Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

276 Slade grinned, a tight and grim humor in his eye. ““T reckon I speak the sentiments of this jury,” he said, “ when I say not guilty!”’ He turned to his colleagues. “Is them yore sentiments?” he de- manded. And the eleven men responded ve- hemently. <¢ Aye!” “Ayes have it!” bellowed his honor. “ Voung feller, yo’re acquitted!” And the first trial for murder to be held in Manford County had come to its fan- tastic end. --- SS CHAPTER XXXIV, UNMERITED MERCY. HE voice of his honor the judge was lost in the thunderous roar with which the surging court room an- nounced its approval of the verdict. The mob which had that afternoon demanded nothing short of Cosgrove’s life, now fell into a frenzy of acclaim that he had won his freedom. Roar after roar shook the court house. The crowd shrieked and whistled and yelled and hooted in its fer- vor. And the mad celebration did not cease until a raucous voice boomed out the menace which the mob contained. ‘And what happens to them skunks at the Bar Nothing?” roared that voice. “String them up!” came the response, and it was lost in a thunder of assent. Cosgrove knew well the tenor of that cry, and leaped to stifle it. “ Wait!” he cried. something to say!” And then to Christofferson. “Hold every man in this court room un- til I get a start!” he murmured. “ Hold ‘em at the point of your rifles! Ill take Slade and Gaines, and get out to the Bar Nothing first. We'll put Lederer and Far- ley under arrest and then God help the man who tries to take "em! You come out and join us when you can.” ‘What is it?” roared the mob. is it, Christofferson?” Their cry was a jeer, for the mob, feeling “The sheriff has ‘What ee. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. its own strength, felt disposed to play for a moment with this sheriff. “What is it, Chris? Hurry up with yore sermon, Chris!”’ they yelled. And Christofferson, after a hurried order to his men, gave it them. “There ain’t goin’ to be no lynchin’, boys,” he said. “Why not? Oh, there ain’t?” The mob jeered him. “No!” snapped Chris firmly. “ Be- cause there ain’t no man goin’ to pass out of this court room till I say the word. And I say the word when you agree there ain’t goin’ to be no lynchin’.”” And when they turned like a rolling sea toward the doors, they found a group of rifles there to greet them. Christofferson had the court room bottled up. Meanwhile, Cosgrove had forgathered with Slade and Gaines, who, in the huddle of men, court officers and deputies in the chambers of his honor, gravely listened to him and assented. Hazel was with them. She had not left Cosgrove’s side since the dramatic moment in the court room when she had seen him vindicated by her testi- mony. He turned to her as they moved hurriedly toward the door. ‘Good night,” he murmured. “ Will you wait for me to return? It should not be for long. Or better, go home, and I’ll come to you.” But she laughed. “I’m coming with you,” she said. He was quick and firm, however. “No!” he cried. ‘“‘ Not to-night. It will be a man’s work to-night. You can’t come with me now!”’ She protested, but he would not have it, and there was no time to be lost. And she had to be content. With a strange feeling of happiness which was not complete, she stood outside the courthouse and saw him drive away on the first business he had pursued in Manford without her at his side. It was dark, for the trial had exhausted daylight. And Cosgrove had not slept for nearly forty hours. He had eaten no food during twelve of them save for a hurried bite before he had entered the court room. Gomichbooks (E@)