The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-10-13
CHAPTER XIV.
A Race to the Swift.


Since Sheriff Harding had left his
office in the county Jail and had gone
home TO his ranch on the north side
of the river some hours earlier, not a
little precious time was consumed in
hunting him up. Beyond this, there
was another delay in securing the dep
uty. When Starbuck'S car came to
stand for Il second time before the
meSafronting entrance of the court
house, Smith came quickly across the
walk from the portal.
Mr. Harding" he began abruptly,
Judge Warner has gone home and he
has made me his messenger. There Is
bit Of sharp work to he done, ana
you'll need strong posse. Can you
deputiZe fifteen or twenty good men
who can be depended upon in tight
and rendezvous them on the norm
side river road in two hours from
now?"
The sheriff, big, bearded man who
might have sat for the model of one
Of Frederic Remington's frontiersmen
took time to consider. as it scrap!'
he asked.
1T is likely to be. There are war
rants to be served, and there will
most probably be resistance. Your
posse should be well armed"
"WeIl try for it." was the decision.
ION the north-side river road, you
say? You'll want us mounted|
1T will be better to take horses. We
could get autos, but Judge Warner
agrees with me that the thing had
better be done quietly and without
making too much of stir in town.
"All right" said the man of the
law. sit that all?'
mo, not quite all. The first of the
warrants is to be served here in Brew
stcr-upon Mr.. Crawford Stanton
Your deputy will probably find him at
the Hophra House. Here is the paper
II is a bench warrant of commitment
on a charge of conspiracy. and Stan
ton is to be locked up. Also you are
to see to it that your Jail telephone
is out of order, SO that Stanton won
be able to make any attempt to get
hearing and bail before tomorrow.
THAT part of it is mighty risky
said Harding. 'Does the judge kno"
about that, tOo?"
Gle does; and for the ends of pure
Justice, he concurs with me-thougn
of course, he couldn't give manda
tory order"
The sheriff turned to his Jail dep
uty. who had descended from IN
rumble seat in the rear.
"Youye heard the dope. Jimmie,
he said shortly. go and get Hi
Nobs and lock him up. And If h
wants to be yelling Help" and SEND
ing for his lawyer or somebody, why
the telephones takin' a lay-on
Savvy?"
The deputy nodded and turned upo
his heel, stuffing the warrant Tor etai
TONS arrest into his pocket as
went Smith swung up beside Sthl
huck. saving: "In a couple OF hour
then. Mr.. Harding; somewhere hea
the bridge approach on the other $40
of the river"
St,rburk had started the motor an
was bending forward to adjust the Q
feed when the sheriff left them.
"you seem to have made re
strike with Judge Warner the y
cown,ncher remarked, replacing u
fiash-lamp in its seat pocket.
"Judce Warner is man in eVe'
inch of him; but there is somethil
behind this nights work that dor
quite understand" was the QUICK I
NV 81 had hardly begun to state u
case when the judge interrupted III
r know he said. I have been wa
ing for you people to come ana al
for relief. What do you make
that, Billy"
81 don't know; unless someone
le Stonton's outfit has welshed. Sha
e might have done it. He has been
81 Rob Stillings, and Stillings says ne
sore at Stanton for some reason. Sna
IS was trying to get Stillings to agree
le dron the railroad case against n
r and Bob says he made some Vae
% nromise of help in the High Line bu
ness if the railroad people Won
so agree not to prosecute
* "There is a screw loose someWher
u I know by the way Judge Warn
lis took hold. When proposed to swe
. out the warrant for Stanton's ARE
&c he said. L can't understand, \
on Smith, why you haven't done this
4. fore and he sat down and filled
ay the blank. Eut we can let that go
the present. How are you going
no get me across the river without I;
az ing me through the heart of the TO
ad and giving the Brewster police a
e. at ne:"