Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-04

shaking them roughly. II took a quar-
ter OF an hour TO bring them around TO
anything like normality. Whatever
Storm thought OF the affair be kept to
himself.
Zudora. believing II wise to close the
door again. was about TO cast aside the
log when her eye was attracted by a
tuft n coarse hair caught In splinter.
did your husband have a dOgr she
asked the frightened woman nc her
side.
Yes. Rut he ran away the day my
husband died. and no one has seen him
since"
Zudora again studied the log thought.
fully. The earth about was soft. and
presently she discovered the footprints
OF dog, The tuft of hair and the
tracks set her thinking deeply.
"Was your man quite rightT' she
asked. touching her forehead.
"How do you meanY
~ mean did he net queerly at timesf'
"Why, now you come to speak OF It.
yes. thought he was just erratic."
Here's bit Of good luck" said Zu-
dora suddenly. She pointed down the
road a bit where wagon was visibly
approaching. He'll be able to give rs
a lift back to the village. | want to
see the authorities at once. I've an
idea how your husband came to die"
"Howr
"All In good time" ZudOsa hailed
the farmer. He would gladly give
them lift. These two men," said
Zudora. indicating John and Hassam
Ali. "have met with an accident. Help
me get them into the wagon"
"In a jiffy. miss
The exhausted men were bundled
into the wagon. and the farmer touch
ed his team with his whip.
At the outskirts of the town they
came upon a mob. 1t was very disor-
Derby In the midst Of this mob was a
pale man securely bound.
my brother! They are going to lynch
timw cried the widow wildly.
1t looked that way to Zudora too.
There was one thing for her to do.
Into this mob she resolutely pushed
her way. The excited men stepped
aside grumblingly.
Men. even II this poor man was
guilty you are acting like a pack Of
wolves. He is innocent. / can tell
you how John McWinter came to his
death. He died in trap he had set
for this very man you would hang.
His own dog was the cause Of his
death"
His dog!'
"Come. come; this is no time for
fairy stories String him up, boys, be-
fore the police nose In"
Smith was backed against a tree.
~ warn you that you will be COM
hitting murder. Give me one hour.
and If cannot reasonably prove that
Smith is guiltless. why. l engage to
stand aside and watch you hang him"
This declaration made the more sober
men pause.
"And III help you pull the rope"
shouted the sheriff. quick to recognize
the value of respite.
Choose six among you to follow
me-" said Zudora. "Or as many as you
wish"
"WelI all go; Smith toor'
That settled 1t. The mob began to
surge along the road at dog trOt. II
this girl could prove what she said.
why. Smith could 20: II not there'd be
enough trees near the shack to serve
their purpose.
When the eager girl exhibited the
bottles and explained what was IN
them pointed to the little platform
and then TO the door with Its spring
O calm began to settle upon the blood
thirsty men.
ITO hold the door open against the
pressure Of the spring It was necessary
to prop this log against It, McWinter
and Smith had gone out hunting. Sad
denly Smith missed McWlnter. who
was. In fact. arranging The details Of
the trap McWinters dog evidently
got III MS way, ana ne Kicked II. Inc
dog IN itS endenv0r to escape a SEQ
Ond kick bumped against the log, shut
ting McWintpr IN the shack and caus-
Ing the poisonous fumes to he IlleFat'
I'd. My uncle has aIrendy proved this
fact to his satisfaction
Hassam All nodded gravely. There
was nothing else for him 10 do Storm
stared at him ironically for n moment.
Put there is something else to add"
went on Zudora. now satisfied that she
had won the interest at the mob.
"McWintrr mad laid this trap for
Smith himself. He was an insane
nan. md none Of yOn ever sItpiciOnpd
his fact. He Imagined All MS trOn-
lies. Smith l.id absolutely nothing 10
10 With them Now hang him II you
an"