' l. m. grist s sons. Pabiiihew. j A ^antilj 3flf irspapf r: Jjor the promotion of the political, Social. Agricultural and ffomiiurrial Interests of the ^people. ! tkr,*nolk cJh-'v.Vmk ESTABLISHED 1855. YORK VILLE,S."oT'F RIDAY7 DECEMBER" 18, 1908. NO. 301. Tipwrwwiinimiifw iwiuwiwfwr -Tilt JO By OPI1 Copyrighted 1896, by Wm. I 3y Per'riiesion of La iXmi an m nl m m Ml mmum an B CHAPTER XIV. i I went to town every day, and evI ery night I returned, self-charged with hope; and now the trial was at hand. When the work of impaneling the jury was begun, old Conkwright was there with his challenges. How shrewd he was, how sharp were his eyes. And when night came the panel was far from complete. "It will take a long time at this rate,"I 1 said, as we were leaving the court room. ^ '"I don't care if it takes a thousand years; they sha'n't ring in a stuffed toad on me," replied the ex-judge. "Did you notice that fellow with a long neck? ? They've fixed him all right and I knew b it. I am not altogether easy about that short fellow we've got, but I hope he is man enough to be honest. There is no more trickery anywhere than there is in a murder trial in this country. Well, they've put their worst men forward. niul I think we shall have better material tomorrow." fAnd it appeared that we had. for the jury was sworn in the next afternoon. The testimony was so short and L so direct, the witnesses were so few V that the trial could not last long; and ? when at home I gave this as an opin\ ion. the old people were glad, for they declared that it shortened the time of their son's absence. On the day set for the opening of the argument hundreds of the farmers gave over their work and rode to town, for the southerner loves a passionate speech, and the court house is still his theatre. The old man walked down the road with me. but he stopped before we f reached the place where Stuart had been stretched upon the ground. "Well." he said, turning back, "I reckon today'U finish it. At least they'll give it to the jury and it oughten't to ^ lake 'em long after what the judge says in his charge to "em. I feel that it's goin' to be all right. Don't you?" The truth was that I did not; but kindness is not always the truth; so I said: "Everything looks that way. Conkwright is as sharp as a thorn and he'll be in meir nesn irom me uckinning to the end." k "Hy jings, jest say that again. That ought to settle it right now, hah? y Stay with 'em till they get through, and ? you'll find us waitin' for you when you git back." 1 ' I nodded, waved my hand at him and 1 galloped away, and from a hill-top I looked back and saw him still standing there in the road. Parker caught up with me and we in turn overtook a man whom I did not care to encounter ?Etheredge. I had seen him every day during the trial, had caught his blurred eye as I was giving my testimony on the stand, had heard him tell his damaging story. J "Ho, there." he said, as I was about to pass him. "Haven't forgotten me, have you?" ? "My memory is unfortunately so good f that it retains many objectionable things," I answered. "Olad to hear it; pleased to know that you haven't forgotten our little engagement." He rode along with me. The way was just broad enough for two horses abreast, and the deputy dropped back. "We need not wait for the termination of the trial," I replied. ^ "That so? Strikes me that you are ^ pretty keen, especially as there is an M xfticer tight behind you. Say, you *W seem to blame me for the interest I M am taking in this affair. Have yor ? stonned to think of the interest you are ^ taking1 in it? Jucklin's no relation of yours and probably never will be. Did you hear what I said? Probably novel will be." '"Unfortunately I haven't an apple tree sprout with nie today. Mr. Ethoredge." "And it's a good thing for you that you haven't. Do you reckon I'd let you lash at me while so many people are riding along the road?" ^ "I don't suppose you would let me do so at any time if you could help yourself." "Oh. I don't know. Might let you amuse yourself if there were no one c in sight. But I've got nothing against you. young man. I've lived long enough to forgive an over-grown boy's impulses." He could not have cut me deeper: and his sieepy old eyes saw the blood and he laughed. "Got under your hide a little that time, eh? We've all got a thin place somewhere in our skin, you know. You needn't look back; the officer is right behind us." "I wish he were not in sight," I re( plied. "You don't like him, eh? Why, I al> ways thought he was a pretty good y fellow. But. of course, I am willing A to accept your judgment of him. But ? I- Ill,, 1,1^ ...K., ,1? tvntf U yuu nun i 11rvc mill ? nj uii j w, ' ?.? w for him to come up?" "1 am waiting for you to go on. sir," i replied. "And if you don't I will knock you off that horse." "Very well. I see a man on ahead who is doubtless better company. I trust, though, that I shall have the pleasure of a closer association with you at some future time, flood morning." fl I waited until Parker came up. "Did you get enough of him?" he asked, laughing. "I knew you would?nearly everybody does. I'nder the oircumM stances it was an insult for him to offor to ride with you." "And he and I will have a trouble as soon as this one is settled," I replied. "Oh, I reckon not. I don't see why any man of sense should want to have trouble with you. Just look how they are Mucking to town. Hope they'll turn out this way and vote for ine at the next election for sheriff. Women, too. See them coining out of that gate?" 4 When we rode into the town the 4 streets were thronged and horsemen. wagons and buggies were thick on the public square. The ginger cake and > eider vender was there, with his stand / near the court house steps, and the neigh of the colt and the distressful answer of his mother, tied to the raek. CHINS' 2 READ. 4. Lee?All Right* Reserved. ird & Lee, Publishers. j echoed throughout the town. Dogs, meeting one another for the first time, decided in their knowing way that they were enemies, but suddenly became allies in a yelping chase after one of their kind that came down the street with a tin can tied to his tail. I went at once to Conkwright's office and found him with his feet on a table, contentedly smoking a cob pipe. "I was just thinking over some points that I want to make," he remarked as I entered. " A tia 1 hrvno air that von are in the proper humor to make them." "Can't tell about that. Oratory is as stealthy and as Illusive as a weazel at night. You never know when he's coming." "But do you feel well?" I anxiously inquired. "Oh, feel first-rate, but that doesn't make any particular difference. Sometimes a man may think that he feels well, but when he gets up to speak he finds that he is simply sluggish. Reckon I'll get through all right. Do the best I can, any way, and if I fail It can't be helped. Guess we'd better go over." An anxious day that was for me. I looked at Alf, now beginning to grow pale under his imprisonment, and I saw his resentment rise and fall as the state's attorney pictured him, waiting, listening with eagerness for the sound of a horse's hoofs. I was to be a lawyer. to defend men and to prosecute them for money, and yet I wondered how that bright young fellow, with the seeming passion of an honest outcry, could stand there and tell the jury that my friend had committed the foulest murder that had ever reddened the criminal annals of his state. Old man Conkwright sat, twirling his thumbs, and occasionally he would nod at the juryman as if to call their attention to a rank absurdity. But I did not see how he could offset the evidence and the blazing sentences of that impassioned prosecutor. At last Conkwlight's time had come, and when he arose and uttered his first word I felt the chill of a disappointment creeping over me. He was slow and his utterance was as cold as if it had issued from a frost-bitten mouth. I went out and walked round the town, to the liverv stable, where a negro was hum ming a tune as he washed a horse's back; to the drug store, where a doctor was dressing a brick-bat wound in a drunken man's scalp?I walked out to the edge of the town, where the farming land lay, and then I turned back. I was thinking of my return home, of the sorrow that I should take with me, of those old people?of Guinea. Some one called me, and facing about I recognized the telegraph operator coming across a lot. "Glad to see you," lie said, coming up and holding out his hand. "Didn't hear about her, did you?" "Hear about whom?" I asked, not pleased that he should have broken in upon my sorrowful meditation. "Mrs. McHenry." "No, I've heard nothing. What about hei ?" "Why, there's everything about her. She's my wife?married night before last. Know that piece of calico I pointed out that day. the time I said I had to be mighty careful? Well, she's it. I'll walk on up with you. Run it down?run in panting, you might say. Said I had to have her and she shied at first, but that didn't make any difference, for I was there three times a day till she saw it wasn't any use to shy any longer; so she gave in and I caught the first preacher that happened to be hanging around and he soon pronounced us one and the same kind?something of the same sort. Go right down that street and you'll see calico on my clothes line most any time. Say, it will be a pity if they hang that young fellow. And I'll tell you what I'll do. If they send anything off to any of the newspapers I'll spell his name wrong. Get even with them some way, won't we? Yonder comes my boy and I reckon there's a call for me at the office. They are rushing me now ?seems to be the busy season. I've been to the office twice already today." Long before I reached the court house I heard old Conkwright bellowing at the jury. The windows were full of people and outside were standing upon boxes, straining to see the old fellow in his mighty tirade. I could not get into the room, but I squeezed my way to the door and stood there, with my blood leaping. Now I could see why they had called him powerful. His face was aglow, his gray hair was upon end and his eyes were shooting darts at the jury. I know not how long he spoke, but I know that suddenly he was silent, looking upward, and then, spreading his hands over the jury, said: "May God in his infinite mercy influence your decision." He sat down, and I noticed then that the air was cooler with a breeze that sprang up when the sun had set. The state's attorney made a few remarks, and then the judge delivered his charge to the jury, an address short, but earnest. Now there was a shoving and a crush ?the jurymen were filing out. I saw them leading Alf back to the jail, but I did not go to him. so pulled and hauled I was by hope and fear. But I made my way to the old lawyer, and asked him what he thought. "I don't know," lie answered. "Don't you see the disposition there is to rush everything? I don't think they will be out long." "You made a great speech, sir." "Wasn't bad. considering the material. We were at a disadvantage. He stood there in the road, you know, and that is a hard thing to get round." "But the judge must have felt your speech." "Why, my son. I don't suppose he heard it." I went away and again I walked about the town. It was dusk and the tavern bell was ringing. On the court house steps and on the public square men were discussing the trial and ven turing their opinions as to the result. I heard one man say: "The old soldier made a great fight. but the odds were against. Met ten dollars they find him guilty." "There's his fuend over there," another man spoke up. "Don't talk so loud." j "Can't help who's listening: money's here talkin'. Any takers?" Not far away there was a wooden bridge over a small stream and thither I went and leaned upon the rail, listening to the murmur of the water. I thought that this must be the brook that rippled past our house, and I went down to the water's edge and bathed my aching head. Then I remembered that I had eaten nothing since early morning, and I thought that I would better go to the tavern, and was turning away when I heard some one cry: "The jury is in and court has met again!" I scrambled up and hastened toward the court house, and at the steps I met a number of men coming jut. "It's all over," one of them said to me. "Imprisonment for life. Conkwright has moved for a new trial and the judge has granted it." I hastened to the jail, whither they had taken Alf. I found him seated on his bed. He got up wnen ne saw me. "Bill," he said, in a voice low and steady, "I am not going to the penitentiary if you are my friend." "And you know that I am, Alf." "Then you will lend me your knife." "No, Alf, I can't do that?not now. Remember that we have another chance." "I don't mean now?I mean if that last chance fails. Now I want you to do something for me. You tell father that he must sell his farm immediately and leave here. Tell him that I'll hate him if he doesn't do as I say. You can stay here and write to him, and if I don't come out at the next trial, all right, and if I do, I can go to him. It may seem hard, but he's got to do it. He wouldn't live here, any way. Will you do It?" "I will, for I don't know but it is a good plan. No, he wouldn't live here. He will do as you request." "Well, go on home now and rest. Hanged if you don't look as if you've been on trial for your life," he added, laughing. "Tell him that I'm not crushed?that it has come out better than I expected." The night was dark, the road was desolate, and I heard the lonesome lowing of the cattle. And now and then a horseman passed me, for I was not eager to get home. At a gate near the road-side some one was standing with a lantern, and just behind me came the rattle of an old vehicle. I turned aside to let it pass, and as I did the light of the lantern fell upon me and a voice asked: "That you, Mr. Hawes?" "Yes," I answered, turning back into the road and following a buggy. "I 'lowed so," said a man in the buggy, "for we don't grow many of your size about here. I haver heard that they used to, but they don't now. Good many things have happened since that day you come over to see me about the school. I'm Perdue. And by the way, there's a hundred dollars at my house waitin' for you and if you don't come after it I'll send it over." "But you don't owe me anything yet," I replied. "Yes, the money's there and it's yourn. You couldn't help not bein' in a fix to teach. As I say, it's there for you, and you might as well have it. Sorry for the old folks, tell 'em. but it can't be helped." On he drove, shouting back that he could send the money the next day, and my protest, if. indeed, I entered one. was weak and faltering, for of all men in that neighborhood I thought that I stood most in need of a hundred dollars. Now I was nearing the house. The| hour was late, but a light was burning In the sitting room. No one came out, though my horse's hoot's fell hard enough upon the stones to tell them of my coming; and when I got down at the gate I found a horse tied to the fence. Some person, eager to bear evil tidings, had forestalled me. I led my horse to the stable, went to the house, and had just stepped into the passage when Parker, the deputy sheriff, came out of the sitting room. "I thought you'd go on back to the jail to stay a while, so 1 came on over to tell them. No trouble, you know?only a short distance out of my way." All within was silent. I stepped inside. The old man was standing with his back to the fire-place; the old woman sat with her book in her lap and Guinea stood at the window, looking into the darkness. I sat down in silence, for I knew not what to say, and in silence for a time we remained. The old woman sobbed, clutching more tightly her book, and the old man looked at her sharply and then almost Hung himself out of the room. And a few moments later I heard him shouting: "Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there Bob! There's plenty of light! you've got three lanterns. Hike, there! To a finish. to a finish!" "Mrs. Jucklin, it is no time for despair." I said, and Guinea turned from the window. "We have already secured a new trial, and the next time it will surely go in our favor. That is the history of nearly all such cases. Be strong just a little while longer. You have been our prop, and now you must not let us fall." She arose and with an old-time courtesy bowed to me, and Guinea came forward and held out her hand, and she must have seen a sudden light leap Into my eyes, for she said: "I am Alfs sister and yours, too." This came as a repulse to my heart's | eager yearning: nX'' A man's hair turns pray about five years earlier than a woman's. .tirin Iceland men and women are c in every respect political equals. The ( nation, which numbers over 70,000 t people, is governed by representatives 1 elected by both men and women. t THE PRESIDENT AND I nt wuni_u Remarkable Controversy Over the Panama Canal Deal. President Roosevelt on last Tueslay sent to congress tt special message m the subject of the charges that have seen made against him and his adnlnlstration in connection with the Panama canal deal. The principal responsibility for the charges, is on the Mew York World, and a large portion )f the message is devoted to that pajer, which the president denounced in :he most bitter and intemperate lanruage. The message is probably the nost remarkable of the many remarkible papers the president has sent to jongress. The World is denounced as i most unscrupulous liar and the presient recommends that Mr. Pulitzer, the >roprietor, be prosecuted and imprison:d for criminal libel. With the mesiage the president sends most of the ecords in connection with the Panama leal; but does not give the names of any Americans who received any portion of he $40,000,000 that was paid over on iccount of the same. There was l muse men t in both the house ana senite over the reading of the message, lenators and representatives on both sides of both houses, laughing in de-islon at the intemperate language used jy the president. It is said the language was the most intemperate and jnseemly that has ever been used In :he history- of the country, and that lever has a message been received with so much disrespect The New York World, Wednesday, nakes an extended reply to the presilent's message, and in the course of ts reply says: "Mr. Roosevelt is mistaken. He :annot muzzle the World. "While no amount of billingsgate >n his part can alter our determina:ion to treat him with judicial impar:iality an* scrupulous fairness, we repeat what we have already said, that :he congress of the United States should make a thorough investigation >f the whole Panama transaction, that :he full truth may be known to the \merican people. "The World fully appreciates the wmpliment paid to it by Mr. Roose,-elt in making jjt the subject of a spe ;ial message to the congress of the LTnlted States. "The Work! likewise appreciates the mportance of Mr. Roosevelt's state nent when he declares to congress that he proprietor of the World should be >rosecuted for libel by the governmentil authorities, and that 'the attorney general has under consideration the 'orm under which the proceedings igainst Mr. Pulitzer shall be brought.' "This is the first tijne a president sver asserted that doctrine of lese najeste, or proposed, in the absence of ipeclflc legislation, the criminal prosejution by the government of citizens vho criticised the conduct of the gov>rnment or the conduct of individuals vho may have had business dealings 14th the government: Neither the king >f Great Britait or the German emjeror would venture to arrogate such >ower to himself. John Adams' atempt to enforce the sedition law de itroyed the Federalist party in Amerca. Yet Mr. Roosevelt in the absence >f law officially proposes to use all the jower of the greatest government on iarth to cripple the freedom of the >ress on the pretext that the governnent Itself has been libeled?and he is . I he government. j "It is true that the World printed he public reports concerning the Pan- I ima canal affair which resulted from iVllllam Nelson Cromwell's appeal to m he district attorney's office during the J ecent campaign to prevent the publl- ^ :ation of a story which was said to be n the hands of the Democratic nation il committee. It was Mr. Cromwell's >wn action which raised the issue in he campaign. "It is true also that when Mr. Roosevelt made his attack upon Delavan Smith, the World called attention to :ertain statements which Mr. Roosevelt nust have known to be false or mlseading and appealed to congress to rnd all scandal by a full and impartial nvestigation. If this be treason, let Hr. Roosevelt make the most of it. "Mr. Roosevelt's lamentable habit of naccurate statements make it imposdble to accept either his judgments or lis conclusions. In his message he loes not state correctly even so simple i matter as the pretended causes of his rrievance. The World has never said hat Charles P. Taft, or Douglas Robnson made any profits whatever. Mr. Taft denied that he was concerned in he transaction in any way, which delial the World published and accept;d. It would have been equally glad to mint Mr. Robinson's denial could it lave succeeded in obtaining one from lim, as it frequently attempted. The ,Vorld has no evidence that he was asociated with Mr. Cromwell, and would tccept his word to that effect; for Mr. loblnson is an estimable gentleman of ligh character, whose reputation for 'eracity is infinitely better than that if his distinguished brother-in-law. "If the World has libeled anybody we lope it will be punished, but we no not ntond to be intimidated by Mr. Roose eit's threats or by Mr. Roosevelt's lenunciation, or by Mr. Roosevelt's lower. "No other living man ever so grossly ibeled the United States as does this resident who besmirches congress, tulldozes judges, assails the integrity f courts, slanders private citizens, and rho has snown nimsen me most recaess, unscrupulous demagogue whom he American people ever trusted with ;reat power and authority. "We say this not in anger but in Incere sorrow. The World has imneasurably more respect for the ofIce of president of the United States han Theodore Roosevelt has even hown during the years in which he las maintained a reign of terror and illifled the honor and honesty of both mblic officials and private citizens, who ipposed his policies or thwarted him n his purpose. "So far as the World is concerned ts proprietor may go to Jail, if Mr. Roosevelt succeeds, as he threatens; >ut even in jail the World will not ;ease to be a fearless champion of free :peeeh, a free press and a free people." The tiny stormy petrel is a bird >f immense wing power; it belongs to (very sea, and although so seemingly rail, it easily breasts furious storms. Petrels have been observed 2.000 miles 'rom nearest land.