The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-10-19

~HoP up. came peremptory elial-
lenge. "M'sieu Jodger'
hearing. The chairman OF this COM
mittee-he constituted himself chair
man by virtue OF the fact that he was
first nomlnated-mRds a ringing
speech in which he praised his homes
~. hts fairness and his knowledge OF
the law. He complimented the min.
ers for the acumen in selecting for
such a position OF responsibility n
man OF his distinguished qualifica-
lions. II was plain that no believed
they had chosen wisely. Then. hav-
ing inquired the names Of his two
committeeman. he likewise commend
cd them in glowing terms. altho OF
course he could not praise them quite
as unstintedly as he had praised him.
self. Still, he spoke well OF them
and concluded by stating that so long
as affairs were left in his hands JUS
Gee would be safeEuardsd and the
rights OF this miserable, cringing trio
OF thieves would be protected. albeit
killing. in his Judgment. was too mild
A punishment for people OF their
caliber.
Heart Hear" yelled the mob
Pierce Phillips listened TO this
speech with a keeuly personal and
We. a peculiarly detached interest.
The situation struck him as unreal.
grotesque. and the whole procedure
as futile. Under other circumstances
II would have been grimly amusing;
now he was uncomfortably aware
that Il was anything but that. There
was no law whatever In tho land save
the will OF these men. in their hands
lay life or death, exoneration or in
fanny. He searched the faces round
about him, but could find signs
neither OF friendship nor Of sym
pathy. This done. he looked every.
where for a glimpse Of a woman's
straw-coiored hair and was relieved
TO discover that the Countess Cour'
teau was not in the audience. Doubt
less she had left for Dyea and wns
already some distance down the trail.
He breathed easier. for he did not
wish her TO witness his humiliation,
and her presence would have merely
added to his embarrassment.
The prosecutions case was quickly
made. and II was a strong one. Even
yet the damuing trickle OF rice grains
could be traced thru tho moss and
nire directly 10 the door Of the pris,
oners' tent, and the original package
Identified positively by its owner
was put in evidence. This In Itself
was enough; testimony from the
other men who had likewise recov
cred merchandise they had missed
and mourned merely strengthened
the case and further inflamed the
minds OF the citizens.
When II came time to hear the dc.
FENCE, the McCaskeys stared at Pierce
cool1y; therefore he climbed 10 the
tent platform and faced his accuscrs
He made known his namo, his
birthplace, tine ship which had borne
him north. He told how he had land.
81 at Dyea, how he had lost his last
dollar at the gambling table. how he
had appealed TO the McCaskey boys
and how they had given him shelter
That chance association, he tool
pains 10 explain. had continued, but
had never ripened into anything
more. anything closer; n was In mr.
wise partnership; he had nothln,
10 do with them, and they hat
nothing 10 do with him. Inasmucf
az the rice had been stolen durlnG
the previous night he argued tha
he could have had no hand in tn,
theft, for no had spent tho nigh
Ia Linderman. which fact he OF
fered TO prove by two witnesses.
produce them" ordered tho chair
man.
zone Of them In still AZ Llnderman
the other was here in Sheep Camp nj
hour ago. She has probably starte,
for Dyea by this tImo."
~ woman"
ayes. sir. brought her across.
"what Ia her Manner
Phillips hesitated "The Counties
rourteau" said he. There WINS muir
muir Of interest; the members Of tn
committee conferred with one an
other.
do you mean 20 tell us that you'v
got n titled witneH7" tho self-ap
pointed spokesman inquired. His fac