Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-23

10 do with Bolton a..
They approached the group about the
fire, accordingly, both well satisfied with
the result of their brief conference. -
The Regulators had by this time, lhro'
Currie and his younger brother, been
informed Of the main points of the eyi.
dence against Bolton; Nellie had seen a
man answering his description spring
over the fence at the time of the theft;
George was in the field adjoining, and
ascerlained his identity, as well as the
fact tha. he was carrying package an
swering certain description; Ketchum
identified this as his money. and testified
also. to .he probability ,ha. Bolton had
seen him hide il; Nellie had seen Thorn
ton on the other side Of the farm, so soon
after The robbery that, unless he had
crossed the field where George was, he
could not have passed over the space
within the time, and George testified
that, on tie contrary, he came down the
fence considerably to the north; and,
finally, the whole company knew tha.
Bolton had come hastily into the coun-
cil-room, scarcely one minute before
Ke,chum announced the theft.
The chain Of evidence was sufficient.
10 have convicted him in a more regular
court. Bu. ideas of proof among The
Regulators were very crude; and here
the corpus delicti-,he money--was not
found; fac, unnecessary to the compile.
ton of the evidence. but sufficient, when
suggested, to make them pause in embar-
rassment. Thus the affair stood when
Nellie and Tiford approached. The
strong good sense of the former at once
pointed out the remedy.
"You are without q leader, gentle
men," she said, land must at once elec,
captain"
1--WE want no better captain than your
SELF said one; and the suggestion, made
only half in earnest. was responded to
by the unanimous voice of the compa-
ny. ...... .......
al accept the command" she said
promptly. "only until my father can be
summoned. - And, having directed
George to ride home and summon him,
she asked what was the obstacle to Boil.
tons punishment. One of the men stat
ed that the evidence was not complete,
because the stolen property could no, be
found. ....
81 have it!' exclaimed Tilford.-
"Why not put his own system in ope.
ration against himself! Let him be tied
up and lynched until he tells US where it
is."
"Just the ideal" shouted the Regula-
tors. "And Thornton shull handle the
wilhe that was cut for himself"
There was an appearance Of wild,
poetical justice in this proposition which
appealed to the peculiar character of
these men, and, without waiting for Or
ders.-indeed, contrary to the orders of
their new captain,-they proceeded rap
idly TO strip Bolton, and lash him to the
same tree from which Thornton had so
lately been released.
"Come, Thornton" they now called
loudly; "now is your time-give i. to
him WELT"
"No," the young man replied, decid.
edly. ''He did not strike me, and will
not lay hand upon him. Let him
have fair trial, and whatever the Jury
say shall be done, let il oe done; bu. I'll
be no party to any proceeding like
this"
"Fair trial, indesd!" exclaimed Currie
Lowden Indignantly; "l'd like to know
hof >F f,.r .ol |, oko
give you! Give me the wi,he-I have
no such scruples."
Seizing the instrument, he raised it to
the full length of his powerful ARM
The blow was about 10 descend, when
Nellie again inierposed and caugh. his
hand.
Come, Currie," she said imperious-
ly. "this will not do; am captain here.
and"
"Transler the command to her broth.
er! Turn her out at once!" was shouted
on all sides, and her new dignity was
lost, almost as soon as it was gained.
"Come away now, Nellie!" said Til.
ford with smile, taking her arm and
gently drawing her aside. .You haze
no longer any authority here, and can
do no good by staying"
She suffered herself 10 be led away
by Tilford and Thornton, aud. as they
re.rea,ed. she could hear the stern ques !.
lion Of Currie-"Wi,l you confess, anl
tell US where the money is!" The hap
voice of Bolton mut,ered in reply.
then came the terrible sounds of cru
stripes. mingled with howls of agony
and rage. TO these succeeded screams
of breaking courage, and, before :hey
could hurry out OF hearing, the strong
mans voice had died into wall, far
more dreadful than any ou,burs. of pas
sion.
"I'his is too horrible!" exclaimed
Nellie. with shudder. "Is there no
way to prevent such cruelty?,'
"You have prevented it once tonight,
and now you can guess what you saved
Thornton fron," said Tilford. ut is
but justice after all, to give him the
draught he mixed for another"
alt may be 50, but it rather seems
cruelty to me-" she answered.
Sne placed her tand in Thornton's as
| she smoke and with his assis IA nee lea n.