The Jasper news., 1920-03-25

| Va AAiO hiVol NutiOho hCuA 70 III tAD toA-
ritory, Not one man in million could
have faxed them, but this slender
girl dumfounded them. Her gaze set
tied on Buck. His wandered for help
to Sweeney, to Jake, to Kite Bonfils.
"Now look-a-here. Miss Kate"
Sweeney began to explain.
But she swept his remonstrance
aside.
"No-No--NoI" Her voice gathered
strength with each repetition Of the
word. II won't have II. What are you
thinking about3"
Hes rustler, Miss Kate; belongs
to Soapy Stones outfit" Sweeney an
swered the girl.
Can you prove itT
."We got him double cinched."
"Then let the law put him In prison."
"He shot yore paw" Buck reminded
her.
: us that why you're doing It'll"
"Yes'm." and "Thnt's why" they
! nodded.
Like a flash she took advantage OF
their admission. "Then I've got more
uBuibol ulul llun yOu udNGs uuu 1 Suy
turn him over to the law"
Kite pushed forward, rough and
overbearlng. "Now see here. We know
what we're doing and we know why
we're doing 1t. This amt any busi-
ness for a girl to mix in. You go back
to the house and nurse your father
that this man shot"
&C. Ia tsrst 4ho I,tnd 90 h,,.t,.... g.
girl" she answered scornfully. "It's
work for a man, isn't it7 No, not for
one. For nlne-eleven-thIrtee
enteen big brave strong men to hang
one poor wounded boy"
At that an amused laugh rIppled
out II came from Maloney. BE was
leaning against the door jamb with his
hands In his pockets. Nobody had no
tlced him before. he had come In
after the girl. When Curly came to
think it over later, If he had been
given three guesses as to, who had told
Kate Culllson what was on the pro-
gram he would have guessed Maloney
each time.
'Now that you've relieved your
mind proper, Miss Cullison. expect
any of the boys will be glad to escort
you back to the house." Kite suggested
with an acid smile.
what have you got to do with
thisf" she famed. "Our boys took
him. They brought him here as their
prisoner. Do you think wen let you
come over into this county and die
tate everything we do2
"Pve got q notion tucked away that
you're trying to do the debating your
own SELF" the Bar Double NJ man con.
| tradcted.
"Fm not. But l won't stand by
while you get these boys to do MUIR
der"
Kite laughed sarcastically. "You
hear your boss, boys"
you've had yore say now, Miss
Kate. l reckon you better say good
night" advised Buck.
She handed Buck and his friends her
compliments In q swift flow of feml-
nine ferocity.
Maloney pushed into the circle
"She's dead right, boys. There's moth
Ing to this lynching game. He's only
a kid"
The tide of opinion was shifting
Those who had been worked up to the
lynchlng by the arguments of Bonfils
began to resent his activity. Flandrau
was their prisoner. wasn't hef No
use going off half-cocked. Some of
them were discovering that they were
not half so anxious to hang him as
they had supposed.
The girl turned to her friends and
nelghbors. 'T oughtn't 10 have talked
to you that way. but you know how
worried am about dad" she apollo
glzed with a catchiin her breath. "Pm
sure You didn't think or you would
never have done anything to trouble
me more Just now. You know didn't
half mean It." She looked from one
to another, her eyes shiny with tears.
II know that no braver or kinder men
live than you. Why, you're my folks.
I've been brought up among you. And
so you've got to forgive me-"
Some said "Sure," others told her to
forget 1t. and one grass widower drew
a laugh by saying that her little spiel
reminded him Of happier days.
"Pm so glad you've changed your
minds. l knew you would when you
thought 1t over" she told them chat.
tily and confdentially.
ii al ,,nL dov,yR hHId an., III