Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

pledged Halter OF SIN, keep from con-
demnin' him %
The prisoner changed his position,
stared doggedly in the fire, and, after
a moment, exclaimed
"Condemn away, then I'm Ezryw
The squire dropped his revolver, and
leaning forward, raised the prisoners
hat, and looked for the first time at the
white face of the prisoner. Then he
hurriedly glanced at Hoxford the Eng
lishman was snoring. The squire opened
the door of the hut and looked out into
the starlight, but he saw no one. Then
the squire put his hands in his pocket,
took out his knife, and commenced to
cut the prisoners bonds with such en-
er9y that the prisoner WINGED.
"Hurt We, boy?" whispered the
squire, hastily withdrawing the knife,
and sharpening it at the bottom of his
boot "then I'll take it out easy, ashav-
in at time"
81 was picked up by whaler," said
Ezry, in an apologize undertone, can
as we never spoke anything goin' East
that I'D take man without money, I
stayed on her for a year or two.
ALC1 VIC SOG u6NS VI UIlO SOlu,-
"Thats eff, % interrupted the squire.
"Hungry, boy?"
Thirsty, more'n anything else," re-
piled Ezry.
The squire dashed into the bundle
from which he had taken his pistol,
and brought out a very small flask
labeled, "For Medicine" which Ezry
emptied almost at single draught.
owe heard of the gold bein' found, -
resumed Ezry, as the old man stopped
and cut a thong which had been put on
the prisoners ankles to prevent his
taking very long steps, I" an the captain
made for Frisco, an we allcome ashore
an went for the Mines"
Wrists sore, Ezry?" asked the old
man, lighting a splinter of wood and
examining his sons hands. "Should
think they We're, he continued, getting
out bottle of liniment, and tenderly
rubbing some of it into the hard ridges
on the prisoners wrists.
GIVE had the worst of luck; lost
faith in luck, an ev'rything else. I've
been knocked around and abused ain t
he'd no frlends-got to hatin' everybody
well w Vic tloNl.
"Ie'll go yet, Ezry," suggested the
squire, "ef we don't get away from
here pretty lively. Cold, boy?"
"Shivery, like" replied Ezry, put
ting his hands into his pockets, and
drawing his head down between his
shoulders. 81 hain't he'd much to eat
for good spell.
The Squire threw blanket around
his boy, picked up a small canvas bag,
filled it with crackers and pork, looked
cautiously out of the door once more,
and whispered:
"Now let's leave"
The fire spluttered and flashed in the
faces of the two men, as for an instant
Ezry looked into his fathers face, and
whispered:
"Ain't We got too religious, dad?"
The squire looked sheepish, and
started for the door. Just then Hox-
ford yawned, slowly opened his eyes
and sat up. Ezry. stopped quickly and
picked up the squire's pistol, but the
old man snatched it from him, exclaim-
ing: 49,.
''You amt one of the elect, Ezra,
but I believe it's safer for me to do any
shootin' that's got to be done"
Hoxford hastily dropped again, and
waved his hand deprecatingly, as he
stammered out
"Aw-now-I say-none of that sort
of thing, you know; but-but-but-
like as "a father pitieth his children,
you know, squire,-eh?" .....
The squire glared at the Englishman
a moment, and then he stood and press
ed his hand moment later Moon
Light and his father were lost in the
darkness. -..-
There was considerable indignation
in the camp an hour or two afterwards,
when deputation of citizens called to
conduct the prisoner before the tribunal
which had been extemporized. But
when Hoxford, who had not been asleep
at all, detailed the whole scene, the
entire camp came as near as possible to
compromising felony by drinking good
luck to the pair. ...