Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-06


him through a deep narrow gully, which
had been dubbed the Devils Glen. Then
and there his follower steathily advanced
from behind, and killed him with murder
GUS dirk stab. A hasty search ofthe victims
pockets convinced the murderer that the
prize for which he had committed the vii
famous deed, was moi there. Then the cow
arJice of the man showed itself. A storm
had been coming up, and now, as it burst
forth in thunder, lightning and flood, he
shiyered, With blood on his hands, and
with horror in his eyes, and with the dread
full mark of Cain branded indel;bly on his
brow, thu wretched man fed, clutching his
breast with bis pale, talon-like fingers, as if
to tear hence his cowardice.
On he went, flying over rocks andschsssm
and uuroothd trees-on, on, still Oh, unable
to stop, until he sank exhausted beneath
huge pile of rocks. The storm was wildly,
madly cannonsding against the rocks, as if
it would tear its way to where he lay, and
boldly engulf him; but he heard nothing but
40 imaginary unearthly cry of "Murder!"-
saw nothing but the cold, still face and
lifeless form of his victim.
Towhead had not been murdered fifteen
minutes before his body was discovered by
a party of miners returning from some
midnight csrouse. They carried it back to
Jack Jeptha's shsnty, amid threats of ven
rexnce upon the murderer. Arrived there,
they laid the body on the floor, while one
OF the party went behind the bar to help
Jack fix up hurried dram, in the vain
hope of reviving the murdered man. His
eyes fell upon the bag of dust, with Tow
heads mark upon is side.
"What's this?" he said, holding 1t up.
"Thst's Towhead'sn replied several.
GLOW did it come here?" asked others.
Jack Jeptha turned pale as he realized the
predicament in which he was placed. He
gave the true version of the affair, but they
would not believe it. They were anxious
to fix the gu;lton some one, to hang some
body, for Towhead had been greatly popu-
lar among them. HSeversl remained as
guard over Jack while others went out to
collect the miners for the immediate hold
ing of trial. Judge Lynch allows no de-
lay, ard there was every prospect of hang
ing in the morning.
Mollie Jeptha come into the room upon
the arrival of the corpse, and her eyes had
closely watched Jacks face. But she be-
lieved his version of the story.
slack" she whispered, "I believe you;"
and then added aloud: 81 believe l know
who did this. There was stranger here
among the rest drinking last night, and
more than once l saw him look at Tow
heads bag"
But the rough and unreasoning crowd
would not listen.
"Jsck," she again whispered to the pris-
oner, "keep up your courage, old partner,
aDd III ga Won ont of il VET"
"No," ssid Jack, doggedly, 81 didn't do
it, aud 1 won't run. LeE them hang me if
they want to-"
81 don't want you TO ", JACK" she SAID;
"Im going after that fellow myself. Good
bye, Jack; keep up your courage"
Mollie kissed him. armed herself with a
pair of reviewers, and slipped out unno-
ticed. Taking the path that Townead had
followed, and speeding along with all her
strength, she soon came 10 the blood-mark-
ed spot of the murderer.
[ "Of course be ran away" she thought;
and likely he took the path"
On she went through the storm, which
still ragged with such binding fury as to
render it difficult to keep the path. On she
went, mile after mile, until the rapid gait
began to tell upon her strength, and she
4 SIG IuuSJ NlOpv WHOA hhlON3h VIZ
| darkness she saw tbs murderer lying where
he had fallen, and the blood fresh upon his
| hands and shirt. He started up as he saw
her; but a revolver faced him. He turned
| to fee, but her determined voice stopped
| him.
"Move step further, and I'll shoot"
| He was entirely un2rmed, having thrown
away the bloody knife, and could do moth
ing but obey.
81 am going to take you back to the shan
| ty," she continued. $50 on ahead, and re-
member that a bullet will be the cost Ofany
attemp: to escape. Go on"
The man hesitsted moment; but, see
ing that SIZE meant what she said, he sud
denly started.
With a revolver in her hand, Mol fol-
lowed few steps in the rear. Once hi
turEed quickly,as if to grapple with her anc
disarm her, but tie gleam Of the revolver
aimed st his head changed his mind, and be
sulleUly started on again. Knowing ths
death awaited him at the shanty sill ht
lacked courage to make the only possible
fort for liberty.
| Daylight came as they Ieared the cabin
and both could hardly drag themselVe
along; but not d word was spoken. A
the Gulch became lighted up, Mollie saw ;
crowd of miners take the path from tn
shauty.
"My God" cried Moliie, "they are takiD
Jack out to hang him."
The tired girl nearly tainted at the sight
They were nearly mile away, and sh
well knew the promptitude Of border ex
executions. The nrst tree would furnis
gsllows.
"Fasterw comm anded Mol.
81 went" replied her prisoner. cit
bad nough to walk to my death, withou
hurryiDg."
He turnnd and sprang toward her, bu
she YVES ready with her weapon. A sho
rang out, and one of the murderer's arm
dropped powerlees at his side. Without
word be resumed his march, hurried on b
his dete mined csptOr.
Meantime, the moose was pus arouni
Jacks neck, tie rope thrown over hmt
and score Of hands lifted the unfortunat
man from the ground. There being no fsl
his neck was not broken, and bis feet ia
barely left the ground before he saw Molli
in the distance.
Wrencbipg bis hands from their faster
ing, he pointed frantically toward her an
then strangled into unconsciousDess. Th
miners turned, and the strange spectacl
stayed their work.
''Let him down minute" said one wh
seemed to be the master of ceremonies.
They did so, and Mol staggered into th
circle. The revolver dropped from h'
now ne,veless grasp, and she tottered as
about to fall.
"There's the man that killed Towhead,
she faltered, then, throwing herself upo
Jack, who lay, still choking, but slowly II
viving, where they had lowered him, sh
said: "Dou't die, jack"
The miners held hurried consultation
The blood stains upon the murdere
were proof enough for them, and ha di
not deny the deed. The moose was trans
ferred to his neck, and the tragedy suffere
little interruption by the change of actor
A HORRIBLE affair has occurred at RO,
| hurv Delaware Co N J. A VODno WI