Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-01-11

care they satisfied with the reig,
Of terror" Weighborne was treadinl
the thin ice of local conditions.
1 fancied he was trying to force Garvil
/ into committing himself. but it was ;
4 dangerous experiment. sd.
| whats anybody terrified about?'
inquired the judge with entire bland
ness.
| Weighborne. totally checkmated By
this childlike query, changed groune
and laughed.
ooh, we hear a good deal of tall
down below" he explained, "about
the shot from the laurel, and all thai
/ sort of thing" ..'.s.
| Judge Garvin laughed heartily.
ooh, pshaw!" he exclaimed in high
good humor. "There. amt nothing in
all that. Them newspapers down be
lows jest obliged to have somethin
to talk about. We're all neighbors W
here. We're simple sort OF folks
| Sometimes we has our little argy.
ments, but" The lips still smiled
genially.
He paused, and his voice was like a
benediction as he went on. But
hope we amt got in no such serious
fix that we needs regulation from out
side. They do say that most Of them
fellers that got killed needed killir'
pretty bad. I've lost two brothers,
but 1 ai'n't kickin'."
Weighborne saw that withdrawal
from debate would be advisable. but
that this withdrawal must not seem
precipitate.
However, as matter of argument"
he suggested, lis any man competent
to decide that his enemy needs kilt
ing?" -
The Judge went into his trousers
pocket and produced twist of tobac-
co, into which he bit generously be-
fore replying. .a. ....r.
"Well," he drawled, "your enemy's
the man that's goin' to decide whether
you need KILN. Why. don't it work
both ways?" ,sg ,.-.. Ia
Weighborne made no reply. One
cannot argue with set opinion. The
loungers were saying nothing but
their eyes dwelt admiringly on their
spokesman. At last Garvin smiling
ly inquired. tg
ssYou'd have to condemn rights Of
way, I reckon?"
"Only where we couldn't make in.
dividual trades" answered my CON-
panion.
"That procedure amt apt to be pop
ular," reflected Judge Garvin.
'You gentlemen understand Amt
criticism" he assured us when we
made no reply. III condemnation suits
are brought in my cote amt got no
personal interests to serve. I'm just
namin' it to you, because you asked
about the peoples notions, that's all"
Eat least" fenced Weighborne, you
yourself see the advantages Of devel-
opment?" AZ.
{ IT was putting question which was
almost a challenge to. this leader Of
the old, lawless order whose baronial
power we threatened. He answered 1t
with no flicker of visible interest in
his pleasant drawl.
'tWell, as that, what little property
I'VE got would be benefited but, as an
officer of the law, reckon it wouldn't
hardly be proper for me to take Sides
A moment later he Hospitality added:
If there's any courtesy can show
you gentlemen, just call on me. Where
are you goin' to stop att"
I gazed on this lord OF lies with com
PEELED fascination.
1--WE are on our way to the Gallo
way Marcus place." explained ny
companion in casual voice.
There was no change of expression
on the face of the storekeeper, though
the name was one he venomously
hated. One or two Of the more uy-
guarded loungers scowled in silence.
'How did you calclate to git thar"
asked Garvin. tits all of two miles,
straight up an down." -
81 suppose we shall have to walk"
said Weighborne.
/ "I'd like to take you over thar" said
the Judge thoughtfully; Il sure would,
but the fact is, me and Cal Marcus
amt got much in common and-well,
you understand how it is"
We thanked him for his solicitude,
and at the same moment one of the
lenchmen drew him aside and spoke
in a low voice. Garvin came back and
addressed us again.
court Davis says Cal Marcus went
past here this mornin' goin' towards
town. It's an hour by sun now--he'd
ought to be comm back this way be-
fore long"
We had left our bags outside, and
I took UP a position near the door
where could watch the twisting ruts
of the drab road. We talked, as we
waited, of the outside world. and Gar
vim astonished me by his grasp on
general affairs.
At last Marcus arrived, and his com
ing made a strange picture which
dwells still in my mind. The western
sky was all ash of rose, and the higher
- Il y,