Putnam patriot., 1912-06-14

square. Un the steps or the ouiloing Betts was arguing loudly with Hues. who stood in the doorway. rife in hand
 Maybe you don't know this is coun- ty property?" the sheriff was saying. And that you have taken unlawful possession of 1t for an unlawful pur- pose? l am going to open them doors "a passel 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. Betts," observed the judge. He smiled widely and sweetly The sher- if gave him a hostile glare. Do you know that Morrow has left town?' the judge went on
 T aint got nothin' to do with Judge l Morrow. It's my duty to see that 1 this building is ready for him when he's mind to open court in 1t"
 You are willing to assume the re- sponsibility of throwing open these doors?" inquired tho judge affably
 T shorely am," said Betts. Why, some of these folks are our leading people,"
 The judge turned to the crowd, and spoke in,a tone of excessive civility. Just a word, gentlemen,-the sher- if is right; it is your courthouse and you should not be kept out of it. No doubt there are some of you whose l 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 1 are all in favor of law and order. He pushed past Hues and entered the courthouse, followed by Yancy and Hannibal Wen let 'em in where 1 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-off space below the | judges bench. Fear and suffering had 1 blanched his unshaven cheeks and given a 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!
 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 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-n he calls on his friends to rescue him he Is to be shot!"
 The hall was filling with swearing, struggling men, the floor shook be- meath their heavy tread; then they burst into the courtroom and saluted Murrell with great shout. But Mur- 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 l the back of the building. Man after man had hurried forward, intent on passing beyond the railing, but each had encountered the judge, formida- ble 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. a tribute to the grim dignity of his unshaken 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! lie squared his ponderous shoulder and made a gesture commanding silence. Battered, shabby and debauched, he was like some old war horse who sniffs the odor of battle that the wind incontinently brings to his nostriIs-
 Don't let him speak," cried a voice. and a tumuit succeeded.
 Cool and indomitable the judge waited for it to subside. He saw that the color was stealing back into Mur- rell's face. The outlaw was feeling that he was a leader not overthrown; these were his friends and followers, his safety was their safety, too. In a Hull 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! Kill him!"
 A score of men sprang to thefr 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 breath. He swung about on his heel and gave curt nod to Yancy and Cayend1sh, who, falling hack step, tossed their guns to their shoulders and covered MurreiI. A sudden hush grew up out of the tumult the cries, angry and jeering, dwindled to murmur, and dead pail Of silence rested on the crowded room.
 The very taste of triumph was fn