National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-01-24
'arrlod it back to Jack Jeptha's shanty,

murderer. Arrived there, they laid Ia,
body on the Ioor, while one OF the par
ty wont behind tho bar to help Jack fl,
up hurried dram, in the vain hope o,
reyivlng the murdered man. His ewes
ieil upon the bag Of dust with Tow
heads mark upon the side.
"What's this" he said holdinp Il
up.
:" That's Townsends," replied sover.
al
" How did it come hereY" asked
others.
Jack Jepatha turned pale rs he real.
lzed the predictment 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 guilt upon
some one, to hang somebody, for Tow.
head had been pretty popular among
them. Several remained as guard over
Jack, while several went ont to collect
the miners for the immediate holding
OF trial. Judge Lynch allows no de-
lay, and there WAS every prospect of a
hanging in the morning.
Mollie Jeptha had come in on the arr-
val OF the corpse, and her eyes had close
ly watched Jack face 4; but she believed
his version of the story.
/ Jack" she whispered, 81 believe
YOU and then added aloud Il believe
/ know who did this There was n
stranger here among the rest, during
last night, and more than once | saw
him look at Towhead's S bag"
But the rough and unreasoning crowd
would not listen.
Jack, she again whispered to the
prison.. keep up your courage. old
partner, ] ii get you out of il yet
"No, said Jack doggedly, II didn't
do it, and | won't run Let EN- hang
me if they want to.
81 don't want you to run, Jack" she
said, I'm going after that fellow my
self. Good-by Jack, keep up your
courage"
AIollie kissed him, armed herself with
4 pair of revolyers, 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.
'apd likely he took this path.
On she went through the storm. which
still ragged with such binding fury os
to render 1t difficult to keep the path.
On she went, mile after mile, until the
rapid gait began to tellupon her 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 turned
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 obevs
Il am going to take you back to the
shanty, she continued. Go on ahead.
ana remember that bullet will be the
cost OF any attempt to escape. Go on I"
The man hesitated moment but,
seeing that she meant what she said, he
sullenly started.
With revolver in her hand, Mollie
followed a 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 rs 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 :"
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.
won't, replied her prisoner. cts
bad enough to walk to my death without
lurrying !"
He turned and sprang toward her, but
she was ready with her weapon. A shot !
'ang ont and one of the murderers arms
lropped powerless at his side With
'ut a word he resumed his march, hur- !,
led on by his determined captor.
Meanwhilethe moose was put around !
lacks neck, the rope thrown over :
imb, and n score of hands lifted the :
Unfortunate man from the ground. =
There being no fall, his neck was not
'roken, and his feet had barely left the !,
round before he saw Mollie and her !.
aptve in the distance. I
Wrenching his haSds from their fast t
nings, he pointed frantically toward her Il Il
nd then strangled into unconscious
ess. The miners turned and the y
TRANCE spectacle stayed their work" !,
Let him down minute said one Il
'ho seemed to be master of ceremonies. !"
They did SO, and Moll staggered ints
ne circle The revolver dropped from -.
er now nerveless grasp, and she tot y
ared as if about to fall. =,
"There's the man that killed Tow " !"
cad" she faltered, and then, throwing :"
erself upon Jack, who lay still C ok ..
lg, but slowly reviving where they had .,
wered him, sine said - -
Don't die, Jack I've brought them -, ~
le right man. Don't die, Jack" e. e.
The miners held hurried consulta- ~ ~
on. The blood stains upon the muir a. =,
srer were proof enough for them, and u u
, did not deny the deed. The nose 81 >.
MS transferred to his neck, and the w
agedy suffered little interruption by 7;
e change of actors. a. a.
"
PIE EEATINe.-Evidently we are n pie Ia