The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-13
TheCrOSSOn
the Moon
BY JOHN II. WARNACk

1
MS beautiful new home. his head
! bowed in deep thought. while through
MS great heart surged conflicting emo
lions like warning waves in time Of
storm lie had just been visited by
Inc mother OF Jim Turner, the man
| VINO at . o'clock that evening was to
be hanged for the murder of his
| father. The governor had remained
apparently calm during the interview,
but the womans visit had shaken his
nerves. had made him question the
justice of the law and caused him to
doubt his own Judgment.
Governor, the woman had said.
II Jim Turner dies tonight. the soul
OF an innocent man will whisper into
the ear OF God the story OF a legalized
murder. My son was accused OF tax.
ing the life of his gentle father, my
husband. He has been tried before
the courts Of this state. and has been
pronounced guilty by jury of twelve
ignorant mountaineers hut the evil
dence produced against him is almost
entirely ciroumslartial, and before God
swear that my noble boy is innocent
| would gladly give my own life to be
able 70 absolutely prove his innocence
and TO take the unearned stain from
the name OF Turner In this state
lie VAS called the pardoning gov
ernor, and his political enemies had
made the most Of the fact that already
during his brief tenure of office he had
robbed the EalloMs OF four men who,
under The law. had been condemned to
death \ paldoning governor. yes:
mereiiul man surely, 4 leader whose
heart vas as great as his mind but
WAS he alloNhg lis brain and his
heart To be rA!ed ny lMoral weak
ness Was he suius Ia pardon this
man who had been sentenced Ay the
Judge TO he hanged hs The ilryh until
he vas dc 4 for the murder III enc
81 the best loved citi2,ns 2t the stlt.o
ilc had on'l IaMt Iia,.. n which
10 decide
lie reNlt. All the clIa,Ave ii the
case iHrtoI and hIs idlhpr mere last
seen toseth"r strulling through the
woods, dt!iin HE oarll autumn The
son tane Au.o aIo.e ana ;n hour If
tcrMArd II taih,l@ bod, MA found.
hall eoSorrd N Icalcs \ bullet had
pierced his heart, causing instant
death Ii' young man. Jim Turner,
had returned home With rifle which
lie and iIs .ltl.cr had taken with them
INTO ~ Moea On the day previous
70 lhc nude. a murder 1t was. the
yon's man had threatened 10 leave
ms home On account of a misuAdcr-
standing which had arisen between
INN aud his father That Was all, but
was il not enough? What further eyi
dence Was necessary to prove young
Turner's guilt? And yet. why did he
not leave the rifle by the side OF his
fathers body In order that the coro.
ners jury might return Il possible YER
dict Of suicide? On the other hand,
how could It have been suicide. when
no weapon was found by the dead
man? Who else could have committed
the crime, II not his son? The elder
Turner had not had an enemy In the
country He WAS generous man,
and one OF the mildest and most for
bearing Could some one have shot
him accidentally? This could not be.
for the shot had been accurate. Sure.
ly IL was premeditated The bullet
had entered tho heart. passing entire
~ through that organ, and tho cloth
Ing over the wound WAS powder
burned therefore the shooting must
have been al close range. Yet the
young man had been seen and spoken
to when he and his father had entered
the woods and he had returned with
the rife, And Turner MS no fool |
This was the puzzling par Of the af |
fair. Surely, or at least POSSIBLY |
there was another explanation, If /,
could be found. However, the courts /
had given the accused man Tie benefit |
of every plausible doubt. and still he |
had been found guilty
Suddenly tho governor lifted hi
head and looked out through the win
dow screen al the early rising moon
Did his eyes deceive him v hat VI
this he saw Across The great orb, -
tending above aud below it, sfnlr
brilliant cross, the .niblem 81 "a
vary. the sign If the death OF one @ha
had pardoned his crncifiefs.
The governor was not superstition
Again and again he looked in Wor.
dderment. The cross still shot
clearly across the yellow moon.
Mary" he called suddenly. and a.
most Immediately his beautiful daugh
ter stood In the doorway.
Where have you been. child
"On the yeranda. stargazing o.
rather gazing The moon
lovely tonight. don't you think ."
Yes. said The governor, it Is Ucaa-
tiful."
1t never seemed SO golden, 81
went on How soft ard sweet ~
night Is. Can't you come out Rhl,
with me, father"
In few minutes. perhaps, deae