The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-26
CHAPTER ~. CcontinueD

PHILIPPE went "a with his story
and told of spending the night with
Tom Linton. then of his return to
Sheep Camp to learn that he had
been robbed of all his savings. Cor
roboration of this misfortune he left
to the oral testimony Of the two
brothers McCaskey and to the cir
c,,mstantial evidence Of Jim's band
aged head.
Jim McCaskey was next called and
Pierce made way for him. The
younger brother made a poor start,
but he warmed up to his own de-
Tense, gaining confidence and case
as he talked.
In the first place, both he and loo
were innocent of this outrageous
charges innocent as unborn babes
and this air of suspicion was like
70 smother them. This Jim de-
clared upon his honor. The evil
dencc was strong, he admitted, but
1t was purely sircumstantial. and he
proposed to explain it away He
proposed TO tell the truth, the whole
truth. and nothing but the truth: let
ting the blame fall where it would
and leaving the verdict entirely up
to his nearer Joe would substantiate
his every statement.
1t was quite true that he and his
brother had been Good Sauna ritans
they had opened their doors and had
taken in this young man when he
was hungry and homeless but tina,
was their habit They had fed him
they had shared their blankets Will
him. they had helped him in a thsu.
sand VaXA not without serioua 10
'rvenience 70 themselves Why,
only on the day before the speaker
himself had volunteered to take the
Young mans earnings to Dyea for
safekeeping. thereby letting himself
IN for an unmerciful mauline. and
suffering a semi-fractured skull. the
marks Of which would doubtlcssly
stay with him for long time.
Phillips had left camp early the
previous morning, to be sure, and he
had not come home until an hour
or two ago. but where he had gone,
hSw he had occupied himself during
his absence. where he had spent the
night. of course the speaker had no
way of knowing. Phillips was often
absent at night he came and lie went
at all hours. and neither Toe nor the
witness ever questioned him, believ-
ing his statements that he was pack
ing for hire. Neither his brother
nor he had ever seen that sack OF
rice until it was uncovered By the
posse. and as for the other plumber
it was all part and parcel Of an ont
fit which their guest had been assem-.
bling for some time. They supposed
OF course, that he had bought it
bit by bit. with his earnings.
That's all we've got to say" con
clnded the elder Of the precious pal,
when he had finished. You ca,
Judge for yourselves who did tn,
stealing. Jim and I've got all tn,
grub We want; this fellow hasn'
any,.
Have YOU anything to say 70,
YOURSELF" The chairman addressed
himself to Phillips.
Il have" Pierce again took tn
stand. You're making great mis-
take" he said. earnestly. "Thcs,
men have lied; they're trying to saw
themselves at my expense. Nv
told you everything. now I denlan,
that YOU wait to hear the Counties
Courteau or Mr.. Lintor. They
prove where I spent last night, a
least"
"Mr. Chairman!" a strange
claimed general attention. I've lis
tened to the evidence and it's stron
enough for me. The grub didn't &C
up and walk away BY itself: some
body took it. Grub is. more. tina
grub in this country: it's moro tina
money: it's a mans lie. that's wl,a
it is. Now. then, the ,McCaskey'
had an outfit when they lavded
they didn't need to steal: bnt thl
fellow. this dirty migrate. he hadn
pound. ] don't swallow his cour
tess story and I don't care hoe
where he was last night. Let's d'
eide first what punishment a thi,
gets. then let's give j! to him."
"Hear! Heart came the cry. !,
Hanging is good enough f
thcvcs!' shouted the choleric ind
vidual who had so pointedly mac
known his distrust Of Lucky Broa
II say stretch en-
Right! Let's make an example
Hang lim!' There rose hoar'
chorus OF assent to this suggestio
wlcreupon the chairman stepp'
forward.
IAN those in favor OF hanging
he began. But again he was int
rup:cd by 'Poleon Doret. who OF
more bored his way into the crow
crying:
"Wait! I got something to say
He was breathing heavily. as if fro
considerable exertion; perspirati,
stood upon his face: his eyes we
flashing. He vaulted lightly to t
platform. then. flung out his lol
arms, CRYING :6"Yo, hack lax Graz