The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-06
''Langford Of the Three Bars

were his thoughts on her side of
the rail. He wished for the sake
of Williston's little girl" that
there were not SO much tobacco
stencil in the room.
Court adjourned that evening
with the jury box filled. The
states friends were feeling pretty
good about 1t.
The next morning every avail
able seat was filled early. Long
before the judicial party had ar
rived from the hotel, the cramp-
ed room was crowded to its linn
its. There was loud talking.
laughing and joking.
The door In the rear of the bar
opened and Judge Dale entered.
Then Langford came showing
his way down the crowded aisle
with sad-faced, brown-eyed
young woman in his wake, who
yet held herself erect with
proud little tilt to the chin. There
was not an empty seat outside
the bar. Louise motioned and he
escorted Mary to a place within
and sat down beside her. The
jurymen were all In their chairs.
Presently came in Gordon with
his quiet, self-reliant manner.
Shortly after Gordon came
Small-Small, the dynamic sub
ject of much satire when the legal
fraternity talked shop" But
seated beside Small was an in
significant looking little man.
who was said to have come from
the south part of the state. No
body knew him, and nobody was
interested in him. But, Gordon
knew him. He knew he was pit
ted against one of the sharpest,
shrewdest men of his day.
Gentlemen. think we are
ready" said the Judge, and the
game was on again.
The state called Paul I.angford,
its principal witness in default of
Williston.
Your name, place of residence
and business?" asked the counsel
for the state.
Paul Langford. reside in
Kemah county, and l own AMI
operated a cattle ranch"
After Langford had clearly de-
scribed and identified the animal
inquestion, Gordon continuei:
"Mr. Langford, when did you
first miss this steer?"
ION the 18th day of July, last"
"How did you happen to miss
this steer?"
my attention was called to the
the fact that an animal answering
this description, and bearing my
brand, had been seen under sus-
picious detention
Prior to information thus re-
ceived, you were not aware this
creature had either strayed away
or been stolen?"
81 was not"
Who gave you this informa-
ton, Mr.. Langford?"
George Williston of the Lazy
S."
Nov, you may tell the jury in
what words Williston told you
about the steer he saw"
This, of course, was objected
to, and the objection was sustain
ed by the court. He only wanted
the jury to remember that Willis
ton could have told a damaging
story had he been there, and also
to remember how mysteriouslyl
this same Williston had disap-
peared. He could not have Will
liston or Williston's story. but he
might keep an impression ever
before these IL men that there
was a story-he knew it and they
knew ia story of which some
crochet of the law forbade the
telling.
What did you do after your
attention had been called to the
suspicious circumstances of the
steers detention?"
Il informed my boys of what
I had heard, and sent them out !
to look for the steer"
Were they successful"
NO"
Did this steer have a particu-
lar stamping ground?"
He did"
Where was THAR"
He always ranged with a.
bunch on what we call the home
range"
Near the ranch hquse2.
Within half a mile."tki
Did you look elsewhere for
him?" ssE
I'VE rode the free ranges for
several days-wherever any of
my cattle held out" 8
How many days did you say
you rode?" Hm ~
sharp until my boy, Munscn.
found him the day befors the
preliminary at the velpen Btock-
yards. on the point of being ship
ped to Sioux City"
You went to Velpen TO iden-
tify this steer?"
IL did,"
at was your steerr'4
Yes" n
''The same for which you had
been searching SO long?"
The very same"
ut was wearing your brand?"
\ 1T was not" rs
What brand was it wearing?"