Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-22

he mused as he neared Misery Flat,
where burned near his bed brisk fire,
and figures fitted like shadows among the
trees.
"Haltl and get off that hossp' The
bride was rudely seized and heavy
hand laid on Bills shoulder. He was
pulled from his horse before he was able
to comprehend q word Of the perempto-
ry order.
Tie his legs and brace his arms be-
hind him. Quick, now, for there Is no
use in wasting time about so dead sure a
thing as this" said a large man with a
great beard. "Now throw that lariat over
that limb, and stand ready. Here, Tom,
what did the dead man say?"
'"H He said something about shooting and
his partner having his money"
is he dead now?" continued the big
man.
THE bleeding has stopped, but his
pulse is gone, and he is getting cold"
What have you got to say for your
self?" said the man with the hairy face.
Were you this mans partnerY
The scar on Bill's face deepened and
turned blood red, while his lips jerked,
and his face turned to an ashen hue; and
a rising something came up in his throat
that prevented him from replying, until by
sudden effort he calculated: Yes, Jack
was my partner"
Have you got his money!" continued
the other.
Yes" replied Bill, with great swal.
low
"And you shot your partner for his
moneyy' continued the hairy man.
"I shot ole Jack fur his money!"
blankly repeated Bill in a dazed, uncer-
tain way. "I shot Jackl"
String him up, boys; he's confessed (;
make short work."
The scar deepened in hue, and with a
struggle almost superhuman Bill attempt
ed to escape. He tried to speak but the
rope was already around his neck and
several men were raising him up till his
feet left the ground. After few mute
appeals from his terrified eyes and des-
perate convulsions of body his body
dangled quietly in the air, with livid face
upturned, while the flickering freight
played about the scar, that now turned
white as chalk over the livid features
of the swinging corpse.
What is that bloody apparition stagger.
ing out of the Wickiup? 1t gives va.
cant stare, and reaches for canteen, and
takes a deep draught Of water, and turns
to go back, when it is addressed by the
hairy man:
"Look here, stranger, we've elevated
this sneaking cayote for you; and here's
your money We wouldn't a been in
such hurry, but we thought you were
dead; but it would have had to be done
sooner or later" Jack turned with
hungry eyes and saw the corpse, with up
turned face, dangling in the air, and fall.
ing prone upon the earth buried his face
in the ashes and dust, and groaned in
| agony of pain.
Didn't you say he shot you and stole
your money!" queried the man with the
heavy beard.
"Bill shost me and steal my money
o God! My God! No! He took me out
of the gutter in Virginia City, and fed and
nursed me when 1 was dying with fever
He's kept me from starving again and
again, and if l had listened to him would
now be at home! And Bill Great God
Look at that scar! 1t was made by the
blow aimed at my heart; he took it in his
face to save my life. Cut him down. cut
him down! curse you for murderous as
sassinsn' The blood rushed in ruby tor
rents from mouth and nostrils, and again
began to squirt in crimson jets from hole
in the left breast. With another futile eff
fort to speak, and few convulsive twitch
es of hands and feet the "devil's dew
drop" had finished "poOr old Jack"
A rude hole on Misery Flat serves as a
common grave for both; and if ever an
epitaph is to be written for them, it should
be Bill's words; elm goin' ter work this
streak clar down to bedrock, an eff it's a
bust Jack an III go together"