Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 424 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

A up to the piazza roof of Judge Hucklebee’s house, entered the room and killed its inmate. ‘Can you believe this? No, of course you eccannot! ‘‘Supposing it to be true, however, for sake of argument, let me call your attention to one or two points. You know the prisoner to be a cool, brave man. Is it likely that he would allow anything to so alarm him that he would leave the room in such haste as to forget the —_— —V——————- ——$——— . ie oe dagger, which was known to have been in his | ‘possession? Is it likely that on setting out upon such a mission he would have gone with a pair of jingling spurs attached to his heels? Give these points your attention, and you can but ac- quit him. ‘** Allow me, gentlemen, to call your attention to what the learned prosecutor is pleased to call *the trick of a shrewd lawyer’—thanking him for the compliment, the strip of cloth found by Jefferson Parsons and Thomas Billings on the roof of the shed of the hotel. What does this tell us? I will tell you whatittellsme. It tells me that this strip of cloth came from some part of the clothes worn by the murderer of Judge Ttucklebee. ‘“T will give you my theor some person who had cause to Judge Hucklebee and Cibuta John, climbed to the latter’s room and purloined the silver dag- ger. He also broke one of his silver spurs and took the piece with him. Then he went to Judge Hucklebee’s house, killed him, leaving the dag- ger in his breast and dropping the piece of spur upon the floor, knowing full well where suspi- cion would fall. Then he made his escape. “Wind the man who wore the garment from which this piece has been torn, and you will have the murderer. ‘* Again, would not the act of breaking the spur have caused the noise heard by Levi Pop- penheimer and Snowball White? nd, would not some sleep-producing drug have prevented the noise waking the prisoner, and also caused his sound sleep next morning? Ask yourselves these questions. ‘“In conclusion, gentlemen of the jury, lct me warn you that you can only decide this case in one extreme way—guilty or not guilty. To de- clare the prisoner guilty is to send him to death upon the most trifling of mere circumstantial evidence.” And so, efter seven long hours, the case closed. What we have givenof it here is but a bricf synopsis of it as a whole. It was a case of many peculiar points and errors and misrulings, which can be accounted for in two ways: first, by lack of legal knowledge on the part of the judge and the prosecutor, and second, by cute- ness on the part of lawyer Skynn, who only called attention to such points as did not favor his case, Gerald Keyno made a few final remarks, and then Judge T' wicker charged the jury as follows: ‘* Pards, th’ case is now drawed down to a fine pint fer you ter settle. Jest grapple wi’ it now, an’ give us yer honest opinion strictly ’cordin’ to th’ evidence. Did Cibuta John kill Jedge Hucklebee, or did he not ? That is the question that now troubies th’ public mind o’ Ante-Bar, an’ it is fer you tersay. Use one side o’ ther pick jest th’ same est’other. Make no difference atall. Now, git yerselves inter ther school- house, an’ when ye’r’ ready wi’ yer verdict we'll let ye out.” e twelve men rose up, marched to the schocl- house, and entered. Five minutes later they had agreed and were allowed to come out. When they had returned to their places the judge said: ‘*Pards, hev ye ’greed?” ‘¢ We hev,” the foreman answered. ‘Then stand up. An’ you, prisoner, stand u an’ face the jury Now, pards, let’s hear it.” Clearing his t oat, the foreman said: **Your Honor, an’ pards all, we found ther evidence strong—mighty strong, and our verdict is "—and he held the word for a few seconds, enjoying the awful suspense—*‘ not guilty.” The shout that arose was deafening. The of the crime. ate or fear both verdict tear the public opinion exactly. With wild cheers Cibuta John and Lawyer Phineas Skynn were lifted upon the shoulders of strong men and carried to the hotel. CHAPTER XIV. A HANGING-BEE. Sucu red-hot times as these the town of Ante- Bar had never seen. : When the excitement had somewhat subsided, Cibuta John made a public address. He thanked the yer for the fair trial the had given him, and ass ured them that they had ao) é "> mir nt - a= ere ST ~~ ey tye “Sree "<i et ‘ gh ikon =4 - A leh ae l= 7 t- “® se a 4 - as Cibuta John. eee made no error in acquitting him. And in con- clusion he swore to hunt down the murderer of Judge Hucklebee, if it proved a life-long task. Three rousing cheers were given as he con- cluded. ‘*One thing I want,” Cibuta said, when he could again make himself heard, *‘ and that is— the silver dagger,” ‘* By heavens! pard, I think we’d best put th’ cursed thing whar it will never come to light ag’in! It has worked ill enough in this heur town!” So spoke Bill Twicker, and many of those present echoed his opinion. ‘* Now, pards,” said Cibuta, “‘I don’t blame you for wanting to get rid of the thing, but I want it for atpurpose. I want to use it in my man-hunt. I want to use it in my search for the murderer of Judge Hucklebee.” ‘‘Thet bein’ ther case, ye shell hev it!” Bill declared. | ** Who has got it now?” ‘‘Tt is now in my possession,” said Gerald Keyne. ‘*Then please hand it over ter Cibuta John,” Bill requested. Keyne did so, and at sight of the hated blade, a solemn hush fell over the crowd. Cibuta glanced at it as he took it, and as his eyes fell upon the inscription on the blade, he exclaimed: ‘*Heavens! What means this?” ‘f What be it, pard?” was asked. ‘Why, the inscription here on the blade is not what it was!” ‘*Ther devil! What is it now?’ Cibuta held it up and read aloud: “ The silver dagger’s work is ended, Blood shall ne’er more stain the brand; A charm for good ’tis now intended— Him who keeps it near to hand.” Tere was amystery indeed. One after an- other examined the weapon, but not another word could be found. When and how had this change been made? No one could say. The dagger looked just the same as ever in ever other way, and the inscription looxed as though it had been there for years. No new cutting was it. Then arose the question, ‘‘ was this the same silver dagger?” ‘*{ can swear that it are ther same one thet killed Jedge Hucklebee,” declared Bill Twicker, ‘‘for thar’s a private mark thet I put onto it myself!” ‘** And [ can swear that it is the original dag- ger,” said Cibuta John, ‘‘I noticed that small cent near its point when first it came into my possession.” It was a mystery that no one could solve, As Uncle Dan Derrick, the rhyme-making postmaster remarked: ‘* Thar are some things in this heur land, Which human man can’t understand.” And verily the old man was right. As it was after four o’clock when the trial had closed, the afternoon was now almost gone. The general excitement was slowly abating, but all of a sudden it was again raised to the highest point, when it became teste around that Clara St. Clare and Nettie Hucklebee were both missing from the town. Inquiry proved that they had not been seen since early morning. What could it mean? Search must be made for them at once! Before action could be taken, however, the crowd near the hotel was startled by a wild, weird shriek close at hand, and the next instant a wild-looking creature sprung into their midst. It was an old woman, barely half-clad. Her hair was long and uncombed, her hands were like the claws of some wild beast, and her face wore an expression that was almost hideous to look upon, : ‘* Mother Wolf!” ‘*The Mountain Witch!” Such were the cries heard on every hand. The old hag paid no attention to any one in articular, but stretching forth her arms in an impressive manner, she cried: ‘Half a mile beyond that big tree up yon valley are the women ye seek, and they are in deadly peril. Fly to their aid at once! Do not lose a moment—an instant!” Some one in the crowd tried to put a ques- tion to the old woman, but again she raised her arms and cried: “*Go! co! GO!” And as she uttered the last word she again gave vent to her wild shriek, and ran away. ‘What means this?” asked Cibuta John. ‘ Is she crazy?” ‘‘Tt means that we’ro wanted up the valley, and wanted bad !” cried Bill Twicker, in reply, **Come!” And he started off on a run. Cibuta John and a score of others were with him instantly, and away they sped like the wind. When they had gone some distance they were urged to still greater speed by hearing a wom- an’s voice crying loudly for help. On they flew at their highest possible speed, and still endeavoring to increase it by every effort. Presently they came upon a most startling sight as they rounded an abrupt bend. There stood Nettie Hucklebee, with a revolver in each hand, pointing straight at the breasts of two men whom she was holding at bay, while at her feet lay Clara St. Clare. ‘‘Thank Heaven! help at last!” cried Nettie. ‘‘ Take those two men prisoners, men of Ante- Bar, and hold them to account for the murder of my father !” The hands of the two men were instantly se- curely bound. They were no strangers. to the men who had thus come so timely upon the scene. In truth, they were well known to them Paral were “Giant” John Jones and Billy Bob- sled. Cibuta John bad instantly knelt down beside Clara St. Clare. ** What has happened?” he asked. injured?” ‘‘T fell and have sprained my ankle so badly that I cannot stand,” was the reply. ‘Well, we'll carry you home then,” said Ci- buta. And calling two of the men to aid him, the lady was lifted up tenderly, and all started for the town. ‘‘ Wal, leetle lady,” said Bill Twicker, **‘ what means this heur, anyhow?” ‘¢ Just what I was about to ask,” said Cibuta John. ‘*Shall I tell you now, or wait till we get to the Bar?’ Nettie asked. ‘* Spin it right out now,” said Bill. most anxious ter hear.” ‘* Well,” Nettie began, ‘‘I will tellyou. I did not believe Mr, Cibuta John guilty of murder- ing my father, and so this morning I asked the school-mistress to go with me to see old Mother Wolf. ‘“We set out early for the old witch’s cabin, and when we arrived there, we told her our errand. She brought out her magic tub, and showed us a likeness of the real murderer, It was Giant John, assisted by Billy Bobsled.” ‘‘Ther deuce! An’ you two gals sot out ter ‘‘ Are you ‘We are find ’em?” ‘“Yes, sir. Mother Wolf told_us just where to go, and we resolved to do it. We had a very long walk, but we found and captured our men —as you see. We had them thus near to town, when my companion fell and sprained her ankle, and then we were in a bad fix. . All I could do, was to stand and hold my prisoners at bay, and at the same time scream loudly for help. And, thank heaven! you came.” ‘‘ And it was Mother Wolf who sent us to your aid,” said Cibuta John. ‘‘TIndeed! Then she must have watched over us!” ‘6 So it would seem.” The two ladies were taken to the Hucklebee house, where the women of Ante-Bar, gave every attention to the ‘‘schoolmarm’s” sprain- ed ankle. The men then turned their whole attention to their prisoners. Both stoutly denied all knowledge of the crime, They claimed that they had been pros- pecting just beyond their five-mile limit of ap- roach to the town, when the two girls sudden- y appeared, both armed, and got the “drop” on them. ‘ “Do you swear you are innocent of this crime?” asked Cibuta John. ‘Yas, I sw’ar it!” cried Giant John. ““ And you are willing to do almost anything to prove it?” ; ‘* Vas—yas! Anything!” ‘“‘ Well, then,” and Cibuta drew forth the sil- ver dagger, ‘‘ we, the people of Ante-Bar, de- mand of you that you sit all night upon Judge Hucklebee’s grave, holding this weapon in your hand. As you are innocent, of course you will not have any fears—” { But the giant had fears, as was plainly evi- dent. His face had turned deathly white, his legs began to weaken under him, and he could barely stand. ‘‘ Thunder!” cried out Billy Bobsled. ‘‘I can’t stand this heur! I’ confess ther hull biz.” And he did so. It will be remembered that when these two men were carried out of the town on a rail, they made threats against both Judge Hucklebee and Cibuta John, And thus they had carried their