Adventure Magazine Cover — page 94: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 me. Have her fetched outside the door. V’ll call her in here by word or whistle. If any other man can get her inside here I'll give him a bill of sale on the spot.” The judge cleared his throat and slowly shook his head, and ruled— “That wouldn’t be legal identification. Assuming for the sake of my illustration that you are not the rightful owner, there’s nothing to show the mare will not also answer the call of her real master, whereas all men here in Boise City are strangers to her except yourself. It will be necessary for you to go and bring in some one to identify you.”’ The gray-green eyes threatened homtnicide although the thin lips retained the physical semblance of a smile. “Meaning I must trapse way back to Oro Fino on the chance of finding some one who knows both me and you, and then to git that person to travel way down here, and me paying him for his lost time at the rate of eighteen dollars a day?” “Get your witness where you will, or can. Doubtless you can find: some one right here in Boise City.” Hale stood up, his hands resting on his hips; and his voice came in a husky whisper as he asked: “You mean to tell me that if I ain’t lucky enough to find a man who knows both of us that I must lose my mare?” “The law does not indulge in sentiments,” said Curks crisply, his deep sunken eyes focused on the brown fingers so close to the two .36’s. ‘“The law is blind and deaf to everything except legal evidence.”’ Hale took one gliding step forward but came to a halt as a slim, dapper little man popped into view of the court by the simple process of squirming in between two burly miners. “Just a minute, if your honor will be so kind,” was the shrill request. Hale eyed the little man in surprize. The judge straightened and mumbled: “Certainly, Mr. Riply. Always glad to hear Ben Riply when he speaks for law and order.”’ Ben Riply, of the Payette Committee, whose name was growing to be feared more by lawbreakers than all the safeguards to property and life the law had been able to establish, advanced with mincing steps and stood beside Hale. Peering up into Hale’s face he queried— Adventure “Are you sometimes called Shoshoni Hale?”’ “I’m called that more’n I am Calvin Hale.” “T recognize you. Your honor, I’ve never spoken to this man before and know nothing about him. I saw him in Lewiston this spring when he was pointed out to-me as Shoshoni Hale. I am convinced he is the man Hill Beachy refers to in his writing.” ‘“Shoshoni Hale,’’ repeated the court in great surprize. Then he frowned severely and said, “‘There’s queer stories about Shoshoni Hale. Can you speak as to his character, Mr. Riply?” “T know nothing about him. I have heard certain gossip, but gossip is usually slander and is never evidence for a court to consider. I am positive he is the man Beachy names.” Curks rubbed his chin and became busy with the record book. The machine was not working well when the combined efforts of the sheriff, judge and their numerous tools could not prevent one man from re- covering his stolen property. Riply, in- significant in person, symbolized that silent justice which struck without warning, which left its mark—“XXX”’—placarded on more than one dangling victim, and which would not hesitate to apply its corrective methods to men in high places. 7 In all the history of America’s develop- ment it would be difficult to find a situation similar to that existing in Ada and Boise counties, where the enforcement of the law was lodged in the hands of the lawless and with the actual work of regeneration being accomplished by‘ vigilant committees. As an individual Ben Riply was of .no con- sequences; as the mouthpiece of the citizens’ secret tribunal he exerted more influence than a garrison of soldiers. After making certain entries in his book the judge lifted his head and announced : : “YT find that this man claiming to be Calvin Hale, alias Shoshoni Hale, is the owner of the mare now in Kolb’s stable. I find that the mare was stolen by parties unknown and was bought by Mr. Ferdinand Patterson in all good faith. The claimant Hale is to receive the mare back upon his payment of one hundred dollars, being the two fines imposed by this court, and upon the further payment of fifty dollars shriev- alty fees. He must also pay for the keep of the mare at Kolb’s stable, as it would COIN Clooolkks ©