The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-13

"And that you have taken unlawful
possession of 1t for an unlawful pur-
pose? I am going to open them doors
"a passed. of strangers can't keep
folks out of a building their own
money has bought and paid for!"
While he was speaking, the judge had
pushed his way through the crowd to
the foot of the steps.
"That was very nicely said, Mr..
Belts" observed the Judge. He
smiled widely and sweetly. The sher-
If gave him a hostile glare. do you
know that Morrow has left town.
tho 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 vaen
he's mind to open court in 1t.
"You are willing to assume the re-
sponsibility Of throwing open these
doors?" inquired the Judge afrably.
II shorely am" said Belts. why,
some of these folks are our leading
people!"
The Judge turned to the crowd, and
spoke In tone of excessive civillty.
"Just a word, gentlemen!-the sher-
if is right; 1t is your courthouse and
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, but
I beg you to remember that there will
be five men inside whose prejudices
are all In favor of law and order"
He pushed past Hues and entered the
courthouse, followed by Yancy and
Hannibal. We'll let EN- in where
can talk to en-" he said almost gaily.
Besides, they'll come In 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-of space below the
judges bench. Fear and suffering had
blanched his unshaven cheeks and
given q wild light to his deeply sunk
en- eyes. At sight Of Yancy smoth-
cred exclamation broke from his lips;
he had supposed this man dead these
many months! r~asF4- ~ }. r--s-.
'Hues had abandoned his post, and
the crowd, suddenly grown clamorous,
stormed the narrow entrance. One OF
the doors, borne from its hinges, went
down with crash. The Judge, a
fierce light flashing from his eyes,
turned to Yahcy.
mo matter what happens, this fel-
low Murreu is not to escape-if he
calls on his friends to rescue him he
10 70 be shot!"
The hall was filling with swearing.
struggling men, the door shook be-
meath their heavy tread; then they
burst into the courtroom and saluted
Murrell with great shout. But Muir
rell, bound, In rags, and silent, his
lips frozen in a wolfsh grin, was q
depressing sight, and the boldest felt
something of his unrestrained lawless-
ness 90 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 Slocum Price. It 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 a whisper from lip to lip.
Well. it was time they knew him! He
squared his ponderous shoulder and
made a gesture commanding silence.
Battered, shabby and debauched, he
was like some old war 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 tunult succeeded.
Cool and indomttable the Judge
waited for it to subside. He saw that
the color was stealing back into Muir
rell's face. The outlaw was feeling
that he was a leader not overthrow;
these were 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!
XIII him!"
A score Of men sprang to their feet
and from all sides came the click OF
rife and pistol hammers as they were
drawn to the full cock. The judges
fate seemed to rest on q breath. He
swung about on his heel and gave
curt nod to Yancy and Cavendish.
who, falling back q step. tossed their
guns to their shoulders and covered
Muryell. A sudden hush grew up out
OF the tumult; the cries. angry and
ALL - Saas1Sgnv1P And n