The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-15
- COLONEL - |
~ TODHUNTER ~
@<MSSOLlpI N'WS|
Or RIplT D. SAUNDERS

Dr RIPLEY b SAUNDtRS


is there any record Of this confess
sion?"
Yes, sub. The confession Is writ
ten. sworn TO and signed by Jesse
Dream. II Is attested by two compe-
tent witnesses. IL Is In the posses
sion OF the sheriff OF Rails county. And
the sheriff OF. Rails county has just de-
livered the person OF Jesse Bream 70
the jail authorities here In Nineveh.
sub. chargin' him, on his own confes-
sion, with the murder OF Stamford
Tucker"
May It please the court" said Major
Dryden, the defense will next place
in evidence this sworn confession of
Jesse Bream and ask that the case
against Thomas w. Strickland,
charged with the murder OF Stamford
Tucker, be dismissed"
There was a sudden and tensely
dramatic stir through the crowded
courtroom. II was followed by tri-
umphant cheer from group OF Tom
Strickland's friends near the door. The
next instant the place rang with jubi-
liant clamor. so overwhelming now was
the certainty OF Toms innocence.
And twenty minutes later Thomas
w. Strickland stood free man, clear
ed OF the dreadful crime that had been
laid TO his doing.
But Colonel Todhunter was not
among those who first crowded around
Tom Strickland with their congratula-
lions. He went instead to where he
had seen old Rafe Doggett almost fur
lively join Lottie-May. sitting apart
within the rallied Enclosure after hav-
ing given her testimony. Alike upon
the faces OF the old man and his grand
daughter there rested an expression Of
pathetic dread
What air they a'goin' to do to my
girl, Colonel Todhunter?" asked old
Doggett piteously ".rain,t all her
fault that she done what she done.
keepin' her mouth shet about Chicka-
saw Jesse, and then lunnin' away with
him. She wanted to tell all she know.
ed. but she was a-skeered for her life,
Colonel Todhunter. | amt excusin'
her none for her own badness, God
knows, but the law amt got no call to
punish her along o. Chickasaw Jesse's
sim"
The law amt goin' to punish her
Rafe," replied Colonel Todhunter.
I've already made sure just how Lot
tie-May stands. She'd ha' been an
. accomplish o Chickasaw Jesse's, for
, not comm here at first and tellin'
. what she knew, II the truth wasn't plain
now that she didn't tell because Chick
asaw Jesse threatened to kill her II
; she did. And her fwantin' to testify
! In Tom Stricklands behalf, and DOM
, IL like she did, proves that she was
innocent just the minute she was a
i free agent. I've laid all these facts
before the court, Rafe. The law amt
/ goin' to punish Lottie-May"
j Old Rafe Doggett bowed his white
> head as IL In prayer.
Thank the Lord God Almighty" he
spoke at last. An me and Lottie-
I May won't trouble Nineveh's folks
after this day. I'm a'goin' away rum
here, Colonel Todhunter. couldn't
I live here no more to save my life. An
: Lottie-Mays a-goin' with me-goin'
, somewhere away rum here, where her
mothers shame and hers won't be In
!, ver'body's mouth like now In Nine
| veh."
!. You can go any time you want to,
I Rafe," said Colonel Todhunter. "Th'
Amt no charge against Lottie-May on
the docket o this court. You can 20
: now. II you feel like It."
The old man and the young girl
3 moved toward the door.
Colonel Todhunter ACCOMPANIED
3 them, screening both, as far as lay In
: his power, from the curious staring OF
4 the multitude.
Lottie-May spoke no word during
their progress. Her face was still
tense with the shadow Of that dread,
but lately lifted from her soul More
J, than ever did she seem the Hagar OF
: this little Missouri community-a
$ Hagar now going into uttermost exile.
At the door she turned and looked
Q back into the court room. Her eyes
! rested upon Tom Strickland's face.
Mary Todhunter stood at Toms side
A great Joy shone in her eyes. Toms
glance fingered with a deep fondness
d upon this girl whom he loved SO
Y dearly.
k With little cry OF poignant heart
Q break Lottie-May Doggett threw one
arm across her grandfather's age
stopped shoulders, seeming to draw
r him and herself beyond the seeing OF
!, that which had so moved her to un-
], comfortable anguish.
d The next moment the door had
: closed upon the two shutting them out
Q from Nineveh's vision.
j. (To Ne Continued.l
y