Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

THE BIG BOSS IN BRONZE. Detective Odlin informed the squire that . the prisoner was to be taken directly to the shire town, by orders of the county attor- ney, to whom the evidence in the case had been submitted. . Lawyer Nile had recovered his placidity of manner. On the train he sat in with the officer and the prisoner, and chatted about mat- ters wholly removed from the unpleasant business which had made the journey nec- essary. At the shire town they found the county attorney waiting with the judge of the municipal court in chambers. “Tt will do us no good to fight ’em at this stage of the game,” the lawyer confided to his client. ‘To be sure, we might draw out a little of the State’s case against you, but they’ve got enough in the way of mo- tive and cpportunity to hold you for the grand jury.’’ | He checked Douglass’s protestations. “1 know, boy! But that fat detective is deal- ing with the obvious, and has a lot of that stuff up his sleeve. You and I must bide our time and dig up and display what’s ‘underneath. It’s a dreadful thing, this ar- rest. But an arrest is like lancing a sore swelling! It hurts like the mischief. But from now on Canton will begin to feel easier. Persecution raises up friends for the. victim. Leave it to me!”’ Therefore, Squire Nile rose and waived the reading of the warrant and offered the plea of not guilty in behalf of his client. The offense charged was murder, and no bail could be accepted. Sergeant Douglass was lodged in the county jail. : The old squire, waiting for the night train back to Canton, sat with the prisoner as long as the jail rules permitted. ‘Pity and common sense and decency are still left in some folks of the town,” he insisted in the course of his efforts to cheer Douglass. ‘“ It has needed something like this to stir ’em out of the jealous, selfish ways they have wallowed along in for so long. I reckon you have been called on for another sacrifice, bub, in addition to the one you made when you answered the great call. We’re going to see you go free and 573 spotless. Then they’ll wake up and be ashamed of what the habit of spite has made ’em do.” ‘With me penned up like this, the bur- den falls on you,” said the young student, tears of gratitude in his eyes. “Burden! Phush! It’s a privilege. Haven’t‘I told you before that I want to dig in Canton? Well, now, I have two utensils for the job—a guilty widow and an innocent victim. And I guess the widow was only a tool for evil, as I want to make her a tool for good! She doesn’t impress me as a self-acting proposition.” He rose from the stool and grasped the grating of the door, making ready to rat- tle the signal for release. ‘“‘ Just a moment, Squire Nile!’’ Doug- lass pulled something from his pocket and pressed it into the lawyer’s hand. ‘“ You'll find the order written on the blank, turning the whole sum over to you.” ‘Order? What way! What say!” ‘It’s rising three hundred and eighty dollars—my bonus and what I was able to save across, sir. I realize that it will go only a mighty little way in paying expenses in my defense, but—”’ The lawyer scaled the bank-book upon the cot in the cell. ‘“ What makes you think that I need money? Didn’t you see me take in a fifty-dollar fee only the other day?” he demanded whimsically. “‘I know! But don’t add to my mental troubles by refusing to accept this part payment—please don’t.” “Why, my boy, I’m rich,” blazed the old lawyer. He rattled the door with all his strength. ‘The idea! Sticking a hand- ful of small change up under my nose in this fashion! You have treated me as you would a shyster attorney. Good night! Mind your manners better! ”’ The hurrying turnkey came and clacked back the broad bolt. “Good night!” repeated the squire, pounding his heels on the flagging as he marched away. Young Douglass did not reply; he could not manage his voice; that peppery rebuke had shocked him into silence. He stumbled to his cot and sat upon the edge of it, full of grieved wonder that his offer had been im GO NOOK