New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-21

, | ton of the Pitts Guchites, however: and 6
Pete and his animal approached, the Who'll
I crowd gathered at the foot Of the trail an
exhibited many symptoms Of anxiet,
Finally, Topsell, the sailor. who had ii
strongest voice in camp, roared-
"tIot hiIn!'
You bet.' screamed Pete. The miner
glanced at each other with countenanct
full of satisfaction, not without a spice {
Indignation Then TOrsall rOared -
what did they do with him."
"Seudin' him back here-think it's Whe,
he belongs" screamed Pete, in reply.
"P'raps you're goin' in for mercy Tor himi
said the squire, looking keenly yet hume
ouslv at Eoxford from beneath his heay
brows. Here's Moonlight a-com;n' bac
| htre-he stole Bill Browns pile, busted
the store door, an helped himself; put
hole through sick man when the pos
chap tried to fave his last liquor (strlctl
medicinall, an knocked a lame man of hi
his mule, SOS to steal the animal. He's
prime subject for justice, 'cordin' to Oh
fashioned Ideas, but I s'po5e 20 think mel
ck,s the thing for him-eh''
The sIuire's eyes, as well as all Othe
eyes in the crowd, rested steadily ON Hpx
ford; and the wrangler seemed so Glscou
certed that the men who had backed hin
proceeded to "hedge." Hi, countenanc
finally frightened as he took advantage o
q stale saw.
"Aw-takes an exception to prove th
rule you know" said he. 'Just put me OIL
the Jury that tries him"
Jury that tries himr' echoed Briar, will
an oath that made tho squire shudder
Hes been tried. no hez Mebbe yer kel
guard BIN till he's wanted. but that won'
be long"
The squire hastily turned on Briar Iool
which made the professor of knife and pis
toI involuntarilv retreat step or two.
Justice is bad enough for him." said the
old man, earnestly. Nobody me.ftiles Wi, h
him until he gets fair trial; if they dc,
may hev to fire my first shot"
A thousand men like Briar acknowledg ed
Euer of Pitts GuIch though be was, could
| not have collected between them. grace
enought to habilitate an ordinary Church
member; but the ro~dy enthusiastically
! admired the mans pluck. so be replied,
| with laugh, and an oath.
"All right, Squire. You an Hoxford
| must guard him TILL then, though, to punish
you for gittin' up so much jaw in camp, and
keepin' men from work. He's comm, too"
Again all eyes were turned toward the
Grail, and they saw, just crossing the hill, a
man walking with his bead bowed, and his
hands behind his back, while close behind
bin were two men who had pistols IN their
hands. The crowd gazed earnestly and
curiously, for the rObber had not been one
OF the regular denizens of the camp; and al
though his fame had spread up and down
the creek, the only Pitts Gulchites who id
seen him were lame Pete, whose mule lie
had stolen, and old Mills whose flask he had
snatched. The prisoner did not seem at all
proud of his reputation, for even the most
industrious staring toward the place where
bis face should have been was rewarded
only by full view of the crown of his hat
AS the three men reached the foot OF the
trail, and the crowd stood bumbly gaping
as Is the manner of men when each man
present is waiting for some ono else to
speak, the squire stepped briskiy TO the
front. The squire never wasted time in idle
staring; time was money; time was :. season
IN which to prepare for eternity, and how
should he be prepared to die il he failed to
use his time about his Masters work He
his comrades aside, faced the pris-
Oner, and said:
''Haint very respectable bizness you've
been in, my friend"
The prisoner quickly raised his eyes-yery
keen. expressive eyes they seeined-for "a
moment, and looked inquringly at the
Sqnre; then he dropped his head again,
ami remained silent.
'Ef the Squire's goin' to Jaw religion
said Briar, hastily taking bite from plug |
of tobacco, Il guess Ill git. Pee heerd il |
all before. ye know. Squire-no otiense |
meant You an HOxtord LUX ont for him: |
mebbe ct yer take turns GYM with him, |
he'll be punished all that's necessary"
Several other miners seemed to be OF ike |
mind with Briar, and as the prisoner neither
,ffered to tight. run away, confess, or drink,
The whole crowd soon Lost interest in him
md sauntered off, leaving Moonlight in
:harge Of the squire and the collegiau.
THESE two gentlemen escorted the prisoner
h.G L
Town or lie down, as best suited him. but |
he alacrity with which the squire produced
! revolver from bundle of clot hing seemed
o neutralize In the prisoners mind all
pleasing impressionsjnducedb by the squire's
osptality.
The prisoner sat down on the floor in
ront of the fire. and the Squire and Hox-
ord seated themselves on either side of
I'm The prisoner seemed absorbed in cou-
empl alton of the toes of his boots; Hox.
ord steadily watched the prisoners hands
,st he should attempt to unlOOse them;
ut the Squire intently regarded SO much |
the prisoners lace as waSs unhiddeu by
is slouched hat and heavy beard. It
'emed bad face. yet one that IN ght have
cen good; but at any rate, its owner might
et be saved, if he would, thought the
Iuire
His physical life could not be saved, of
'urre; he Squire knew that no matter how .
ir a trial he might receive, there was but a
10 verdict ever returned in such cases.
nd the Squire usraily acGuiesced in the !
.rdict, for the Squire was a Just man him e
If, and believed that justice should be {
me to others. But though man must de- i
roy the body, there was no reason why | Il
e soul should perish too, the Squire ar Il
led; and whether he regarded it from the | I
lrltual or tne economic standpoint there g
emed to him something sadly wasteful K
'out the loss of d soul. II
The prisoner was "a sad thief Sut perhanS | 4,
e peuifent thief on the cross was no | s.
)lsa. Besides, thought the Squire with | f,
ttigned meekness and prudence, "Who- | Ii
converteth a sinner from his ways shall | u
We q soul from death and cover multi "
de- of sins;' and the Squire was too tirm a
believer in human depravity not to feel | t,
at he had many Sins which We're devoid Of ii
vering. a
Prisoner" said the Squire, giving the II
E poke, as if to have its lurid glare sug- al
st the sinners final sdoom, "'pears sure, a
III what we hear, that you've tried about y,
ry tack in the world but one,-all but 81
1t the squire's first words the prisoner sy
lckly turned his head, and looked intentlv II
the old man. The squre's face was a b;
tthy study for any one, but it seemed b.
her odd TO Hoxford that a man whose i'll
} was IN danger should regard human.l OF
.ure as closely and inquisitively as the q
sonar seemed to do. In fact, his gaze pr
med SO piercing, for a moment, that the 80
'r old man abandoned the sword Of the W
rit as a defensive weapon, and hastily N
lnged the position of bis pistol until the di
zzle thereof pointed directly at the pris- sy
RS bead. The prisoner finally dropped ey
eyes. and asked: til
What tack's that2' br
replied the SQUIRE in a in
Q which ought to have carried con viction N
he hardest heart "And," con tinued the de
lire, again stirring the fire, ard eagerly tn