The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-31

"Your names out of this-as long
as possible"
She smiled in her mOthering, know
ing way. Then she opened the door,
there to find a deputy from the
sheriff's office.
They've impaneled jury up at the
courthouse" he announced. 1.-THE
coroner wants Mr.. Fairchild and Mr..
Harkins to come up there and tell
what they know about this here skele-
ton they found"
1t was the expected. The two men
went forth, to find the street about
the courthouse thronged, for already
the news Of the finding of the skele-
ton had travelled far, even into the
little mining camps which skirted the
town. Everywhere were black crowds
under the faint street lamps The
basement of the courthouse was illu-
minated; and there were clusters of
curious persons about the stairways.
Through the throngs started Harry
and Fairchild, only to be drawn aside
by Farrell, the attorney.
"I'm not going to take a part in
this unless I have to-" he told them
ut will look better for you if it isn't
necessary for me to make an appear
ance. How do you know but what
Thornton Fairchild was attacked by
this man and forced to kill in self-de-
Tense? It's penitentiary offense for
a man to strike another. without suf-
ficient justification, beneath ground
And had Sissie Larsen even so much
as slapped Thornton Fairchild, that
man would have been perfectly justi-
fed in killing him TO protect himself.
Guide yourselves northumberland |
will be there only as a spectator, un-
less events should necessitate some
thing else"
They promised and went on, some
what calmer in mind, to edge their
way to the steps and to enter the
basement of the courthouse The
coroner and his jury. composed of six
miners picked up haphazard along the
street-accOrding to the custom of
coroners in generai-were already
present. So was every person who
possibly could cram through the doors
child paid little attention-an but
three.
They were on a back seat in the
long courtrOom-Squint Rodaine and
his son. chaIkier. yet blacker than
ever, while between them sat an old
woman with white hair which Strag-
gled about her cheeks. a woman with
deep-set eyes. whose hands wandered
now and then vaguely before her; a
wrinkled woman. fidgeting about on
her seat watching with craned neck
those who stuffed their way within
| the already crammed room, her eyes
never still, her lips moving constant
| ly. as though mUTnbling some never
! ending rote. Fairchild stared at her
then turned TO Harry.
'Who's that with the Rodaines"
Harry looked furtively. Crazy
| Laura-his wife,
| But"
| And she amt ere for anything
| good.' Harry's voice bore a tone ot
nervousness. 'Squint Rodaine don't
even recognize 'er On the stree: much
| less appear in company with 'er
Something's 'appening."
But what could she testify to-"
SOW should | know:" Harry said
| 1t almost petulantly. 81 didn't even
/ know She
"Oyez, oyez. oyer 1t was the
bailiff, using a regular dfstrfct-court
| introduction OF the fact that an In.
| quest was about TO be held. The crowd
| ed room sighed and settled The coro
ner stepped forward
1--WE are gathered here tonight tc
inquire into the death of man sup
| posed TO be L. A. Larsen. commonl,
- r. yrf&r. ,~e,a1 4E.o rsr&nIn aus&sxSF Ir