.ANd3IT(D)Iffij
OF THE (
a
TfiREECBAIi
BY KATE AND VIRGIL
COOYRIOHr BY A CAfCLly?G UCO. 907
a"
-rv. r. .r you, u.
Jxr.-i;r.:?:i
Louise, who knew that an amusing
thought was seeping through this dec
laration of affection. "I am sorry to
give you a heartache, but I am go
ing back to God's country some day,
nevertheless."
"Maybe bo maybe not," said the
Judge. "Mrs. Iliggins, my good wom
an, how Is our friend, the canker
worm, coming on these days?"
"Canker-worm?" repeated Mrs. HIg-
gins. "Meanin', your honor "
' "Just what I "say canker-worm.
Isn't he the worm gnawing In discon
tent at the very core of the fair fruit
of established order and peace in the
cow country?"
"I I don't understand, your hon
or," faltered the woman In great trepi
dation. Would bis honor consider' her
a hopeless stupid? But what was the
nan talking about? Louise looked up,
a flush of color staining her cheeks.
"Maybe fire-brand would suit you
better, madame? My young friend,
the fire-brand," resumed the Judge,
rising. "That is good fire-brand. Is
lie not inciting the populace to 'open
rebellion, false doctrine and schism?'
Is it not because of him that roofs are
burned over the very heads .of the
helpless homesteader?"
"For shame, Uncle Hammond," ex
claimed Louise, still flushed and with
a mutinous little sparkle in her eyes.
"You are poking fun at me. You
haven't any right to, you know; but
that's your way. I don't care, but Mrs.
Iliggins doesn't understand."
"Don't you, Airs. Higgins?" asked
the judye.
"No, 1 don't," snapped Mrs. Hig
gins, and she didn't, but she thought
she did. "Only if you mean Mr. Hieh
ard Gordon, I'll tell you now there
ain't no one in this here God-forsaken
country who can hold a tallow candle
to him. Just put that in your pipe and
smoke it, will you?"
She piled up dishes viciously. She
did not wait for her guests to depart
before she began demolishing the
table. It was a tremendous breach of
etiquette, but she didn't care. To have
an ideal shattered ruthlessly is ever
a heart-breaking thing.
"But my dear Mrs. Higgins," ex
postulated the judge.
"You needn't," said that lady, short
ly. "I don't care," she went on, "if
the president himself or an archangel
from heaven came down here and
plastered Dick Gordon with bad-smell-in"
names from the crown of his little
toe to the tip of his head, I'd tell 'em
to their very faces that they didn't
know what they was a talkin' about,
and what's more they'd better go
back to where they belong and not
come nosiu' round in other people's
business when they don't understand
one single mite about it. We don't
want "em puttin their fingers in our
pie when they don't know a thing
about us or our ways. That's my
say," she closed, with appalling sig
nificance, liLitteiing herself that no
one couM dream but that she was
dealing in the most off-hand general
ities. She was far too politic to an
tagonize, and withal too good a wom
an not to strike for a friend. She
congratulated herself she had been
true to all her gods and she had
been.
Louise smiled In complete sympa
thy, challenging the judge meanwhile
with laughing eyes. But the judge
he was still' much cf a boy in spite of
his grave calling and mature years
just threw back his blonde head and
shouted in rapturous "glee. He
laughed till the very ceiling rang in
loud response; laughed till the tears
shone in his bjg blue eyes. Mrs. Hig
gins looked on .in undisguised amaze
ment, hands on hips.
t "Pear me, suz!" she sputtered, "Is
the man gone clean daffy?"
"Won't you shake hands with me,
Mrs. Higgins?" he asked, gravely. "I
ask your pardon for my levity, "and I
assure you there isn't a man in the
whole world I esteem more or hold
greater faith in than Dick Gordon or
love so much. I thank you for your
championship of him. I would that he
had more friends like you. Louise,
are you ready?"
Their walk to the hotel was a silent
one. Later, as she was leaving him to
go to her own room, Louise laid her
head caressingly on her uncle's
sleeve.
"Uncle Hammond," she said, impul
sively, "you are incorrigible, but you
are the best man in all the world."
"The very best?" he asked, smiling
ly. "The very best," she repeated, firm
ly. There was a full calender that term,
and the close of the first week found
the court still wrestling with crimin
al cases, with that of Jesse Black yet
uncalled. Gordon reckoned that
Black's trial could not possibly be
taken up until Tuesday or Wednes
day of the following week. Long be
fore that, the town began filling up
for the big rustling case. There were
other rustling cases on the criminal
docket, but they paled before this one
where the suspected leader of a gang
was on trial. The Interested and the
curious did not mean to miss any part
of it They began 'coming in early'in
the week. They kept coming the re-;
B. BO
mainder of that week and Sunday as
well. Kven a3 late as Monday, de
layed range riders came scurrying in,
leaving the cattle mostly to shift for
themselves. The Velpen aggregation,
better informed, kept to its own side
of the river pretty generally until the
Sunday, at least, should be past.
The flats southeast of town became
the camping grounds for those unable
to find quarters at the hotel, and who
lived too far out to make the nightly
ride home and back in the morning.
They were tempted by the unusually
mild weather. These were mostly In
dians and half-breeds, but with a good
ly sprinkling .of cowboys of the
rougher order. Camp-flres spotted the
plain, burning redly at night. There
was plenty of drift-wood to be had for
the hauling. Blanketed Indians squat
ted and smoked around their fires a
revival of an older and better day for
them. Sometimes they stalked ma
jestically through the one street of
the town.
The judicial party was safely housed
In the hotel, with the best service it
was possible for the management to
give in this busy season of congested
patronage. It was impossible to ac
commodate the crowds. Even the of
fice was jammed with cots at night.
Mary Williston had come in from
White's to be with Louise. She was
physically strong again, but ever
strangely quiet, always somber-eyed.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Game is On.
Contrary to expectation, the case of
the State of South Dakota against
Jesse Black was called soon after the
sitting of the court Monday afternoon.
No testimony was introduced, how
ever, until the following day. Inch
by inch, step by step, Gordon fought
for a fair jury through that tense af
ternoon. Merciless in shrewd exami
nation, keen to detect hesitancy, pre
judices sought to be concealed he
cleverly and relentlessly unearthed.
Chair after chair was vacated only to
be vacated again. It seemed there was
not a man in the county who had not
heard somewhat of this much-heralded
crime if crime it were. And he who
had heard was a prejudiced partisan.
How could it be otherwise where feel
ing ran so high where honest men
mostly felt resentment against the
man who dared to probe the wound
without extracting the cause of it, and
a hatred and fear curiously intermin
gl with admiration of the outlaw
whose next move after obtaining his
freedom might be to cut out oJ the
general herd, cows of their own
brands where tainted men, officers
or cowmen, awaited developments
with a consuming interest that was
not above manipulating the lines of
justice for their own selfish ends?
Yet, despite the obstacles In the way,
Gordon was determined to have an un
prejudiced jury in so far as it lay in
LOST
"It Is a Tough Strain, Isn't It?"
human power to seat such a one In the
box. So he worked, and worked hard.
Court adjourned that evening with
the jury-box filled. The state's friends
were feeling pretty good about it.
Langford made his way into the bar
where Gordon was standing apart. He
passed an arm affectionately over his
friend's shoulder.
"You were inspired, Dick," he said.
"Keep on the same as you have begun
and we shall have everything our own
way."
But the fire had died down in the
young lawyer's bearing.
"I'm tired, Paul, dead tired," he
said, wearily. "I wish it were over."
"Come to supper then you'll feel
better. You're tired out. It is a
tough strain, isn't it?" he said, cheer
ily. He was not afraid. He knew the
fire would burn the brighter again
when there was need of It in the
morning.
They passed out of the bar together.
At the "hotel Mary and Louise wr
already seated at the table in the
dining-room where the little party us
ually sat together when it was pos
sible to. dp so. Judge, Dale had not
- xv- y
yet arrived. The landlady was In a
worried dispute with Red Sanderson
and a companion. The men were
evidently cronies. They had their
eyes on two of the three vacant places
at the table.
"But I tell you these places are
tcken," persisted the landlady, who
served as head waitress, when such
services were necessary, which was
not often. Her patrons usually took
and held possession of things at their
own sweet will.
"You bet they are," chimed in lied,
deliberately pulling out a chair next
to Louise, who shivered in recogni
tion. "Please " she began, in a small
voice, but got no farther. Something
in his bold, admiring stare choked her
into silence.
"You're a mighty pretty girl, if you
are a trottin' round with the Three
Bars," he grinned. "Plenty time to
change your live "
"Just move, will you," said Gordon,
curtly, coming up at that moment
with Langford and shoving him aside
with unceremonious brevity. "This is
my place." He sat down quietly.
"You damned upstart," blustered
Sanderson. "Want a little pistol play,
do you?"
"Gentlemen! gentlemen!" Implored'
the landlady.
"I'm not entering any objection,"
said Gordon, coolly. "Just shoot
why don't you? You have the drop on
me.
For a moment it looked as If San
derson would take him at his word
and meet this taunt with instant death
for the sender of it, so black was his
anger. But encountering Langford's
level gaze, he read something therein,
shrugged his shoulders, replaced his
pistol and sauntered off with his com
panion just as Judge Dale came upon
the scene. Langford glanced quickly
across the table at Mary. Her eyes
were wide with startled horror. She,
too, had seen. Just above Red Sander
son's temple and extending from the
forehead up into the hair was an ugly
scar not like that left by a cut, but
as if the flesh might have been deep
ly bruised by some blunt weapon.
"Mary! How pale you are!" cried
Louise, in alarm.
"I'm haunted by that man," she
continued, biting her lip to keep from
crying out against the terrors of this
country. "He's always showing u; i 1
unexpected places. I shall die if I
ever meet him alone."
"You need not be afraid," said Gor
don, speaking quietly from his place
at her side. Louise flashed him i
swift, bewildering smile of gratitude.
Under this cover the young ranch
man comforted Mary, whom the
others had temporarily forgotten, with
a long, carressing look from his hand
some eyes that was a pledge of tire
less vigilance and an unforgetting
watchfulness of future protection.
CHAPTER XV.
The Trial.
The next morning every available
seat was filled early. People had
blocked the rough plank walks lead
ing to the courthouse long before the
doors were unlocked. The day prom
ised to be fine, and the many teams
coming and going between Kemah and
the river to pick up the Velpen peop
ple who had crossed the ice on foot
gave to the little town somewhat cf
the gala appearance of fair time. The
stately and blanketed Sious from then
temporary camps on the flat were
standing around, uncommunicative,
waiting for proceedings to begin. Long
before the judicial party had arrived
from the hotel the cramped room was
crowded to its limits. There was
loud talking, laughing and joking.
Local wits amused themselves and
others by throwing quips at different
members of the county bar or their
brethren from across the river as they
walked to their places inside the rail
ings with the little mannerisms that
were peculiar to each.
The door in the rear of the bar
opened and Judge Dale entered. A
comparative quiet fell upon the peo
ple. He mounted to his high bench.
The clerk came In, then the court re
porter. She tossed her note books
on the table, leisurely "pulled off her
gloves and took her place, examining
the end of her pencils with a critical
eye. It would be a busy day for the
"gal reporter." Then Langford eame
shoving his way down the crowded
aisle with a sad-faced, brown-eyed,
young woman In his wake, who 'yet
held herself erect with a proud little
tilt to her chin. There Was not "an
empty seat outside the bar1. Louise
motioned, and he escorted Mary to a
place within and sat down beside her.
The jurymen were all in their chairs.
Presently came in Gordon with his
quiet, self-reliant manner. Langford
had been right. The county attorney
was not tired to-day.
Shortly after Gordon came Small
Small, the dynamic, whose explosives
had so often laid waste the weak and
abortive independent reasoning pow
ers of "Old Necessity" and his sort,
and were the subject of much satire
and some admiration when the legal
fraternity talked "shop." As he strode
to his place, he radiated bombs of just
and telling wrath. He scintillated with
aggressiveness. With him came Jesse
Black, easy and disdainful as of old.
After them, a small man came gliding
in with as little commotion as if he
were sliding over the floor of a waxed
dancing hall in patent leather pumps.
He was an unassuming little man with
quick, cat-like movements which one
lost if one were not on the alert.
When he had slipped into a chair next
his associate. Small, the inflammable
Small, towered above him head and
shoulders. . .
TAt risibilities continued to thus get
the better of his gravity at frequent
intervals during .the. day. He never
railed to snort aloud In" pure delight
whenever he thought of It. What a
tale for the boys when he could get
to them!
"These cattle men!" This time the
tenderfoot communicated with him
self he had a square chin and a di
roct eye; there were possibilities in
him. "Their perverted sense of the
ridiculous Is diabolical."
There were others who did not
know the little man. He hailed from
the southern part of the state. But
Gordon knew him. He knew he was
pitted against one of the sharpest,
shrewdest. men of his day.
"Gentlemen, I think we are ready,"
said the judge, and the game was on
again.
The state called Paul Langford, its
principal witness in default of Wil
liston. "Your name, place of residence and
business?" asked the counsel for the
state.
"Paul Langford. I reside in Kemah
county and I own and operate a cattle
ranch."
After Langford had clearly de
scribed and identified the animal In
question, Gordon continued:
"Mr. Langford, when did you first
miss this steer?"
"On the 15th day of July last."
"How did you happen to miss this
steer?"
"My attention was called to the fact
that an animal answering this de
scription and bearing my brand had
been seen under suspicious detention."
"Prior to information thus received,
you were not aware this creature had
either strayed away or been stolen?"
"I was not?"
"Who gave you this Information,
Mr. Langford?"
"George Williston of the Lazy S."
"Now you may tell the jury in what
worj i.....ww.,.i io.u jo.i j-.ut the
steer he jaw."
TLis, ji course, was objected to and
the objection was sustained by the
court, as Gordon knew it would be.
He only wanted the jury to remember
that Williston could have told a dam
aging story had he been here, and also
to remember how mysteriously this
same Williston had disappeared. He
could not have Williston or Williston's
story, but he might keep an impres
sion ever before these 12 men that
there was a story he knew it and
they knew it a story of which some
crotchet of the law forbade the telling.
"What did you do after your atten
tion had been called to the suspicious
circumstances of the steer's deten
tion?" "I informed my boys of what I had
heard and sent them out to look for
the steer."
"That same day?"
"Yes."
"Were they successful?"
"Xo."
"Did this steer have a particular
stamping ground?"
"He did."
"Where was that?"
"He always ranged with a bunch on
what we call the home range."
"Xear the ranch house?"
"Within half a mile."
"Did you look for him yourself?"
"I did."
"He was not on this home grazing
ground?"
"He was not."
"Did you look elsewhere for him?"
"We did."
"Where?"
"We rode the free ranges for sever
al days wherever any of my cattle
held out."
"How many days did you say you
rode?''
"Why, wo continued to look sharp
until my boy, Munson, found him the
day before the preliminary at the Vel
pen stock yards, on the point of being
shipped to Sioux City."
"You went to Velpen to identify this
steer?"
"I did."
"It was your steer?"
"Yes."
"The same for which you had been
searching so long?"
"The very same."
"It was wearing your brand?"
"It was not."
"What brand was it wearing?"
"J R."
"Where was It?"
"On the right hip."
"Where do you usually put your
brand, Mr. Langford?"
"On the right hip."
"Always?"
"Always."
"Do you know any J. R outfit?"
"I do not."
Gordon nodded to Small. His exam
ination had been straightforward and
to the point. He had drawn alert and
confident answers from his witness,
involuntarily, he glanced at Louise,
The Game Wa On.
who had not seemed to, be, working at
"-ft
R. RIHSEV
HAS ARRIVED
The Vcrfd Famous Medical Specialist
is at Hi? Riley floici in Fialts
oulh Will Remain Cr.ly
Threc ffcys.
As was announced in previous issues
of the Journal, Dr. Ben W. Kinsey, who
is chief of staff of the Hot Springs Doc
tors, who have their Nebraska State
Institue permanently located at 14th
and O. streets, Lincoln, arrived in
Plattsmouth this morning and will re
ceive patients at the Riley Hotel parlors.
Those who are suiTering from any
chronic disease, such as of the blood,
nerves, kidneys, lungs, heart, bowels,
liver, skin, including rheumatism, para
lysis, neuralgia, piles, poitre, rupture,
and diseases of women and diseases of
men, should not fail to call on Dr. Kin
sey while he is here.
If the Hot Springs System of home
treatment, which Mr. Kinsey is bring
ing to Plattsmouth was not what it is
claimed to be, in fact, if it was not the
best treatment in the world for the dis
eases mentioned, above, it would not be
endorsed, as it is, by the United States
government and the large daily papers
throughout the United States would not
devote their valuable space to tell of
these seemingly miraculous cures made
by the world famous Hot Springs Doc
tors. The following account is an extract
from the Nebraska State Journal of
February 16, 1908:
DR. KINSEY.
Hallan, Feb. 16. What is considered
one of the most remarkable feats of
modern medical skili, was accomplished
recently in the case of August Albers
of this city.
For over thirty years Mr. Albers had
suffered with a general complication of
diseases which finally brought on a com
plete nervous breakdown. Mr. Albers'
friends had recommended one physician
after another and after fourteen had
treated him with no other success than
to use up nearly all the money he could
earn, Mr. Albers gave up all faith in
the doctors' ability to cure him.
Since September of last year a de
cided change for the better has been
noticed in Mr. Albers' condition. Upon
inquiring as to thj cause of this wonder
ful improvement. Mr. Albers gave out
this remarkable interview: i
"When I was eleven years old, I had !
an attack of what the doctors called in
flammatory rheumatism. I got over
this, but had another attack when I was
eighteen, which was not so bad, but for
the last twelve years I have been sick-
most of the time. I have been able to
work, but much of the time I had con
siderable pain, and the ailment kept me
weak, especially my nerves are weak.
"I have been treated by many doc
tors, some treating me for one thing
and some another, but most of them
called it rheumatism. Sometimes I
would get better for a time, but im
provement was only temporary and I
was gradually getting worse until in
September, I commenced, treatment
with the Hot Springs Doctors of Lin
coln. Under the Hot Springs treatment
I got better from the start, and for the
first time in years I am free from pain
and feel I am getting well. I am build
ing up and my nerves are stronger. I
am well pleased with the Hot Springs
treatment. I am a farmer and live one
mile southeast of Hallam, Neb.
August Albers."
This cure is without doubt almost a
miracle, but the Hot Springs Doctors
have hundreds of letters on file in their
offices at 11th and O streets which are
even more remarkable than this. Hardly
a case of chronic disease can be men
tioned but what these Hot Springs Doc
tors having a living testimonial in a
paralled case which they have cured.
These doctors do not claim they can cure
all cases, but they solicit only difficult
cases, cases that other methods have
failed to cure.
Consultation and examination, which
is free, will convince the most skeptical
of this wonderful power of these world
famous specialists. Their permanent
location is at 14th and O streets, Lin
coln, Neb.
This wonderful Hot Springs System
of home treatment is what Dr. Kinsey
is bringing to Plattsmouth. The doctor
will only be here three days, April 20,
21 and 22. While here he will receive
patients at the Riley Hotel. If you are
sick and suffering and want to be made
well and happy, call on Dr. Kinsey.
A $450 PIANO TO
BE JSIVEri AWAY
Do the American People Like
fo Dn Humbugged?
It would FC.'iri to unj rejt.d: i d i-crib-
1 bier, that the old laying of the once
great showman, 1'. T. Barnun:. who
perhaj s knew better than any other
man on earlh the full meaning of the
term, that "the American people love
to be humbugged," is now more true
than ever.
In I'lattsrru uth we have it liberal of
fer made by one of our leading mer
chants to give away a $150.00 piano to
individual, lodge, school or church that
purchases the greatest amount of mer
chandise during the season. Now, while
it is not our desire to mix-up in any
such contests, it seems the people ought
to take advantage of this very liberal
offer. The people have to have the
goods, and while the prices for such
goods as ar'e needed will go at the same
old prices, it seems to us that every
body would grab at the opportunity to
thus secure for themselves or their
lodge, school or church an up-to-date
instrument.
This oirer is made by one of the lead
ing mercantile houses of the city, and
everything connected with the contest
will be carried on in a legitimate, hon
orable manner. The proprietor could
not afford to carry it on otherwise. The
street fakir can come into town and
humbug the people out of their money,
or any stranger can do the same in piano
contest and carry away the peoples'
money for a very inferior grade piano.
But here an entire different proposition
is presented. You know the merchant,
in whom you have the utmost confidence.
You have an opportunity to see the
piano weeks and months before the con
test ends, and you are buying your goods
of a home establishment that has done
business here for years, and the goods
you buy are of the same qualities that
you buy at other stores at the same
prices.
Mr. Fanger, of the Department Store,
is the gentleman who propones to give
this piano away, and from the smiles
that overspreads his countenance every
time a handsome young lady enters his
store, we believe he would prefer that
the instrument would go to some one of
that class, if the young men can get up
courage and energy sufficient to boom
one or more of young ladies in the city
and county as candidates in the contest.
We have plenty of them -and as pretty
as there are in Nebraska.
Will Leave the Farm.
Ben F. Hoback, who has mane his
home on a farm a few miles southwest
of here since 1856, has decided to give
up farm work, and has bought a nice
residence in Nehawka, where he and
his family will locate about August 1st,
their son, Oscaf, taking charge of the
farm at that time. Mr. Hoback has
made a success in farming, and having
accumulated considerable j.roj.-erty by
hard labor, he certainly deserves a good
long rest, and our only iej;rct is that he
and his estimable family are rvt. t'j lo
cate in Union. Union I..dgcr.
En Pc-icc Cci:r!
This morning John Miller and W. I.
Speck wvre Lefoiv ni.; honor, M. Archer,
charged with being drunk arid fighting
yesterday morning. The judge patient
ly listened to the tales of woe told by
the people engaged and after the mat
ter was thoroughly aired assessed them
each a fine of $100 and costs.
Pasture for Rent
I would like have about thirty head
of horses of cattle to pasture for the
summer. Good pasture with running
water. Farm 4J miles northwest of
Murray. W. K. Shepherdson.
HELPFUL HAND
EES
you can most surely dr-r 1
upon in time of tro v ..-
your bank account, better
start to acquire a big one
by depositing what you
have in the Bank of Cass
County. You'll find the
necessity of thinking before
paying a great incentive to
saving. When trouble
comes what you have been
prevented from frittering
away will make a comfor
table balance.
The BANK OF CASS COUNTY,
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA.