The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-06

sent down here subject to your orders,
and 1t seems you are also subject to
orders. Here are two murders IN a
day. Gaping a climax of 20 years Of
bIoodshed. You have Information as
to the arrival of a man known as a
desperate with a grudge against the
two dead men, yet you know Of no
steps to take. Give me the word and
I'll go out and bring that man, and any
others you name. to your bar Of justice
If it is a bar of justicel For Gods
sake, give ne something else to do
than to bring in prisoners to be shot
down in cold blood"
The judge sat balancing a pencil on
his extended forefnger, as though it
were a scale of justice.
you have been heated in your Ian
guage, SIR he said. sternly, but it is
a heat arising from an indignation
which I share. Consequently, pass 1t
over. l cannot instruct you to arrest
Samson South before the grand jury
has accused him. The law does not
contemplate hasty or unadvised action.
All men are innocent until proven
guilty. If the grand jury wants South,
I'll instruct you to go and get him
Until then. you may leave my part of
the work to me-"
His honor rose from his chair.
You can at least give this grand
jury such instructions on murder as
will point out their duty. You can as
sure them that the militia will protect
them. Through your prosecutor you
can bring evidence to their attention.
you"
eff you will excuse me-" interrupted
his honor, dryly, I'll judge of how am
to charge my grand jury. 1 have been
in communication with the family Of
Mr. Purvy, and it is not their wish ct
the present time to bring this case be-
fore the panel"
CalIomb laughed ironically.
mo, 1 could have told you that be-
fore you conferred with them. 1 could
have told you that they prefer to be
their own courts and executioners, ex-
cept where they need you. They also
preferred to have me get a man they
couldn't take themselves, and then to
assassinate him in my hands. Who in
the hell do you work for, Judge-for-the-
moment Smithers? Are you holding
job under the state of Kentucky, or IN
der the HOLMAN faction Of this feud?
1 am instructed to take my orders
from you. Will you kindly tell me my
masters real name?"
Smithers turned pale with anger,
his fighting face grew as tTuculent as
bulldogs, while Callomb stood glar-
ing back at him like a second bulldog,
hTT% h. l. h<.iT,
honestly and fearlessly accused He
merely pointed to the door. The cap
tain turned on his heel and stalked
out of the place, and the judge came
down the steps and crossed the street
to the courthouse. Five minutes later
he turned to the shirt-sleeved man who
was leaning on the bench and said in
his most judicial voice:
Mr.. Sheriff, open court.
The next day the mail carrier
brought in a note for the temporary
judge. His honor read it at recess and
fastened across to Hollman's Nam
moth Department Store. There, in
council with his masters, he asked in
structions. This was the note:
1.-THE Hon. Asa Smithers.
Sir: 1 arrived in this county yes
terday. and am prepared. if called as
a witness, to give to the grand jury
full and true particulars of the murder
of Jesse Purvy and the killing of Aaron
Hollis. am willing to come under the
escort of my own kinsmen, or the mill
tiamen, as the court may advise.
1.-The requirement of any bodyguard
7 hut II al,
legations, do not regard it as neces-
sary or proper to walk into trap.
Respectfully,
SAMSON SOUTH"
Smithers looked perpIexedly at
Judge Holman.
Shall I have him Gomez" he in
CURED
Holman threw the letter down on
his desk with burst of blasphemy:
Have him conner" he echoed. Hell
and damnation, no! What do we want
him to come here and spill the milk
for? When we get ready, well indict
him. Then, let your damned soldiers
go after him-as a criminal, not a
witness. After that, we'll continue this
case until these outsiders go away,
and we can operate to suit ourselves
We don't fall for Samson South's
tricks. No, sir; you never got that
letter. It miscarried. Do you hear?
You never got it."
Smithers nodded grudging acqui-
escence. Most men would rather be
Independent officials than collar-wear-
ers.
Out on Misery Samson South had
gladdened the soul OK MS uncle with
| his return. The old man was mending,
and, for a long time, the two had
talked. The failing head of the clan
looked vainly for signs of degeneration
in his nephew. and, falling to find
them, was happy.
"Hev We decided. Samson" he in
quired, tibet ye was right in yer no.
ton, bout goin' away?"
Samson sat ref1ectively for a while,
then replied:
| I'VE were both right, Uncle Spicer-
been in the act of stepping nm IN