第37章

"The sheriff just had a message from the chief at Toledo saying that The Oskaloosa Kid is dying in a hospital there following an automobile accident.He knew he was done for and sent for the police.When they came he told them he had killed a man by the name of Paynter at Oakdale last night and the chief called up to ask what we knew about it.The Kid confessed to clear his pal who was only slightly injured in the smash-up.His story corroborates Miss Penning's in every detail, he also said that after killing Paynter he had shot a girl witness and thrown her from the car to prevent her squealing."Once again the telephone bell rang, long and insist-ently.The butler almost ran into the room."Payson wants you, sir," he cried to Burton, "in a hurry, sir, it's a matter of life and death, sir!"Burton sprang to the phone.When he left it he only stopped at the doorway of the living room long enough to call in: "A mob has the two prisoners at Payson and are about to lynch them, and, my God, they're innocent.

We all know now who killed Paynter and I have known since morning who murdered Baggs, and it wasn't either of those men; but they've found Miss Prim's jew-elry on the fellow called Bridge and they've gone crazy--they say he murdered her and the young one did for Paynter.I'm going to Payson," and dashed from the house.

"Wait," cried Jonas Prim, "I'm going with you," and without waiting to find a hat he ran quickly after the de-tective.Once in the car he leaned forward urging the driver to greater speed.

"God in heaven!" he almost cried, "the fools are go-ing to kill the only man who can tell me anything about Abigail."o o o With oaths and threats the mob, brainless and heart-less, cowardly, bestial, filled with the lust for blood, pushed and jammed into the narrow corridor before the cell door where the two prisoners awaited their fate.The single guard was brushed away.A dozen men wielding three railroad ties battered upon the grat-ing of the door, swinging the ties far back and then in unison bringing them heavily forward against the puny iron.

Bridge spoke to them once."What are you going to do with us?" he asked.

"We're goin' to hang you higher 'n' Haman, you damned kidnappers an' murderers," yelled a man in the crowd.

"Why don't you give us a chance?" asked Bridge in an even tone, unaltered by fear or excitement."You've nothing on us.As a matter of fact we are both inno-cent--"

"Oh, shut your damned mouth," interrupted another of the crowd.

Bridge shrugged his shoulders and turned toward the youth who stood very white but very straight in a far corner of the cell.The man noticed the bulging pock-ets of the ill fitting coat; and, for the first time that night, his heart stood still in the face of fear; but not for himself.

He crossed to the youth's side and put his arm around the slender figure."There's no use arguing with them,"he said."They've made up their minds, or what they think are minds, that we're guilty; but principally they're out for a sensation.They want to see something die, and we're it.I doubt if anything could stop them now;they'd think we'd cheated them if we suddenly proved beyond doubt that we were innocent."The boy pressed close to the man."God help me to be brave," he said, "as brave as you are.We'll go together, Bridge, and on the other side you'll learn something that'll surprise you.I believe there is 'another side,'

don't you, Bridge?"

"I've never thought much about it," said Bridge; "but at a time like this I rather hope so--I'd like to come back and haunt this bunch of rat brained rubes."His arm slipped down the other's coat and his hand passed quickly behind the boy from one side to the other; then the door gave and the leaders of the mob were upon them.A gawky farmer seized the boy and struck him cruelly across the mouth.It was Jeb Case.

"You beast!" cried Bridge."Can't you see that that--that's--only a child? If I don't live long enough to give you yours here, I'll come back and haunt you to your grave.""Eh?" ejaculated Jeb Case; but his sallow face turned white, and after that he was less rough with his prisoner.

The two were dragged roughly from the jail.The great crowd which had now gathered fought to get a close view of them, to get hold of them, to strike them, to revile them; but the leaders kept the others back lest all be robbed of the treat which they had planned.

Through town they haled them and out along the road toward Oakdale.There was some talk of taking them to the scene of Paynter's supposed murder; but wiser heads counselled against it lest the sheriff come with a posse of deputies and spoil their fun.

Beneath a great tree they halted them, and two ropes were thrown over a stout branch.One of the leaders started to search them; and when he drew his hands out of Bridge's side pockets his eyes went wide, and he gave a cry of elation which drew excited inquiries from all sides.

"By gum!" he cried, "I reckon we ain't made no mis-take here, boys.Look ahere!" and he displayed two handsful of money and jewelry.

"Thet's Abbie Prim's stuff," cried one.

The boy beside Bridge turned wide eyes upon the man."Where did you get it?" he cried."Oh, Bridge, why did you do it? Now they will kill you," and he turned to the crowd."Oh, please listen to me," he begged."He didn't steal those things.Nobody stole them.They are mine.They have always belonged to me.He took them out of my pocket at the jail because he thought that I had stolen them and he wanted to take the guilt upon himself; but they were not stolen, I tell you--they are mine! they are mine! they are mine!"Another new expression came into Bridge's eyes as he listened to the boy's words; but he only shook his head.

It was too late, and Bridge knew it.

Men were adjusting ropes about their necks."Be-fore you hang us," said Bridge quietly, "would you mind explaining just what we're being hanged for--it's sort of comforting to know, you see.""Thet's right," spoke up one of the crowd."Thet's fair.