The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-03

Tn the next SATURDAY morning James
Sheehan, found guilty Of conspiracy to
falsify election returns, was summoned
to bar and sentenced to four months
hard labor in the county workhouse.
But before the appeal which he took
had been refused by the higher court
he had left Benton county for parts IN
known
John sought refuge In the cubbyhole
that Benton county provides for its
district attorneys. With a sense of re-
lief he fled away his notes on the
Sheehan case in a cabinet marked
Finished Business" Then he threw
himself into chair and began to take
stock
Sheehan's eyes haunted him. John
was normal young man, and he was
capable Of knowing the JOY of task
well done. But not this sort of task,
He could find no elation in a triumph
won at the cost Of direct personal mis-
cry to others There was SIayton, for
example, handsome, pleasant young
man who looked the criminal not at
all. He had not had the courage TO
stand trial, and he had broken bail and
fed, leaving a sick wife. She and the
child born since the fathers flight now
lay together in a grave Slayton had
not dared to return. Perhaps he did
not even know of the double tragedy.
In his dreams John often saw Slayton's
hunted face as 1t must now appear.
He became conscious that his head
was aching, that he was tired all over.
every nerve in his body throbbing For
more than six months, ever since his
election. he had been working inces-
sanity, feverfshly toward this day. The
release from strain allowed his NAL
treated, protesting body TO be heard.
He got up and left the Office. as though
fleeing from the problem.
He laid a roundabout course away
from Main street out into the country
He tramped determinedly along the
pike. filling his lungs with the tonic
air. 1t had been a good growing sea-
son." His way took him between
fields of clean young corn and barley
and oats and occasional cool, green
wood lots.
A farmer. driving pair of heavy
farm horses doing duty at the tongue
Of a squeaky spring wagon, ratified up
behind him.
'Howdy, John! Want q lift?"
"Howdy, Ri No, thank you. Just
taking little exercise and soaking in
all this"
Cranshawe refined in his team. John
stopped.
Little mite too smart fer 'em today,
weren't yep
'They had been so bold they made
1t easier"
Cranshawe nodded BE smarter next
time. reckon-'f we give 'em chanel.
Fl we give 'em a chanct," he repeated
refectively us farmers, we're feelin'
purity good about these trials. Feel
like we didn't make any mistake last
fall"
"Murchell says you forget" John
smiled back
Ben at We already, has hep Gran
shave asked shrewdly. He'll be at.
We harder. before ye're through. Ye
got 'em scared. Mebby We'll fergit an
| then mebby we won't But / guess
that's our lookout, not yours So fur's
ye're concerned, all ye got TO do is go
ahead an try to finish up the job we've
started r we don't do our part,
guess we won't have nobody to blame
but ourselves .
"The question is, am ! big enough
for the jobf"
mo, that amt the question" Gran
Shave contradicted quickly. ''Be-
cause that can't be answered till we've
tried The question is, are We goin' to
be scared out by job because it's big.
or are We goin TO keep up what we've
started? F We don't, there amt any
body else to do it An We'll soon be
back where we started
John nodded slowly. Cranshawe did
not pursue the point
II see Steve Hampden's back" he
remarked casually. 'FThat girl o. his
was at the trial. Came in late an had
to stand by the door where | was
standin' She was with some young
city Teller. Seen her at the rally last
fall too. She seems" he grinned quiz
ideally, ito take considerable intrust In
ye. So longg'
Soon he was out of sight around
turn in the road.
CONTINUED Tomorrow