his deeply sunk
en- eyes. At sight of Yancy a smoth-
cred exclamation broke from his lips:
ne had supposed this man dead these
many monthsl
Hues had abandoned his post, and
the crowd. suddenly grown clamorous.
stormed tie narrow entrance one OF
the doors, borne from it's hinges, went
down with a crash. The Judge, a
fierce light flashing from his eyes.
turned to Yancy.
NO matter what happens, this fel-
low Murrell is not to escape-if he
calls on his friends to rescue him he
Is to be shot"
The ball was filling with swearing,
struggling men, the floor shook be-
meath their heavy tread: then they
burst into the courtroom and saluted
Murrel with great shout. But Mur.
rell, bound, in rags, and silent. his
lips frozen in wolfish grin, was a
depressing sight. and the boldest felt
something of his unrestrained lawless-
ness go from him.
Less noisy now, the crowd spread
itself out among the benches or
swarmed up into the tiny gallery at
the back of the building. Man after
man had hurried forward. intent on
passing beyond the railing. but each
had encountered the Judge. formida.
BILE and forbidding, and had turned
aside. Gradually the many pairs OF
eyes rowing over the little group sur.
rounding the outlaw focused them.
selves on Sloeum Price. 1t was in un.
conscious recognition of that moral
force which was his, tribute to the
grim dignity OF his mistaken courage;
what he would do seemed worth con.
sidering.
HE was charmed to hear his name
pass in whisper from lip to lip.
Well, ii was time they knew him! He
squared his ponderous shoulder and
made gesture commanding silence.
Battered, shabby and debauched. he
was like some old war horse who
shifts the odor of battle that the wind
incontinentIy brings to his nostrils.
Don't let him speak," cried a
voice. and tumult succeeded.
Cool and indomitable the Judge
waited for 1t to subside. He saw that
the color was stealing back into Muir.
rells face. The outlaw was feeling
that he was leader not overthrow;
these We're his friends and followers,
his safety was their safety, too In a
lull in the storm OF sound the Judge
attempted to make himself heard, but
his words were lost in the angry roar
that descended on him.
Don't let him speak, Kill him!
Kill him!"
A score OF men sprang to their feet
and from all sides came the click OF
rifle and pistol hammers as they were
drawn to the full cock. The Judges
fate seemed to rest on a breath. lie
swung about on his heel and gave
curt nod to Yancy and Cavendish,
who. falling back a step. tossed their
guns to tn n shoulders and covered
Murrell. sudden hush grew up out
of the tumult; the cries. angry and
jeering. dwiudled to a murmur. and a
dead pail OF silence rested on the
crowded room.
The very taste of triumph was IN
the judges mouth. Then came a com
mot:Cc at the back of the building.
ripple of comment, and Colonel
Fentress elbowed his way through the
crowd At sight of his enemy the
judges face went from white to red
while his eyes blazed; but for the mo
ment the force of his emotions left
him speeches. Here and there. az
he advanced, Fentress recognized 8
friend and bowed coolly to tho right
and left.
ITO RE CoNTINUED.)