The new North-west., 1869-10-29

feeling cf the chase were over. With Ten
ncssee safe In their hands, they were readj
70 listen patiently to any defense, which
they were already satisfied was insufficient.
There being no doubt in their own minds
they were willing 70 give the prisoner th<
benefit Of any that might exist. Secure ia
the hypothesis that he ought to be hanfe cd
on general principles, they INDUCED him
with more latitude of defence than his reck.
less hardihood seemed to ask. The judgg
appeared to he more anxious than the
prisoner, who, otherwise unconceruet, evi.
dcntly took grim pleasure In the responsi-
bility he had created. II don't take any
hand in this yer game, "l,ad been his invari.
able, but good humored. reply to all ques-
tions. The judge. who was slao his captor.
a moment vaguely regretted that hc had not
shot him ION sight" that morning, but pre-
sently dismissed this human weakness rs
unworthy Of the judicisl mind. Neverthc-
less. when there was tap at the door. and
II was said that Tcnncssce's Partner was
there on behalf of the prisoner, he was ID.
mitted Vt once without question. Perhaps
the younger members Of the jury, to whom
the proceedings were becoming ,r'zsomely
thoughtful, hailed him as n relief.
For he was not, certainly, m imposing
figure. Short and stout, with square face,
sunburncd into prctcrnatural rcdncss. clad
in . loose duck "jumper," and trousers
stroaked and splsshed with rcd soil. his as
poet under any circumstances would have
been quaint, and was now even ridiculous.
As he stopped to deposit At his feet hea-
w carpct-bag he was carrying, it became
Obvious from partially developed legends
and inscriptions, that the material will,
which his trousers had leen patched had
been originally intended for less ambitious
covering. Yet he advanced with great
gravity. and, after having shaken the
hand Of each person In tho room with labor
cd cordislity, he wiped his serious. pcrplex.
cd fnce on rcd bandana handkerchief, a
shade lighter than his complexion. laid his
powerful hand on the table to steady him.
self. and thus addressed the judge:
II was passin' BY" he began, by way of
apology, ''and thought I'd just step in and
see how things WAS gittin' on with Tenncs-
sec thar-my pardner. It's hot night. I
disremcmbcr any such weather before on
the Bar"
Hc paused moment, but nobotly volun.
tccring any other meteorological rccollec-
tion. he again had recourse TO his pocket
and for some moments mop
ped his face diligently.
'IIavc you anything to say in behalf of
the prisoner ?" said the Judge, finally:
''Thct's it," said Tenncssec's Partner, in q
tone Of relief. II come here as Tenncssec's
pardncr-knowing him nigh on to four year
of and on. wet and dry, in luck and out o
luck. His ways amt alters my ways, but
thar amt any pints In that young man.
thar amt any livelincss as he's been up to-
~ I don't know. As you scz to me, scz you.
conhdentisl-likc, and between man and
man-sez you, DO you know anything In
his behalf! And I sez to you, scz I-con6-
Dental. like, As between man and man-what
should a man know of his pardncr!"
us this oil you have to say:" asked the
Judge, impatiensly, feeling, perhaps. that
a dangerous sympathy of humor was begin.
ming to humanizc the Court. .''
'Thct's So" continued Tcnnessce's Part
ncr. 1T ain't for me to say anything agin'
him. And now, what's the case! Here's
Tennessee wants money, wants it bad, and
doesn't like to ask. 1t of his old pardncr:
Well, what does he do! lie lays for stran-
ger, and he fetchcs that stranger. And You
lays for him, aid you Htchcs him; AID the
honors Is easy. Aud put it to you-bc;u'
4 minded man-and the gentleman, oil,
- fair. minded men. If this isn't 80 p, >
''Prisoner," said the Judge, interrupting.
''hsvc you any questions TO ask this man ?"
mo, no." continued Tcnnessee's Partner.
hastily, II play this yer hand alonc!' To
come down to the bedrock, it's Just this: -
Tennessee, thar, hes played It purity rough
and expensivc.like on stranger and ON this
yer camp And now, what's the fair thingl
Some would say more; somc would sayless.
Here's seventeen hundred dollars in coarse
gold and Z watch-it's about all my pile
md zll It squaser' And before hand
could be raised 70 prevent him, he had emp
lied the contents Of tho carpct.bag on the
table.
For . moment his life waS In Jeopardy.
One or two men sprang to their feet. several
hands groped for hidden weapons. and :
suggestion 70 "throw him from the window"
was only ovss-ridden BY . gesture from the
Jsdge. Tsaaesaes laughed. Ard, sppar.
sntly oblivious Of the excitement, Tennes.
,ee's Partner improved the opportunity .
mop his face again with his handkerchief!
When order Was restored, and the man
Eas made 10 understand, by no Of foscible
agures and rhetoric, that Tcnncsscc's Of.
bsass could not b parJoned BY mere
money. bis face took more serious and
lsnguinasy hue, and those who were near
- him soticed thaa his rough hand trsp.
b)ed Slighty o. tks ta6la he kesita&sd 1
moment = y slowly rstprnsd H. gold q
~ oaspet-bag. = X b had not ~ entirely
,apGhe ~ sieyalp1sease - sjVseies which
.0avnA Nhn fy3hnmal and W4a nnrnlolAA