Tombstone epitaph., 1917-02-25

its usual brief stop. and while those rife barrels were trained impartially on Haveys and McBriars. a line of soldiers began pouring out into the roadbed and forming cordons along each side of the track. Both lines ward. pressing back the crowds before their urgent bayonets.
 Two wicked-looking gatling guns were unloaded from the baggage car. and. tending them as men might handle beloved pets. came squads whose capes were faced with artillery red
 in column of fours. with the gatling guns at its front and a hollow square at its center. was marching briskly to the courthouse. In the hollow square went the defendant. hsndcuffed to the sheriff. Without delay or confusion the gatling guns were put in place. one commanding the courthouse square and one casting it's many-eyed glance up the hillside at the back
 Then, with the bayonets of sentries crossed at the doors. the bell in the cupola rang while Judge Sidering walked calmly into the building and instructed the sheriff 10 open court.
 His honor had directed that every man save officials who sought admis- sion should be disarmed at the door.
 Luke Thixton bent forward in his chair and growled into the ear of Old Milt McBriar, who sat at his left.
 I've got as much chanst hyar as a fish on a hilltop. Hain't ye goin' ter do nothin' fer me?"-and Milt looked about helplessly and swore under his breath.
 One onlooker there had not been searched. Young Jeb bore the creden- tials of a special deputy sheriff. and under his coat was a holster with its flap unbuttoned. While the panel was being selected; while lawyers wran- gled and witnesses testified; while the court gazed on with half-closed eyes, rousing only to overrule or sustain a motion. young Jeb sat with his arms on the table. and never did his eyes leave the face Of the accused.
 It was 6 very expeditions trial. Judge Sidering glanced at the faces Of Old Milt and young Jeb. and had no desire to prolong the agony of those hours. The defense half-heartedly re- lied upon the old device of a false alibi, which the state promptly pune tured. Even the lawyers seemed in haste to be through. and set limit on their arguments.
 At the end his honor read brief in- structions. and the panel was locked in its room.
 Then the McBriars drew a little closer around the chair where Old Milt waited. and the militia captain l strengthened his guard outside and began unostentatiously sprinkling uni. formed men through the dingy court. room until the hodden-gray throng was fecked with blue.
 At length there came a rap on the door of the iuryroom. and instantly the low drone of voices fell to hush. His honor poured a glass of water ! from the clipped pitcher at his elbow, while Luke Thixton and Milt McBriar for all their immobility of feature. braced themselves. Like some rest less animal of many legs. the rough throng along the courtroom benches l scraped its feet on the floor. Young Jeb shifted his chair little so that the figure of the defendant | mi hs. fin nrfn sad lfrn nt vision His right hand quietly slipped under his coat, and his fingers | loosened a weapon in its holster and ! nursed the trigger.
 l Then, with a dragging of shoe-leath CT. the twelve good men and true shambled to a semicircle before the | bench, gazing stolidly and blankly al the rows Of battered law books which served his honor as a background. There they stood awkwardly in the gaze of all Judge Sidering glanced into the beetling countenance of theil foreman and inquired in that bored voice which seems a judicial affecta death: Gentlemen. have you agreed | upon vercict!
 The foreman nodded. The sheet oi paper, which be passed to the clerk had been signed by more than one | juror with a cross because he could not write.
 | We. the jury" read the clerk in 6 clear voice. find the defendant. Luke Thixton. guilty as charged in the in 6ictment-" There. although he had uot yet reached the end. he indulgec ia a dramatic pause. then read on the more important clause in the terms oi the Kentucky law which leaves the placing of the penalty in the hands ot the jurors-"and fix his punishmen, at death"
 As though relieved from a great pressure, young Jeb McNash withdrew his hand from his holster and settled back in his chair with fixed muscles Judge Sidering's formal question broke in on the dead quiet. So say you all, ge1tlemen?" and twelve shaggy heads nodded wordless afirma tion
 Soldiers filed in from the rear. IT less than thirty seconds the prisoner had disappeared. Outside the gatlins guns remained in place. and the troop. patrolled the streets.
 For two days the McBriars stayec in town. but the troops fingered long CT, and in that time Luke had agair