The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-06-20
CHAPTER XIII
Deaths Harvest.

Winton was only vaguely aware OF
the quick termination of the trial. witt
its expected. though illogical verdict
Of mot guilty" He saw Judge Davis
| lifted and carried out by his support
ers; saw De Witt, his face twitchine
neryously at the verdict, stride from
the courtroom then he was pushing
his own way outside among the ex-
cited, buzzing groups. and perceived
old Seaton moving slowly among the
crowd, which parted TO make way for
the man whose tragedy affected them
with horror.
"Where are you going, Daddyf'
asked one man. trying TO stop him.
''I'm going to find my GAL" mumbled
Seaton. "She's been all I've had.
Maybe amt her father, but I'm going
to her"
Slowly he walked away. and nobody
attempted TO stop him. Winton. after
moment OF doubt. realized ~, II
would be useless for him TO interfere.
He watched Seaton's departure with
a mind that was too numbed TO enable
him to understand the fulness of his
success. There was no doubt that the
legality of the syndicate's acquisition
of his shares could now be questioned.
He could regain the majority AMI
keep control, If Seaton's acquittal
were followed, as 1t must be. by De
Wits arrest and his conviction.
But there was more than that. Win
of way. that the disclosure had given
him Sheila. He knew she loved him.
IN spite of all her bitterness In the
past. He would go TO her. make her
his wife. and take her home TO MS
own country, where the past should
never trouble her.
He was brooding over this when
heard two revolver shots ring out IN
quick succession. Looking up. he dis
covered that he was alone. The crowd
was running toward the south side
of the square. where there seemed to
be So commoion. Wlnton saw
struggle in progress the hesving
shoulders of horse appeared above
the crowd and suddenly the horse and
its rider er erged at a furious gallop,
scattering the crowd right and left.
Through the gap thus formed Win
ton could see a man lying upon the
ground. resting on his elbow. His
hand clutclled revolver.
The rider was De Witt. Amid the
wells of the mob he dashed In a cloud |
of dust across the market square and |
turned down the street leading TO the !
new suburb The horse bounded |
across the rivulet. topped the ridge of !
the diamond ground and disappeared.
The fallen man was being helped to
his feet. He staggered in the arms
of his supporters. and the blood was
streaming from bullet-wound in his
shoulder.
Winton gathered what had occurred
from the excited conversation that
followed The sheriff had attempted
TO arrest De Witt On the strength of
a conrt order hastil-- secured. De
Witt. who had had swift horse ready
outside. In the anticipation of Just
such contingency. had shot the
sheriff and galloped away.
SO swift was the maneuver that
ualopo found itself totally unable to
'ope with the situation. There was
Wild talk of forming posse to pur-
ue the outlaw. But De Wits hor~a
vas the fastest in Malopo. and. 4 In
he case of Van Worst. pursuit seemed
mpra cticahe.
While an lmpromptu mass meeting
vas be,n,, held Winton made his way
'ack to the claim. He understood
low all that the verdict meant TO him.
nd the thought of Sheila filed his
cart.
1t was growing dark. Early the next {
lolning he meant 70 ride out into the I
Ills and bring her back with him. I
nd they should never be parted d
gain. He thought with infinite pity /
her sufferings. with tenderness Of /
er loyalty. 1t seemed most tit that ,
is lips should be the first to tell her
hat would remove the dark cloud n
'om her forever. II
AS Winton turned into the road that n
ID toward his claim there came the n
ldden sputtering Of heavy drops, and "
len a deiuge. He covered the last a
undred yards at racing pace, but a
2 was drenched to the skin before he n
,ached the cottage. o
After the long months of drought
lie rains had broken The thunder Fl
-owled in the distance; the brilliant e
ghtning flashes lit up the heavens. a