Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 971 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

=4 oe Having taken his place, the mayor mo- tioned for those with the prisoner to fol- low, and the additional weight seemed to make the temporary platform all the more secure. Phil Parson followed his pard. “What are you doing here, sir?” the mayor demanded, turning upon him. “Tt is my intention to look after the interests of my friend in this trial, sir,” was the response. “You appear as his lawyer, then?” + ee, “Well, I s’pose that is all reg’lar, though we are not used to such trim- mings out this way. We generally hear whatever is to be said, and then let the public decide on the merits of the case.” “In this instance I want everything done according to law, since we are not outside the pale of the law even here,”’ said Parson. ‘‘ There must be a jury of twelve, who will decide whether this man is to be held on the charge or not, and who will have power to acquit him or commit him to jail for—’” “He! ha! haw!” broke out Hot-head Smith. ‘“ That wull be a fine thing, now won't et? I don’t *bjeck to ther jury, but ther verdick has got ter be final, you bet. We don’t put ther public to no expense, in cases of this hyer kind, my young tenderfoot friend.” “That is sound doctrine,” agreed the mayor. “ You can have your jury, my friend, but the case will be settled here and now, one way or the other.” “Well, the man who cannot have all _- he wants would be a fool not to take what he can get.” “That is logic, too.” It was noticeable that the prisoner had very little to say, but his keen, dark eyes flashed ominously. “ How is the jury to be chosen?” asked Parson. “In any way that’s fair,” said the mayor. “TI have promised a fair trial, and your friend shall have it.” “Well, suppose you choose one and I one, till we have the required number. Of course, it will be useless for you to hame this fellow,” indicating Hot-head, “and it will be useless for me to select Mr. Rogers here.” There was a little parley, while they were adjusting that point, but finally they came to an understanding and the Selections were made, the mayor calling out names in an apparently off-hand manner and the other picking out one here and another there as their faces impressed him. In.a few minutes the twelve had keen selected, and were seated in a row in front of the platform. The judge then declared the court ready. Meanwhile, somebody Had suggested that if the prisoner had a lawyer the camp ought to have one as well, and Hot- head Smith took it upon himself to fill that office. ‘He re his intention to the mayor, an was accepted romptl enough and told to take his hing an the platform. This Mr. Hot-heaq did, and when the mayor—or judge—declared the court duly opened for business, he launched out for the prosecution. “Feller galoots,” he began, “a murder has been done hyer in our midst, and we aire hyer fur the purpose. of decidin’ _whether ‘or not ther prisoner at ther bar is ther skunk what done et. That _ is what we aire hyer fur, ag I said, and that is what we mean ter d@tarmin’. Let me give ye ther facts ov ther case, _ and then ye kin figger et out to suit yer- selves, Deadwood Dick . s? it <> af. ft . ems is “ . os Oe) —, : ye ot 4° a eo fod Ons, =F ae 2 : 7 t. 2 Oa clei V4 “Trg Le i tye5, 2 : : : a : m4 > pad yh os - ; es A. . % - 7 ‘ cua s wD i, * ‘ - ~ ‘ =" * > e 4 4+ . ™e > pt s . A atte Pal <a coat ee ae > S57 ie § Se.) : - = ME be ia i oes vod | = A ~ o . a : >> ee Wr: : ~S a a i w bs ee ee ees. (Ome: ag WY . rom, ; a, ym seas ~s? = ~~ As 2 * Se > i ~ 53> - . e ’ = , - z — = Tee ey 4 ATURE PS! et 7 . “ey eS ree: oe > * 7 , + os P - ~~ ? —- — -—- “ Doughy Baker goes ter ther cabin, ov Dave Hamilton, to call him up, at ther usual hour. He finds him dead in bed, knifed through and through. He gives ther alarm. Our mayor and some of our citerzens rush up thar, and what do they find? ‘Tracks, made by a fine boot, leadin’ down to ther stage road. They foller, and what do they find? This hyer galoot, ther prisoner at ther bar, waitin’ fur ther stage, They search him, and what do they find? Dave Ham- ilton’s watch! What more is needed ’n that, feller galoots?”’ There was a wild cheer, more like the howling of a horde of wild hyenas, and Mr. Hot-head sat down. “Lynch him!” some one shouted. “ String him right up!” yelled another. “We don’t need ter hear t’other feller, now!” They were on the point of making a rush, but Phil Parson was on his feet, shouting and motioning, and gradually the uproar subsided and they listened to hear what defense he could offer. “Men of Paradise,’ he said, “ there can be no fairness about this trial unless both sides are heard. We admit every- thing that has been stated by the other side, save alone the fact that the prisoner killed Mr. Hamilton. That he did not do. Some one entered the cabin after he had left, for he left Mr. Hamilton alive and well, Unfortunately, he has only his bare word for this; but, on the other hand, who saw him do the deed? What motive had he to kill the man? Would he have left so plain a trail, he having done it? Does not your sense of fair play lead you to see that the circum- stances against him is no proof, “Now, what we propose is this: You may hold him prisoner if you will, but give fhe the assurance that you will do nothing rash, and give me ample time to look into the case further and furnish the proofs, if such are to be found. If you hold to your present intention and hang him, and I can show to you later that you have hanged an innocent man, what good will that do my friend? This must not be done; you are too fair-mind- ed to allow’ it to be done; you will take both sides into consideration, and decide accordingly. Gentlemen of the jury, I have no long argument to present; I have no proofs in hand to exhibit; but I ask you to acquit my friend on the ground that the charge has not been proven.” There was little more that could have been said. “Haw! haw! haw!” laughed Hot-head Smith, when his opponent had done. “ Ef that ain’t ther weakest I ever heard in all my born days, IT’ll drink water straight! What more do we want, galoots ov Paradise? ”’ “ Order!” cried the mayor. “Your’n to command!” said Hot-head, bowing and stepping aside. “Gentlemen of the jury,” said the mayor—or judge, “you have heard the matter ably presented by both sides. I will not add anything that may confuse your judgment. Take the case, and !et us have your verdict.” The crowd cheered. : The jury put their heads together for a minute, while a deathlike silence fell. Their consultation was _ brief. The foreman rose in his place, and doffing his hatin an awkward way, delivered the verdict. “Wull,” he said, “we hev come to a ’clusion, and it is to ther ’fect that Dave Hamilton was foully murdered by some ornery cuss, and that this hyer galoot is ther man.” “ Ka-whoop!” yelled Hot-head Smith. | “ What did I tell yer? Didn’t I say he done } SP i , Jr.’s, Oath. et? Fetch along ther ropes, boys, and we'll mighty soon carry out ther sentence, [ opine! We'll see ef strangers kin come to this hyer camp and murder us at. pleasure! ” There was a mighty roar, and the crowd surged forward. : But something else had taken place by this time. Gil Rogers had slipped away unobserved, and he now appeared mounted. Straight into the crowd he dashed, re- gardless of everything, and he was lead- ing another horse besides his own. The crowd made 4vay for him, to save their necks, and he made straight for the tables, There was instant confusion, and, act- ing quickly, Phil Parson cut the bonds that held his friend’s wrists and -slipped a revolver into his hand. Quicker than it can be read, then, Duplex John was on his feet, and a strange call, or signal, fell from his lips. The result was surprising. There was a loud whinny, and his horse broke away from Rogers and came dashing to. the place where his master stood! By this time revolvers began to bark, here and there, but the confusion was so great that the bullets flew wide, and in the scramble made by those most eager to get out of range, the tables were over: turned. , Duplex John’s horse did not stop for anything, but came straight on to its master, and seizing hold of it the moment it came near, the recent prisoner swung himself into the saddle, and was off like the wind. Phil Parson tried to follow him, on Gil Rogers’ horse, which was tendered to him, but before he could mount he was seized and a rope was around his neck in a trice. + QHAPTER VIIL EXCITEMENT AT WHITE HEAT. It was a time of confusion. The rage of the citizens of Paradise scarce knew bounds. Their first prisoner having escaped them, all their hatred was poured out upon the second. “To ther tree with him!” yelled Hot- head Smith. “‘ Mebby he had a hand in et anyhow, we don’t know; it was mebby a skeem between ’em!” “ He deserves death anyhow, for inter- fering with the workings of justice,” averred the mayor. “ Drag him on, boys, for if we spare him we might as well give up trying to have order here.” “That’s what’s the matter! him along! Ka-whoop!” “*Venge fer Dave Hamilton!” So, half carrying and half dragging him, they made for the nearest tree, no less than a dozen men having hold upon the rope. Everybody was crazy with excitement; no one paid any attention to anything but the immediate business in hand; the escaped prisoner was forgotten and no thought was given to Gil Rogers. | They were only a minute or even less in reaching the tree, and the rope was thrown over the nearest limb. Useless to resist; it was one against the many. 7 “Up with him!” No sooner the cry than the prisoner was jerked high up in air. But there was disappointment for them even then. The whistle of a bullet was heard; the rope snapped, and Phil Par- son dropped to the ground unharmed, save for the shock of the fall. Fetch His hands had not been bound, and he > had grasped the rope above his head a soon as released by his captors. Le ook 7 i <3 - <a el a te? oe, | | ~~,» ’ # ws s ee, Oe 4 AY , os wry \ et D2» A te ae gs ; « ese # 4 ° F Toes (aces dae be I 4 e ’ J vt ’ +. * ad * . Keo ag a 'z a a4 oh Oa te Oe ce aR *. wen I = - '