La Junta tribune., 1913-10-04
TheCrossOn
the Moon
ny JOHN II. wARNACk

STORM lie had Just been slslieu O1
the mother OF Jim Turner. the man
who al o'clock that e. rs was 10
be hanged FOR the ml Of his
father The governor h-d remained
apparently calm during the interview.
out the womans visit had shaken his
--yes. had made him qEesjion the
Justice OF the Law and caused him 10
doubt bis own judgment
Governor. the woman had said
II Jim Turner dies tonight the soul
Of an innocent man vii whisper into
the ear OF God the story OF a lesalized
murder My son vas accused OF tax
ing the NE OF his gentle father. ui
husband lie has been tried before
the courts oi ihlf state. and has been
pronounced guilty by jury OF twelve
ignorant moun,aineers; but the eyi-
de.ce produced against him is almost
entirely circumsianiial. and before God
swear that my noble boy Is innocent
! would gladly give my own life 10 be
able 20 absolutely prove his Innocence
and TO take the unearned stain from
the name OF Turner In this state"
He Was called the pardouing gov
-rnor, and his political enemies had
made the most OF the fact ths, already
during bis brief tenure OF office he had
robbed the galloNs OF four men Vho
under the law. had been condemned to
death A pardonins governor. yes:
merciful man. surely a leader whose
heart Was as great AS his mind-but
sas ID. allowing his brain aud his
heart to be ruled by a moral weak
ness Was he going 10 pardon this
man who had been sentenced by the
Judge to be hanged by the neck until
he was dead Tor the murder OF one
Of the besi-loved citizens OF the state'
He had only thirty minutes In which
10 decide
lie reviewed all the evidence in the
case Turner and his father we're last
seen together strolling through the
woods. during the early autumn. Tn.
sou came home alone. and an hour si.
ter~ard his fathers body was found.
half covered by leaves A bullet had
pierced his heart. causing instant
death The young man. Jim Turner.
had returned home with ride which
be and his father had taken with them
into the woods. On tn. day previous
to the murder. II murder II was. the
young man had threatened to leave
his home on account of = misunder-
standing which had arisen between
him and bis father That Vas all. but
vas II not enough What further svt.
Deuce ~AA necessary to prove young
Turner'S guilt And yet. Why did be
not leave the rife by the side Of bis
fathers body In order that the coro
ners Jury might return q possible yer.
diet OF suicideg On the other hand.
bow could II have been suicide, whom
no weapon vas found by the dead
man Who else could have committed
the crime. II no, his SON The elder
Turner had not had an enemy T.. the
country. lie was generous man.
and one OF the mildest and most for.
bearing. Could soms one have shot
him accidentally This could not be.
for the shot had been accurate. Sure
U I, ~as premedi,sted. The bullet
had entered the heart. passing entire.
~ through that organ, and the cloth.
Ing over the wound was powder.
burned. therefore the shooting must
have been At close range. Yet the
youns man had been seen and spoken
to when he and his father had entered
the woodland he had returned with
tAs stAs. Asd Turner vas NO fool.
This vas the pusslins part Of the as.
fair. Surely. or at least posslbly.
there vas another explanation. u Il
could BE- found. However. the courts
AaA givss the accused man the bsaset
ot every plausible doubt. and still "
~ beea fousd guilty.
osddsely tAs sovsrsos lifted his
Ased asd looked out through the vis.
dov screen st the early rising moou.
INA bis syss deceive hims What vas
this be sav' Across the great orb. 81.
tseAins above and below Il. shoss .
bs1iiian, cross. the embisa Of Cal.
vary. the sisn Of the death Of one vho
had pardonsd his csueinsrs.
The governor vas cot supsrstitious.
Again aud again he looked in wos.
1dssmeat. The croAs still shops
clearly across the yellow moon.
Mary" be eall~i suddeniy. and a..
most Immediately hi. beautiful dausA.
ter stood In the doorway.
Whore have you been. ehiid7"
-Ou the vsranda. stAr.gAsinx. or
rather moon-gssins Th. moon 10
lovs,y tonight. don't you think"
YES" said the governor. 1T 10 beau.
lifVi"
~ never seemed 30 golden" sh.
wsot on. How soft and sweet th,
night To- Can't you come out = while
vtlh me. fathsr'"
In . fe~ minutes. perhaps. dear
not Just nov only wished to know
where you were. had not seen you
eer such . long time. almost three
hours."
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