The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-31
} Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911, by the Bobbs-MeFr@
(Continued.)

CCOnttnued.)
after you saw and recognized this
man. said the prosecuting attorney,
what happened thenT
Il laid right dar 'twen he done gone
out o. sight, sub. He was a-goin' in to-
ards town, and 1 done keep my eyes
on him 'twell he turn d ben in de road
and CANT see him no mo-. Den
wait 'tweIl 1 sho' he amt a-comin'
back. After dat, got up and started
on my way, keepin' in de shadow side
O. de road"
Again the witness paused.
"WellT' asked the prosecuting attor-
ney. Tell the jury what happened
then, Abe
The witness shufded uneasily in his
chair. something of awe in his black
face.
I'll had come purity nigh to de hog
path whar I was TO strike of inter de
bottom lands,'' he resumed, when
stumbled ovah sump'in a-layin' on de
groun', part in de road and part in de
grass side o. de road"
He wiped his face with his open
palm Hit was a man." he satd-and
then, his voice solemn-"'and de man
was dead He been shot seen de
place whar he shot-right in de head,
'twix' de eyes, on'y des a III bit high
er up. When 1 stumble ovah him and
nigh fall 1 stretch out my hand, down
lax, and hit tech de place whar he
been shot and got all bloody"
The negro shuddered.
did you see the face of this man '
asked the prosecuting attorney.
'fYass. suh."
Ibid you recognize itT'
'sYass, subj"
"Abram,' said the prosecuting attor-
ney, tell the jury who the dead man
was whose body you thus found, and
whose face you saw and recognized"
"Hit was young Mistah Stamford
Tucker" the witness made answer.
'I knowed him, sub, dess as well as
know NIistah Tom Strickland settin'
right hyar TO my eyes, suh.''
The prosecuting attorney waited a
moment, his shrewd eyes studying the
faces of the jurors.
Abe he asked, "why didn't you at
once report the finding of Stamford
fuckers dead body and the seeing of
Thomas w. Strickland, pistol in hand,
as he came away from the spot where
that body lay?"
The witness shook his head stubborn
". "'Twan't none O. my. business,
SUM- ne EGpIlSQ- I'LL I11SuLy lOOI
niger what goes miNin' hiss'ef up In a
shootin' scrape 'twix. - wos WHITE gent
mum, sub 1 was skeered ter do it. sub
S-dass why-and dess pick up my feet
and make tracks fas' as 1 could to
whar my camp IN de bottom lands was,
sub And you amt heern no wu'd
'boutn what seen, and you amt had
me fetched to yo' Office, 'cept'n was
fool ernuff ter tell dat ar ole Isr'el
FAINT what / run ercross down In de
bottom lands suhl''
The states attorney turned to the
counsel for the defense. "You may
take the witness" he said.
A searching cross examination Jailed
to weaken In any respect the testimo-
ny just given. At it's conclusion Major
Gentry Dryden whispered earnestly
with Colonel Bill Strickland.
1t was plainly disDjrited and hope
less conference. ColG9sel Strickland
leaned back YEARLY at the end.
cit can't make any difference he
muttered sadly. They've got the rope
around Toms neck now"
And, although the words were not
audible, this certainty Of conviction
seemed to be In the thought of all.
Into the jurors faces there came a
book Of pity as their eyes met those Of
the accused man, the latter perpIexed,
bewildered, helpless.