Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-25

carried II back to Jack Jepthas shhnty, /
amid threats of vengeance Upon The
murderer, Arrived there, they laid the
body on the floor, while one of the par
ty 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 the side.
Whats this" he said, holding it
up.
"That's Townsend's," replied sever
al.
Chow did it come here?" asked
others.
Jack Jepatha turned pale as he real
lied the predictment In which he was
placed He gave the true version Of the
affair, but they would not believe it.
They were anxiets 10 tx the guilt upon
some one, 10 hang somebody, for Tow
head had been pretty popular among
them. Several remained as guard over
Jack, while several won't out to eolleet
the miners for The immediate holding
of trial, Judge Lynch allows no de-
ley, and there was every prospect of
hanging in the morning.
Mollie Jeptha had come in on the arri-
val of the corpse, and her eyes had eloBe=
ly watched Jack s face but she believed
his version cf the story.
Iaek, she whispered, az believe
you" and then added aloud 81 believe
[ know who did this. There was
stranger here among the rest, during
last night, and more than once 1 saw
him look at Towhead's bag"
But the rough and unreasoning crowd
would not listen.
"Jack," she again whispered to the
prisoner, keep up your courage, old
partner, I'll get you out of it yet.
"No," said Jack doggedly, 81 didn't
do it, and l won't run. Let 'em hang
me if they want to-" ...
'I don't want you to Tlin, Jack" she
said, "I'm going after that fellow my
self. Good-by Jack, keep up your
courage"
Mollie kissed him, armed herself with
pair of revolvers, and slipped out un-
noticed, Taking the path that Towhead
had followed, and sped along with all
her strength, she soon came to the blood
marked spot of the murder.
"Of course, he ran away, " she thought,
"and likely he took this 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 telluponher strength,
and she thought she must drop down,
when through the darkness she saw the
murderer lying where he had fallen, and
the blood fresh upon his hands and
shirt, He started up when he saw her,
but revolver faced him. He trurned
to flee, but her determined voice stop
ped him.
"Move a step further, and I'll shoot. "
He was entirely unarmed, having
thrown away the bloody knife, and
could do nothing but obey.
II am going to take you back to the
shanty," she continued. $50 on ahead,
and remember that bullet will be the
cost of any attempt to escape. Go on p
The man hesitated moment but,
seeing that she meant what she said, he
sullenly started.
With revolver in her hand, Mollie
followed few steps in the rear Once
he turned quickly, as if to grapple with
her and disarm her, but the CLEAN of
the revolver aimed at his head changed
his mind, and he sullenly started on
again. Knowing that death awaited
him at the shanty, still he lacked the
courage to make the only possible effort
for liberty,
Daylight came as they neared the
cabin, and both could hardly drag them
selves along but not word was spoken.
AS the Gulch became lighted up, Mollie
saw crowd of miners take the path
from the shanty.
"My God p she cried, "they are
taking Jack out to hang him p
The tired girl nearly tainted at the
sight. They were nearly mile away,
and she well knew the promptitude of
border excursions. The first tree would
furnish the gallows.
"Faster - commanded Moll.
"I WON'T" replied her prisoner, cts
bad enough to walk to my death without
hurrying !!
He turned and sprang toward her, but
she was ready with her weapon. A shot
rang out and one of the murderers arms
dropped powerless at his side. With
out word he resumed his march, hur-
ried on by his determined captor
Meanwhile the moose was put around
Jacks neck, the rope thrown over q
limb, and a score of hands lifted the
unfortunate man from the ground.
There being no fall, his neck was not
broken, and his feet had barely left the
ground before he saw Mollie and her
captive in the distance.
Wrenching his hands from their fast
enings, he pointed frantically toward her
and then strangled into unconscious
ness. The miners turned and the
strange spectacle stayed their work.
Let him down minute" said one
who seemed to be master of ceremonies.
They did so, and Moll staggered into
the circle. The revolver dropped from
her now nerveless grasp, and she tot
tered as if about to fall.
"There's the man that killed Tow
head" she faltered, and then, throwing
herself upon Jack, who lay still chsk.
ing, but slowly reviving where they had
lowered him, she said
"Don't die, Jack I've brought them
the right man. Don't die, Jack"
The miners held hurried consulta
ton. The blood stains upon the mur
derer were proof enough for them, anc
he did not deny the deed. The nose
!. was transferred to his neck, and the
! tragedy suffered little interruption BY
the change of actors.
PIE EATING. Evidently we are pie
eating people; otherwise it could neve,
be true, as it now is, that one great es