Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-26

smiled widely and sweetly. The sher'
IN gave him a hostile glare. u you
know that Morrow has left town"
the Judge went on.
II 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 open court in It."
you are willing to assume the re-
sponsibility OF throwing open these
doors7" inquired the Judge arably.
Il shorely am said Belts. why,
some Of these folks are our leading
people!"
The Judge turned TO the crowd, and
spoke in a tone OF excessive civiiity.
Just a word. gentlemen!-the sher-
IN Is right; It is your courthouse and
you should not be kept out Of 1t. 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, but
I beg you to remember that there will
be five men inside whose prejud.ces
are all in favor OF law I'M order"
He pushed past Hues n entered the
courthouse. followed by Yancy and
Hannibal. We'll let 'em In where 1
can talk to EN-" he said almost gaily.
J Besides, they'll come In anyhow when
they get ready, 80 there's no sense in
exciting them"
In b 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
bianched his unshaven cheeks and
given a wild light to his deeply sunk.
en- eyes At sight of Yancy a smoth.
cred exclamation broke from his lips;
he had supposed this man dead these
many months!
Hues had abandoned his post, and
the crowd, suddenly grown clamorous,
stormed the narrow entrance. One OF
the doors, borne from its hinges. vent
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 t. rescue him he
Is to be shot!"
The hall was filling with swearing,
struggling men. the fioor shook be-
meath their heavy tread; then they
burst into the courtroom and saluted
Murrell with a great shout. But Muir.
rell. bound, In rags, and silent, his
lips frozen in a 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. Mar after
mar had hurried forward, intent on
passing beyond the railing, but each
had encountered the judge, formida-
BILE n forbidding, and had turned
aside. Gradually the many pairs OF
eyes rowing over the little group sur.
rounding the outlaw focused them.
selves on Slocum Price. 1t was in un
conscious recognition OF that moral
force which was his, a tribute to the
grim dignity OF his mistaken courage;
what he would do seemed worth con.
sidering.
lie was charmed to hear his name
pass in n whisper from lip to lip.
Well, it was time they knew him! lie
squared his ponderous shoulder and
made a gesture commanding silence
BATTERED, shabby and debauched, he
was like some old var horse who
shifts the odOr OF battle that the wind
incontinently brings to his nostrils.
Don't let him speak," cried q
voice. and a tumult succeeded.
Cool and indomitable the Judge
waited for 1t to subside. lie saw tina,
the color was stealing back into Mur
rell's face. Tho outlaw was feeling
that he was n leader not overthrown;
these were his friends and followers
his safety was their safety, too. In 6
lull In the storm OF sound the Judge
attempted to make himself heard, bu,
his words were lost in the angry roal
that descended IN him.
Don't let him speak! XIII him,
XIII him!"
A score OF men sprang to their fee
and from all sides came the click o
rifle and pistol hammers as they wer'
drawn to the full cock. The judge
fate seemed to rest on a breath. ii,
swung about on his heel and gave
curt nod to Yancy and Cavendish
who. falling back a step. tossed thei
guns to their shoulders and coveret
Murrell. A sudden hush grew up GU
OF the tumult; the cries, angry an,
jeering. dwindled to q murmur, and
dead pail OF silence rested on tn
crowded room.