The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-05-05

Dar sent fortn iaint, ,slcken1ng exhala-
tions. The ferverishness of day, and
its fierce passions, still filed the
camp. Lights moved restlessly
along the bank Of the river, striking
no answering reflection from its
tawny current. Against the black
ness of the pines the windows of the
old loft above, the express Office
stood out staringly bright, and
through their. curtainiess panes the
loungers below could see the forms
of those who were even then decid-
ing the fate of Tennessee. And
above all this. etched on the dark
armament, rose tho Sierra, remote
and passinless, crowned with remoter
passionless stars d3ia4aR
The trial of Tennessee was con-
Quoted as fairly as was consistent
with a judge and jury who felt them
selves to some extent obliged to
justify, in their verdict, the previous
Irregularities Of arrest and indict-
ment. The law of Sandy Bar was
implacable. but not vengeful. The
excitement and personal feeling OF
the chase were over; with Tennessee
safe in their hands they were ready
to listen patiently to any defense.
which they were already satisfied
was insufficient. There being no
doubt in their own minds, they were
willing TO give the prisoner the ben
eft of any that might exist. Secure
in the hypothesis that he onght to be
hinged. on general principles, they
indulged him with more latitude OF
defense than his reckless hardihood
seemed to ask. The Judge appeared
to be more anxious than the prisoner,
who, otherwise unconcerned, evi-
IDENTIFY took grim pleasure in the
responsibility he had created. II
don't take any hand in this yer
game" had been his invariable, but
ood-humored reply to all questions.
The Judgc-who was also his captor
for n moment vaguely regretted
that he had not shot him "on sight"
that morning, but presently dismissed
this human weakness ~ unworthy OF
the judicial mind. Nevertheless,
when there was n tap at the door,
and il was said that Tennessee 4
Partner was there on behalf of the
prisoner, he was admitted Mt once
without question. Perhaps the
younger members of the jury. 10
whom the proceedings were becom-
ing irksonely thoughtful, hailed liiln
as q relief.
For he was not, certainly, IN i'm
posing figure. Short and stout, with
"a square face, sunburned into pre-
ternatural redness, clad in n loose
duck Jumper" and trousers streaked
and splnshed with red soil, his rs
pect under any circumstances would
have been quaint, and was now even
ridiculous. AS he stopped to deposit
at his feet heavy carpet-bag he was
carrying, it became obvious, from
partially developed legends and in-
scriptions, that the material with
which his trousers had been patched
had been originally intended for q
less ambitious covering. Yet he nd.
vanced with great. gravity, and after
having shaken the band of each per-
son in the room with labored cordial.
ity, he wiped his serious, perplexed
face on red bandana handkerchief
a shade lighter than his complexion
laid his powerful hand upon the tn,
BILE to steady, himself, and thus ad.
dressed the Judge:
Il was passin' by" he began, by
way of apology, "and thought ID
Just step in and see how things was
gittin' on with Tennessee thar-my
pardner. It's hot night. / disre'
member any sich wether before oil
the Bar" 81 .e,,.-t,-.f f,.e
He paused q moment, but nobody
volunteering any other meteorologi
cal recollection, he again had recourse
to his pocket-hndkerchief, and fol
some moments mopped his face dill
! gently. 9ast a2t
"Haye you anything to say in be
half of the prisoner" said the Judge
finally 80 Z. i
"Ihet's it," said Tennessee's Part
ner, in tone of relief. II come va
as Tennesse's Padner-knowing hin
nigh on four year, off and on, we
Z and dry, in luck and out o. luck
His ways amt alters my ways, bu
thar ain,t nny p'ints in taat youn'
man, thar amt any livliness as he
been up to-. as I don't know. An,
! you scz to me, sez you confidential
like, and between man and man
J sez you, DO you know anything i
his behalf?' and I sez to you, sez L
: confidential-like, as between man an
man What should man. know, {
! his pardper?'b's gt,ssa sa .
ID ..Is this all you have to say9
: asked the Judge, impatiently, feelin
perhaps, that a dangerous sympatb
J of humor was beginning TO human
!, ize the Court, sd; pi sast34es ie
aThet's so" continued Tennessee
Partner. '.It amt for me to sa
| anything agin' him. And nov
!, what's the case? Here's Tennesse
wants money, wants it bad, an
!, 4 doesen't Ike to ask IL of his old par,
8 ner. We'll, what does Tennessee d.
He lays for stranger, and he fetch,
q that stranger And you lays for hi
5 and you fetches him, and the homo
ed Is easy. And I put it TO you, bein'
Y 4 fair minded man, and TO you, gel
y tiemen, all, as fair-minded men
1 this isn't SOP, sis-fi ei agissaR i5ee
b Prisoner, said the judge, inte
b rupting, shave you any questions
a ask this mani? lss' 9.si as
II ssNo! .no!p continued Tennessee
hl Partner, hastily. 81 play this y
81 hand alone. 70 come down to Il
Vi bed rock, IFS just this: Tennessee
It thar, has played it pretty rough al