White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-04-23
THE SHERIFFS OF COUGAR
"A Story of the Mountains"
BY ROBERT J. PEARSALL

BY ROBERT J. PEARsALL
Continued from Last Week.

Continued from Last Week.
But simultaneously the crowd lost
momentum, lost cohesion, some men
crowdin others back, while from
all over it came sullen, formidable
muttering of warning. This was
from the men to whom the strangers
reminder had been addressed. The
others looked about uncertainty,
some angrily, but though individual
voices were hard to pick out, the
total effect of that muttering was
one of determined resistance. OF a
sudden everyone seemed to realize
that the stranger was to have his
way. He bowed as though in &C.
acknowledgement Of that, and then said:
"Of course, the prisoner must have
a counsel. If he doesn't object I'll
take that job myself"
Arnett nodded a hopeless affirma-
tive. Already he had tried to argue
his innocence, but feebly; he was
stunned by the WEIGHT of evidence
against him, by the temper of the
crowd, by the knowledge that he him
self would have voted to hang another
man in such a case. The sheriff star.
ed fixedly and suspiciously at the
stranger, who suddenly turned on him
Teh movement was almost like a
pounce.
you are the prosecutor"
Helme seemed startled at this OBJ
rupt statement.
"What?"
II say-or rather l ask-you are
the prosecutor? You have prepared
the case against the prisoner"
There were those present who
| thought the question peculiarly word
ed. There were also those who pres
emily shifted their holsters surrepti
tiously and took to glancing about
marking the positions Of others. These
binding, especially il it was along the
line of their desires-men in whom
the strangers words had rc-awakenet
old suspicious. Helme's face tight
ened little, but he replied half Joe
ularly:
I'D say he'd pretty we'll prepared
the case against himself. If you mean
will l see to it that the evidence
hangs him properly-why, yes"
You open the proceedings, then.
"The proceeding are opened am
closed as far as I'm concerned
stranger. We don't go much OF
technicalities in Cougar. Here ar
the plain facts. Washburn is mul
dered. That letter exposin' Arnet
for what he is, is found in WASH
burns replace-theres your me
tive. Washburn's gold is found i
Arnett's cabin. And tracks are foun
shown Arnett entered and lei
Washburn's cabin secretly after mic
night. Also Arnett admits passi1
here about that time. That evidenc
, is good for necktie party, and ever,
: body knows it,"
Most of tie crowd murmured al
quiescently. But there were som
who wondered at Helmes change {
: front, some who felt that somethin
else than the snap Judgment of tn
miners court was needed in this cas-,
| These longed now for twelve quie
men in quiet room, unafraid, wit
the power Of the nation back of then
But there were none who did nc
know that unless the stranger coul
produce other evidence as yet III
suspected by any but him, Arnet
was lost
The stranger merely nodded grav,
ly, studying Helme the while-a lonl
cool, searching look. Then he aske
IL he might see the boots.
Helme passed them to him. TIL
stranged studied the soles carefully
pondered moment, turned them vi
slide down and shook them, and place
them thoughtfully on the GROUND
Then, in an absent-minded fashion
he picked one up and felt inside il
extending his fingers to the very toes
Ii the action was perfunctory an
mechanical at first, 1t seemed to Civ
him an idea, for he repeated the pre-
cess with the second boot intentl
and rapidly. There was probabl
none in the crowd who did not Sc
how he started, with gratified look
with the tips Of his fingers well fol
ward on the inner sole of the boot
Certainly Helme saw 1t. The strang
err put the boot on the ground again
II agree with you," he said midi
to Helme, "the evidence is strong
darn strong. Quite the completes
case l ever knew. Why" he smiled
IF Arnett had been trying to hanl
himself he couldn't have fixed thing
better. or If somebody else had beel
| trying to hang him"
! He paused, and his eyes driftet
-