River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-01-28

tits Sam an his pardner an dog
team hell bent down the trail for
Stewart rlv err" the man reported.
Nobody spoke for a long half minute,
but men glanced significantly at one
another. and a general restlessness per
vaded the packed room Out of the
corner OF his eye Smoke caught
glimpse of Brock. Lucy and her hus
band whispering together
Come on. you!" Skunk Wilson said
gruf1y to Smoke "Cut this question
in short. We know what you're tryin'
TO prove-that the other bank want
searched. The witness admits it. We
admit it. 1t want necessary. No
tracks led to that bank. The snow
want broke"
There was a man on the other bank,
just the Same.' Smoke insisted.
That's too thin for Skatn'. young
man. There amt many of US on the
McQuestion. an we got every man ac-
counted for"
WHO was the man you hiked out of
camp two weeks ago?' Smoke asked
"Alonzo Miramar He was a Mexi
can. What's that grub thief got to do
with it,"
Nothing. except that you haven't
accounted for him. Mr.. Judge"
He went down river not up
How do you know where he went?
Saw him start
And that's all you know Of what
became of him.
No. it amt. young man. ] know.
we all know. be had four days grub
an no gun to shoot meat with. Ii he
didn't make the settlement on the Yu-
kon he'd croaked long before this.
Il suppose you've got all the guns In
this part Of the country accounted for.
too" Smoke observed pointedly.
Skunk Wilson was angry. YOU'D
think | was the prisoner the way you
slam questions into me Come on with
the next witness. Where's French
LouiS:'
While French Louis was showing for
ward Lucy opened the door
Where you goin!" Skunk Wilson
shouted
Il reckon | don't have to stay. she
answered defantly. Il amt got no
vote an. besides my cabins so jam
med up | can't breathe"
In few minutes her husband fol-
lowed The closing of the door was
the first warning the judge received
Of it.
Who was that?" he interrupted
Pierre's narrative to ask.
bill Peabody" somebody spoke up
Said he wanted to ask his wife some
thing and was coming right back
Instead of Bill it was Lucy who re-
entered. took off her furS and resumed
her place by the stove.
Il reckon we don't need to near the
rest of the witnesses, was Skunk IL
sons decision when Pierre had finish
ed I'VE know they can only testify
to the same facts we've already heard
Say, Sorensen. you go an bring Bill
Pea body back Well be vOtin' YER
dict pretty short. Now, stranger, you
can get up an say your say concernn
what happened In the meantime we II
just be savin' delay by pasSln around
the two rifles, the ammunition an the
bullet that done the KILN"
Midway in his story of how he had
arrived in that part of the country ana
at the point in his narrative where ne
described his own ambush and now ne
had fed to the bank Smoke was inter
rupted by the indignant Skunk wilson.
young man, what sense is there III
you testifyin' that way? You're just
takin' up valuable time. or course
you got the right to lie to save your
neck, but we amt goin to stand fol-
such foolishness. The rifle, the am
munition an the bullet that killed Joe
Kinade is against you. WHAT'S that
Open the door, som ebOdy!
The frost rushed in. taking form anC
substance in the heat OF the room
while through the open door came the
whining of dogs that decreased RAPID
~ with distance,
Its Sorensen an Peabody" some
one cried, "a-thrOwin' the whip mt
the dawgs an headin' down river!'
Nov, what the Skunk Wilson
paused, with dropped Jaw, anu SIaIe'
at Lucy. Il reckon YOU can explain
Mrs Peabody"
She tossed her bead and compressed
her Alps. and Skunk wills sons Wrathtu
and suspicious gaze passt I'd on and rest
ed on Breck
"An' ! reckon that new conner you'V'
been chinnin' with could explain if ~
had a mind to-
Breck, now very uncomfortable
found all eyes centered ON him.
Sam was chewin the rag witt
him, too. before he lit out" some OH
| said.
Look here, Mr.. Brock Skunk vii
son continued. you've been interrupt
| in proceedins, and you got to explain
| the meanin' of it. What was yoi
| chinnin' abOut?''
Breck cleared his throat ti1n1diy an
replied. Il was just trying to Du