Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-06-20
CHAPTER ".
An Old Acquaintance.

An Old Acquaintance.
The Carson City lookup was an i'm
proyised affair. although a decidedly
popular resort. II was originally a
,wo.roum cabin with gable to the
street. the front apartment at one
time a low groggery. the keeper sleep
ing in the rear room Whether sud
den death. or financial reverses had
been the cause. the community had in
some manner become possessed OF the
property. and had at once dedicated
it 10 the commonweal. For the pur-
pose thus selected II was rather well
adapted being strongly built. easily /
guarded. and on the outskirts OF the
town with iron grating over the |
windows. the back door heavily spiked. /
and the front secured by iron bars. /
any prisoner once locked within could /
probably be found when wanted. On /
the occasion OF Keith's arrival. the .
portion abutting upon the street was +
occupied by rather miscellaneous T
asspmbly-the drunk and disorderly
clements cOnspicuous-w we're
awaiting their several calls to appear
before a local Justice and make an
swer for various misdeeds Some were I
pacing the floor. others sat moodily /
on benches ranged against the wall
while . few were still peacefully stun
bering upon the floor II was a frowsy
disreputahle crowd. cvincing but mild
curiosity AT the arrival OF new pris-
oler Keith had barely time 10 glance
about. recognizing no familiarity Of
face amid the mass pcering at him. az
-. lHuffr.4 hrfufrfr md
thrust into the r, r room. the heavy
door closing behind him with the snap
Of n spring lock.
lie was alone. with only the faint
est murmur Of voices coming TO him
through the thick partition. II was a
room some twelve feet square. open
tu tho roof. with bare walls. and con
tanning no furniture except rude
bench Still dazcd by the suddcnness
~ his arrest. he sank down upon the
scat. leaned his head on his hands
and cndcavored TO think II was dif
ncu.i TO get the facts marshallcd into
any order or TO comprehend clearly
tho situation. yet little by little mis-
brain grasped the main details. and
be- awoke To "A full realization Of ms
condition. OF the forces he must war
against The actual murdcrcrs OF
those two men on the trail had had
their suspicious aroused by his ac.
lions. they believed hc guessed some
thing Of their foul deed. and had de
termned 10 clear themselves by
charging the crime directly against
MIN. II was a shrewd trick. and Il
they only stuck To ,heir s,1ry. ought
10 succeed He had no evidence. 9th
'r than his own word. and the marshal
had already taken from his pockets
tho papers belonging &c the slain
man. He had not found the lockct
hidden under his shirt. yet n more
thorough search would doubtless re
veal that also.
Even should the case come Ia trial.
no" would II be possible ftr him TO
establish innocence. and would II
ever come 70 trial? Keith knew the
character OF the frontier. aud OF Car
son city. Tho inclination Of its citi-
1ehs In such cases vas 60 act first.
and reflect later Abe law had but
slender hold. being respected only
"hen backed by the strong hand. and
primitive instincts were always I'm the
aScendency. requiring merely n leader
10 break forth i'm open violence. And
IN This case would there be any lack
VI leadership? Like a fash his mind
reverted TO BLACK Bart" There was
me man capable of melting n mob IT,
l"r some unknown reason. he had suf
"cieht interest to swear out the war
rant and assist In the arrest. ile would
nave equal cause TO serve those fel
lows behind him I'm other ways Nat
uraiy. they would dread n trial. with
us possibility of exposure and eagerly
s'aSp any opportunity for wiping the
sia'e clean. Their real security from
discovery undoubtedly lay In his
death. and with the Red Light
crowd behind them they could ex
perience no trouble in getting fol
""ing desperate enough for any pur
pose
me longer Keith thought the less
ne doubted the result. Il was not thei
problem of defence, buy of escape
'or ne believed now that no oppor
UNITY 10 defend himself would eve
"e allowed The arrest was merel.
part OF the plot intended to leave hin
helpless In the hands of the mob. II
.his Hicks was In no way blamable-
ne mad merely performed his swor
auty. and would still die. II need be
III defence of his prisoner He wa
no tool hut only an instrument the
uad found means of using.
Keith uoo essentially man nf aC