Part 17 (1/2)
”Well,” said the ht o' been some doubts about you before, but they aint none now You're bein' hung fer abductin' of an' ail Prim”
The boy screamed and tried to interrupt; but Jeb Case placed a heavy and soiled hand over his mouth The spokesman continued ”This slicker admitted he was The Oskaloosa Kid, 'n' thet he robbed a house an' shot a ht; 'n' they ain't no tellin' what more he's ben up to He tole Jeb Case's Willie 'bout it; an' bragged on it, by guail Prim was last seed with this here Oskaloosa Kid, durn hie politely, ”and nowto rowled the o on”
”All right! You da us I doubt if anything I can say to you will alter your determination for the reason that if all the brains in this croere collected in one individual he still wouldn't have enough hich to weigh the ently, but I shall present the evidence, and you can tell soent people about it tomorrow
”In the first place it is iail Prim, and in the second place my companion is not The Oskaloosa Kid and was not with Mr Paynter last night The reason I could not have murdered Miss Prim is because Miss Prim is not dead These jeere not stolen from Miss Prim, she took them herself fro is not a boy at all--it is Miss Prio and was convinced when she cried that the jewels and money were her own I don't knohy she wishes to conceal her identity; but I can't stand by and see her lynched without trying to save her”
The crowd scoffed in incredulity ”There are soe ”Turn her over to them They'll tell you, at least that she is not athat it was a ruse to escape, while others urged that the women take the youth Jeb Case stepped toward the subject of dispute ”I'll settle it durned quick,” he announced and reached forth to seize the slie tore himself loose froht flew straight out from the shoulder and Jeb Case went doith a broken jaw Almost simultaneously a car sped around a curve from the north and stopped suddenly in rear of the h One was the detective, Burton; the other was Jonas Prim
”Where are they?” cried the latter ”God help you if you've killed either of theail”
He pushed his way up until he faced the prisoners The Oskaloosa Kid gave hi toward him with outstretched arms
”Oh, daddy, daddy!” she cried, ”don't let them kill him”
The crowd melted away from the immediate vicinity of the prisoners None seemed anxious to appear in the forefront as a possible leader of a hter of Jonas Priirl's neck and then turned toward her coht from the automobile lamps the man's face was distinctly visible to the detective for the first tiht, and as Burton looked upon it he stepped back with an exclamation of surprise
”You?” he almost shouted ”Gad, man! where have you been? Your father's spent twenty thousand dollars trying to find you”
Bridge shook his head ”I'm sorry, dick,” he said, ”but I'otten intothat--well--” he shook his head and smiled ruefully--”but there ain't a chance” His eyes travelled to the sliht in the rear seat of Jonas Prim's car
Suddenly the little head turned in his direction ”Hurry, Bridge,”
ad ho his head ”Oh, no, Miss Pri'” And he smiled as he passed over her jewels and money
Mr Priail laughed merrily ”I stole thee took them from me in the jail to make the mob think he had stolen theirl, did you?”
”It was in the jail that I first guessed; but I didn't quite realize who you were until you said that the jeere yours--then I knew The picture in the paper gave irl, for you looked so much like the one of Miss Pris, until I wondered that I hadn't known froirl; but you ood-by, and may God bless you!” His voice treirl drew back
”I want you to come with us,” she said ”I want Father to know you and to kno you have cared for me Won't you come--for me?”
”I couldn't refuse, if you put it that way,” replied Bridge; and he climbed into the car As the -board