Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

THROW UP YOUR HANDS. “Say!” Belle, the dance hall girl shrilled. Whut is this, a pettin’ party or a lynchin’ bee?” “ Ajn’t that rope near fixed?” Spavin Yampdon shouted. Red Wilpin gathered the girl a little closer. Suddenly she felt his lean muscular body stiffen. He gave her a convulsive hug that left her well nigh breathless. ‘“What’s happened?” she gasped. ‘Honey,’ he panted, “I’ve jest gave birth to an idee. It mayn’t work, but I sure am a goin’ to fling it to these wolves.” Once more he raised his right hand to com- mand silence, and when the hubbub had subsided he cried: “Hey, judge! Oh, judge! Judge Ogle- thorpe!” ‘“ Well, what is it?” the unfriendly voice of Judge Oglethorpe gave answer. “ Judge,” the young man proceeded in the breathless hush that followed, “‘ you say you’ve practiced law; you say you've served the State as a prosecuting attorney; you say you've honored and distinguished the bench in the appellate division. Is that true, judge, or ain’t it?” “True?” the judge said curtly. course, it’s true. What of it?” ‘T want to know, judge, if you consider it fair and just to send a man to his death without a fair hearin’.”’ ‘In this case,” snapped, “I do!” * But, judge, you can’t stand there and let them hang me on eircumstantial evi- dence.” * Circumstantial evidence!” the judge snorted. ‘‘ Five people—-each one a reli- able witness—saw you commit a ghastly crime. We don’t require additional evi- dence. You're going to be hanged, and I for one intend to see that the job is done properly. Yes, and the hanging of your fair accomplice!” * But what has she done, judge?” * She is a material witness!” ‘Well, how do you know she is, judge? How do you know I didn’t take her into these here hills with me by force?” **T have witnesses to prove that you did not-——-that she accompanied you of her own free will.” oA oe Of Judge Oglethorpe ‘Who are the witnesses, judge?” “"Phese two stanch men of the great, open spaces—— Gory Oliver and Karl the Killer! By their own testimony-—”’ ‘* But, look here, judge,” the young man interrupted plaintively, “‘ you know as well as I do that their testimony won’t hold in any court of law in the land. Who are they? I can furnish you a whole box car load of Witnesses t’ prove that Gory Oliver and Karl the Killer are hoss thieves, cattle rustlers, claim jumpers and out-and-out murderers. “T can get you witnesses right out of this crowd to prove that them two killed a poor old widow woman and stole five dol- lars off her corpse. And J can prove that they are escaped convicts from the State penitentiary, and I can prove—” ‘“ Aw, let’s cut out th’ palaverin’,” Belle the dancehall girl snarled. ‘“‘ The evenin’s goin’ and thar’s a storm a blowin’ up.” And as if to underscore her statement a peal of thunder shook the heavens and the ground on which they stood. But Judge Oglethorpe appeared suddenly irresolute. And Red Wilpin saw that he had gained an advantage. ‘And how do you know, judge, that all yore witnesses ain’t criminals? Spavin Yampdon don’t dast to leave this State. And Vl] gamble that Julius Yost is wanted in more’n one place. And how shore are va, onless va put ’em on th’ witness stand in the regulation way, that Marshal Sniffin and Mrs. Yost are reliable witnesses? How shore are you that I ain’t innocent my- self?” ‘Where do vou get that stuff?” the judge roared. ‘‘ The material evidence is secreted upon your person. My watch. My wallet. Mrs. Yost’s jewelry. The marshal’s. Search him, men!” But a search through the red-haired ban- dit’s pockets revealed nothing but a Boy Scout knife, a bunch of keys and several dozen cartridges. “That old man has them!” the judge cried. “Well, how sure are you?” ‘¢ Where is he?” “ T dunno.” “Gorn!” Belle cried. ‘‘ He’s a pastin’ th’ ball, jedge!”’ EO JOO (Cc