The Lamar register., 1919-01-08
UNFINISHED TRIAL
BY JOSEPH LAUaHLIN.

that Marion Marie was captured.
While the sun was still yellow and
lusterless through the morning haze.
and before 1t had reached over into
the draws and holloWs Of the clay hills,
the men Of the nelghborhood were in
the saddle and the story Of the taking
Of Marion Marie the night before was
on their lips. They We're riding in
groups and in pairs and some were rid
ing slngly, but all their paths were
converglng toward Squire Yantley's
sawmlll.
Along the winding roads Bill Tellet
was pressing hard his tired horses into
a hard gallop. He was the president
Of the Ant-fTorse 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 snwmlll.
"Takes men to hnndle ropes when
we got hoss 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 gnlloplng across the bottom
on the west, and came out on the
bride 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, a re
volver In each hand with their pris.
oner between them. Some men in the
room were taller, some were broader
Of shoulder, but none was MS handsome
In face and figure as Marie. Z
Il amt never tried no hossthlet
cases." said Squire Yantley, but II
yen Just keep good order guess wen
get along all right" And he leaned over !
TO Sheriff Moore for advice us to meth.
DDS of procedure. Then he called upon 7
the prisoner TO enter his plea.
81 amt guilty." said Marie, as he
stood erect and tossed back his hair.
"well, who isT' demanded the
squire.
There's the hossthief," he cried,
pointing with his arm outstretched.
"Biu relket stole the mare"
BIZ Telket sprang to his feet. The
assemblage was suddenly in motion (
Backward and forward and sidewise,
It swayed ominously.
A murmur arose in the rear of the
room. The crowd parted, making a
path through its center, tin a girl
rushed into the open space where the
prisoner stood in the attitude of de
fiance, facing Bill Telket. She pulled
from her head blue sunbonnet,
whose edges dropped and half hid her
face.
= ''Nan, what brings you here7" cried
Bill Tellzet
81 come teh save n man that new
er@"
'sTeh save a hossthiefT"
'You-eh my brother, BIZ, 'en j love
yeh, zen come teh stop yeh from
sayin' In court thet Marion Marze's a
hossthlef. Squire, Marion ain'r no
hossthief. He never stole the marel"
"well, who did steal 'er, Nani"
asked the court
'Don' ask me, squire; ] can't toll
yeh. but Marion didn't"
EFF you dom tell. Nan. wen hef teh
penitenshy m"
"Yeh CANT; yeh cain'tl They'se
men here thet won't let yehl"
Here, Nan, theyse enough o. that"
said Bill Telkot aereely, as he seized
his sister by the wrist and drew her
rudely back
She turned on her brother and he
shrunlz 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 a revolver. The girl sprang at him
and snutched the weapon wltlr such
suddenness that she had wrenched it
from him before he could tighten his
strong fingers on its handle. Quicker
than the men were thinking she was
at the side Of the prisoner.
Here. Marion" she whispered, plac-
Ing the revolver in his hand. run
FUR It. Fight yer way out. Yer hoss
IA at the criek."
Nrrr.fr- -f.., b.r,V as, I,,,- Foaa 20 hin,