The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-29

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girl?"
room. 1t was followed by trium-
plant cheer from group Of Tom
Srickland's friends near the door.
And twenty minutes later Thomas
w. Strickland stood free man, cleared
of the dreadful crime that had been
laid to his doing.
But Colonel Todhunter was not
among those who first crowded around
Tom Strickland with their congratua
tons He went instead to where he
had seen old Rafe Doggett almost fur
lively join Lottie-M May, sitting apart
within the rallied Enclosure after having
given his testimony. Alike upon the
faces Of the old man sand his grand
daughter there rested an expression of
pathetic dread.
"What air they a-goin' to do to my
girl, Colonel Todhunter?" asked old
Doggett piteously. "'Tain't all her
fault that she done what she done,
keepin' her mouth shet about Chicka.
saw Jesse and then runnin' away with
him. She wanted to tell all she know.
ed, but she was a-skeered for her life
Colonel Todhunter I amt excusin'
her none for her own badness, Coz
knows, but the law amt got no call to
punish her along O. Chickasaw Jesse's
sinv'
"The law amt goin' to punish her.
Rafe," replied Colonel Todhunter eve
already made sure just how LOttie-
May stands. She'd ha' been an accom-.
plice O. Chickasaw Jesse's for not COM
in hero at first and tellin' what she
knew If the truth wasn't plain now
that she didn't tell because Chickasaw
Jesse threatened to kill her If she did.
And her wantin' to testify in Tom
Stricklands behalf and doin' it like
she did proves that she was innocent
just the minute she was free agent.
I've laid all these facts before the
court, Rafe. The law amt goin' to pun
ish Lottie-May."
Old Rafe Doggett bowed his white
head as if in prayer.
"Thank the Lord God Almighty" he
spoke at last And me and Lottie-
May won't trouble Ninevehs folks
after this day. I'm a-goin away FUN
here, Colonel Todhunter. couldn't
live here no more to save my life. And
Lottie-May's a-goin' with me-goin'
somewhere away FUN here where her
mothers shame and hers won't be in
ever'body's mouth like now in Nine
veh." s..
you can go any time you want to,
Rafe," said Colonel Todhunter. "Th'
amt no charge against Lottie-May on
the docket O this. court. You can go
now If you feel like it."
The old man and the young girl
moved toward the door. =
screening both. as far as lay in his
power, from the curious staring of the
multitude. H..
Lottie-May spoke no word during
their progress. Her face was still tense
with the shadow Of that dread but late
ly lifted from her soul. More than ever
did she seem the Hagar Of this little
Missouri community-a Hagar now go.
ing into uttermost exile.
At the door she turned and looked
back into the courtroom. Her eyes
rested upon Tom .Stricklands face.
Mary Todhunter stood at Toms side.
A great JOY shone in her eyes. Toms
glance fingered with deep fondness
upon this girl whom he loved so dearly.
With a little cry Of poignant heart
break . Lottie-May Doggett threw one
arm across her grandfather's age
stopped shoulders, seeming to draw
him and herself beyond the seeing Of
that which had SO moved her to uncon-
trollable anguish. 5s55l
M The next moment the door had closed
upon the two, shutting them out from
Ninevsh's vision.