Page 81 (1/1)
By the tie and The Oskaloosa Kid reached Payson the toas in an uproar A threatening crowd met them a block from the jail; but Burton'sthe mob they would use if their prisoners were molested The telephone, however, had carried the word to Oakdale; so that before Burton arrived there a dozen auto south toward Payson
Bridge and The Oskaloosa Kid were hustled into the single cell of the Payson jail A bench ran along two sides of the roole barredlet out upon the yard behind the structure The floor was littered with papers, and a single electric light bulb relieved the gloo, upon one of the hard benches Bridge rolled a cigaret At his feet lay a copy of that day's Oakdale Tribune A face looked up froe into his eyes He stooped and took up the paper The entire front page was devoted to the various crimes which had turned peaceful Oakdale inside out in the past twenty four hours There were reproductions of photographs of John Baggs, Reginald Paynter, Abigail Prie cut of the Prihter of the house As Bridge examined the various pictures an odd expression entered his eyes--it was athe paper aside he turned toward The Oskaloosa Kid They could hear the sullen et any booze," he said, "they'll take us out of here and string us up If you've got anything to say that would tend to convince theuard and tell the truth, for if theus first and listen afterward--a el of mercy by comparison with one"
"Could you convince them that you had no part in any of these crimes?" asked the boy "I know that you didn't; but could you prove it to a e "A , unless someone happens to think of the stake"
The boy shuddered
"Will you tell the truth?" asked the man
"I will go with you," replied the boy, "and take whatever you get"