The Denver star., 1917-12-01
UNFINISHED TRIAL |
BY JOSEPH LAUeHLIN.

While the sun was still yellow and
lusteriess through the morning haze,
and before it had reached over into
the draws and hollows of the clay hills,
the men of the neighborhood were in
the saddle and the story of the taking
of Marion Marie the night before was
on their lips. They were riding in
groups and in pairs and some were rid
Ing singly, but all their paths were
cOnverging toward Squire Yantley's
sawmill.
Along the winding roads Bill Telket
was pressing hard his tired horses into
hard gallcp. He was the president
Of the Anti-Horse Thief association
and he was spreading the news of the
capture and that was notice to the
members of the association that he
wanted them at the trial, which was to
be held at the sawmill.
"Takes men to handle ropes when
we got boss thieves about" he said.
But the friends of Marion Marie
were among those who were riding
over the yellow clay knob on the east
and came galloping across the bottom
on the west, and came out on the
bridle paths that led from the other
directions to the mill. Word had gone
out to them, also, in the night from
Hex Telket's house. Nan Telket had
dared to love this man over whose
head hung the odious charge of horse
stealing.
None of the men was thoughtleSS
enough to come to the trial unarmed.
The mill shed, which served as the
courtroom, was crowded. Squire Yant-
ley was nervous. Johnny Moore. the
sheriff, and his deputy, Dave Maypum.
sat with their backs to the wall. re-
volver in each hand with their pris-
oner between them. Some men in the
room We're taller, some We're broader
of shoulder. but none was as handsome
in face and figure as Marie.
'1 amt never tried no hossthief
cases." said Squire Yantley, but if
get along all right" And he leaned over
to Sheriff Moore for advice as to meth
DDS of procedure. Then he called upon
the prisoner to enter his plea.
Il amt guilty." said Marie, as he
stood erect and tossed back his hair.
''Well, who is?" demanded the
squire.
There's the hossthief." he cried,
pointing with his arm outStretched,
"Bill Telket stole the mare"
Bill Telket sprang to his feet. The
assemblage was suddenly in motion.
Backward and forward and sidewise.
1t swnyed ominOusly.
A mnrmur arose in the rear of the
room. The crowd parted, making a
path through its center, till girl
-ushed into the open space where the
prisoner stood in the attitude of de-
.iance, facing Bill Telket. She pulled
| whose edges dropped and half hid her
! face.
Nan, what brings you here?" cried
Bill Telket.
Il come teh save man that new
Err
''Teh save hossthief?
"You-eh my brother, Bill. 'en 1 love
geh, 'en l come teh stop yeh from
sayin' In court thet Marion Marze', a
hossthief. Squire. Marion amt no
lossthief. He never stole the mare ="
Well, who did steal 'er, Nan2"
asked the court.
Don ask me. squire; I can't tell
,eh, but Marion didn't"
EFF you dom tell. Nan, Wen hef teh
penitenshy m"
"Yeh CANT; yeh cain't! They'se
non here thet won't let yeh!'
Here, Nan, theyse enough O. that"
said BIZ Telket tiercely. as he seized
ais sister by the wrist and drew her
-udely back.
She turned on her brother and he
,hrunk from the flashing of her dark
eyes. She released her wrist from his
grip. A half-subdued roar went up
from the crowd and it moved forward
A man In the front rank was holding
up revolver. The girl sprang at him
snd snatched the weapon with such
suddenness that she had wrenched it
erom him before he could tighpen his
strong fingers on it's handle. Quicker
than the men were thinking she was
at the side Of the prisoner.
"Efere, Marion" she whispered, plac-
ing the revolver in his hand. Run
fur it. Fight yer way out. Yer hoss
Is at the crtck."
While she held up her face to him
he bent his head and kissed her. Then
with ringing yell he leaped straight
Mt the crowd, which opened pathway
for him and then closed in behind him.
AS he sprang out a pistol was fired.
Savage yells were raised and fusil-
lade OF shots rang and the crowd be-
came a tangled, Seething mass.
Along the tortuous and forest-shel-
tered course of Muscle Ford creek Ma
rion Marie was riding fast by the time
the sherlffs had got out of the battling,