Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-08

AS she spoke, drawing with dextrOus
hand "Colt's navy" from the folds of
her dress, she held it at full cock, bear
ing straight upon the leaders heart.
Not a man among them but was touch
ed at the sight of this dauntless devo-
ton yet emotion must not prevent the
discharge of duty.
but this man has committed mur-
der-the gravest crime known in the
eyes of the law. Public safety de-
mands that we deal with him accord
ing TO the letter of the law" expostu-
lated the leader, more moved than he
cared to acknowledge.
\ superb scorn overswept the wo-
mans features. Bending to touch the
dog with her hand, the huge creature
drew himselfercct, angry and bristling,
with lips drawn threateningly back
| from his formidable teeth. Then boldly
throwing open the cabin door. she
pointed with upraised finger, still hold
| ing the deadly weapon aimed full at
the leaders breast. A scathing con.
tempt rang in her words:
Does that man look like cut
throat:' Can you all, looking inside
this cabin, tell me that you are afraid
TO spare him to his wife and children
this one last night
She paused moment, glancing
swiftly around the circle of rough faces
pressing close upon her. The tableau
within showed Lot, crouching upon
low camp-stool, pals, disordered, and
shaking with terror, clasping in his
arms his youngest born; the two girls,
firm and fearless as their mother, were
planted at his knees while between
him and the door, the tcn-year-old,
with n dilapidated chair, rs rest,
| stood behind his fathers rifle.
The she-bear and her cubs were grit
to the backbone.
"Who are YOU" she cried, eloquent
| ly gesturlng TO the crowd with her un-
occupied hand, THAT take the business
of the Almighty into your hands, and
send the souls he has made unbiddcn
into his presence, without a prayer for
! mercy: Which would be the better,
you or him: Leave him TO US this
night. AMI as surely Is there is
heaven above Us, in the morning YOU
shall come in without hindrancc You
can guard the cabin. There is no dan
ger he will escape you
There was a murmur among the
"vigilantes." Their task was harder
one than they were prepared to execute
and perhaps a thought of wives and
| children at home moved them a little
To this unwOnted lcnicncv. \ brief
conference, and the leader said:
"llave your way. Make the most
of your time. Wen not disturb YOU
until morning.
You are not deceiving me- she
said watching the while with eyes
which seemed to pierce like sharp steel
points.
a hoarsc murmur ran through the
crowd.
mo! no ! Fair play"
For moment the woman's strength
seemed to fail, and she leaned heavily
against the easement ano ther, and she
Disappeared within. the faithful dog
following, protectingly, close behind.
The men bivouacked around the cab
IN, disposlng themselves for the night,
two or three appointed sentinels keep
ing vigilant watch. The other mem
bers of the camp, using our little in
fluencc and knowledge of the accused's
lnoiiensive disposition to mitigate, if
possible, the prejudice which we found
greater than the real weight of evil
dence against him.
In an aifray two men had been stab
bed-one seriously, one fatally; and
Lots hand held bloody knife. In
nocent men have been hanged, even
after full judicial trial, under circum-
stantial evidence far less convincing
than this.
As the night wore away, | restlessly
paced the camp. An occasional sound
came from the guarded cabin, but 9TH
erwise all was still.
Once, about midnight, after pro-
longed scratching at the door, it was
opened TO let out the dog. A stream
OF light flashed out but | caught no
glimpse Of those within. The dog,
poor fellow, as though his canine
spirit seemed TO comprehend the fatal
danger impending over those he loved,
with dropping head and pendent tail.
skunk through the open space.
Good Lion, Poor fellow, Come
here - | called.
lie lifted his head at the sound of
my voice, raised his muZzle mourn
fully in the air, then dropping it again
went on, soon disappearing in the
adjacent caparral.
At the first streak of day the
'vigilantes" bestirred themselves, and
in knots discussed the grave business
before them. The excitement of the
past night had worn away, and in
these calmer moments not one of those |
most eager for duty then but wished |
himself relieved from the painful
responsibility devolving upon him.
There was yet no sign Of life about
the cabin.
Never, think, did the solemnity Of |
the occasion appeal more forcibly to
the hearts of the "vigilantes." They |
were enthusiastically confident
that the prisoner would be found
guilty. With voices subdued, and |
quiet mein, they awaited the action of |
their leader, who humanely postponed, |
to the last possible moment, his official
summons.
just as the suns disk appeared |
above the horizon, three of the COM !
mittee advancing knocked upon the
door. With eyes red snd swollen |
with weeping, Lot's wife opened it
wide.
With sickening sensation fail to
describe, 1 awaited what was to fol-
low. A suggestive rope Law where it |