The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-07
Thought He Got
Even
By CHARLES E. BAXTER

By CHARLES E. BAXTER
Dobb was still standing with the
revolver In his hand. paralyxed
with terror, when the neighborS
found him. Lesson was lying hud-
died up on the seat of his RIG, dead,
q bullet from Dobb's weapon In his
heart.
Sitting, crouching, rather than
lying, he was huddled over the
front of the vehicle, and his hands
clutched the reins tightly, as II they
had contracted spasmodically at
the moment Of his death. And
there stood Dobb.
1t was sparsely settled agricul.
tural community. The nearest
neighbor was quarter Of mile
away-old Evan PIN. It was PIN
and his sons, Charles and Ewart,
who found D0bb standing so stupid.
ly there. It was all they could do
to induce him to return inside his
house. There Dobb remained in a
sort of trance. I'm glad" was oil
that he would say. I'm glad"
Nobody was sorry for Lesson.
Lesson was a notorious money.
lender. He had half the township
in pawn, for times were bad and
the land was stubborn. He had had
Dobb at his mercy and was going
to foreclose. Dobb' had written
him q note daring him to come and
see him.
A foolish note, and Lesson, who
was no coward, had taken up the
challenge. Lesson was q nervous,
excitable man with a chronic heart
complaint and a poor digestion.
Half his cruelties were the result
Of this indigestion. He would fly
up In the air at the least thing. lie
had Immediately harnessed his
horses and driven over to the Dobb
place.
. Mrs. Dobb had come out and
begged Lesson to return. Lesson
had not said a word. but sat in the
rig, waiting for Dobb. Dobb burst
from the house. abused Lesson, and
opened fire on HIM He had fred
six times, and only the single bullet
had found its mark.
Lesson had died without a word,
and it looked very bad, indeed, for
Dobb. It was hanging state, ana
the farmer-jurymen, much as they
had detested Lesson, were not like.
ly to exculpate Dobb. Then there
was Dobb's challenge. That was tho
worst thing Of all. That showed
generalization.
Dobb was brought under guard to
the inquest. The courtroom was
packed. The minute the Judge had
taken his place Dobb arose.
II killed him" he began.
"You d-n fooli" whispered his
lawyer, tugglng at his coat, but In
vain.
Then, inasmuch as defense was
to be temporary insanity, he sat
down himself, hoping all would be
for the best, and that Dobb would
make a clear impression Of insanity
upon the court.
II killed him." shouted Dobb.
"He was going to sell me up and
turn me and mine out into the road
to starve-"
"Sit down r. called the Judge.
"You will be heard at the proper
time"
mo time like this" yelled Dobb.
II want to 60 to the gall0ws. I
don't want no palaver. There
amt no call for it. The man was
a skunk, and his time was come.
That's all there was to it."
IF you don't sit down and be
silent, you'll be removed" said the
Judge.
Dobb was pulled back and the
evidence began. 1t was shown how
Dobb was found at the door of his
house with the weapon in his hand.
The bullet that had been extracted
from Lessons body fitted 1t. It
looked bad for Dobb.
Murchison, the medical examiner,
was called. "You performed an
autopsy on the body Of the de-
ceased?" asked the Judge.
Eyes, your honor"
"What, in your opinion, was tho
cause Of death"
"Heart disease" replied Murchl.
son.
"You mean-induced by the bul.
lett"
mo, heart disease. The strain
of the approaching interview was
probably too much for Lesson. He
was dead long before the prisoners
bullet struck him. The horses
must have stopped at the door Of
their own accord. Dobb fred at .
corpse"
Dobb stood up in the midst Of the
sensation.
You're liar" he howled. IL
killed him-darn you. you want to
rob me of getting even with q
skunk like that! I killed him!"
XOU will return asverdict In &C.
cordance with the evidence" said
the magistrate to the jury.
II killed him." whimpered Dobb.
as his wife led him away.
g. 1923. Western Newspspsr uaioay
NOTICE OF REAL ESTATE MORT
GAGE FORECLOSURE
Notice is hereby giy "A that that