The Van Buren press., 1875-09-21

| --"''- - ''"'' W. tttA ~''PSJ esoMhNhS No'aH
yeu?'
Vat you prings dare ? said stout
dwar6sh Dutchman, with scrubby red
beard, who now appsoachel the party.
Your old glass eyed plug, Bill repli
cd Nibbs.
All! by dunder You dosh veil,
Shake Ware you gifts him 2
We got him between the stage rancho
and Big Bend Dismount. friend, and go
into the house with Nibbs. Wen have
some supper presently
All! dish pc de Gott tam tiefp said
Dutch Bill and he approached Frank,
and tried to kick him
Frank caught his assailant's short and
stumpy leg, aud lifting it higher than his
head, threw him over in a ground and
lofty somersault, and a. he reyol~ed, ap-
piled his boot vigoroassy To the broadest
portion Of the Dutchman body. Bill
gave howl, loud and long, as he went
to grass A loud laugh Followed this
msadventure.
Sarved you right, Bill said Jake. l
want no more o that The mans beha-
we'd pretty well since he was tnck, even if
he is a herse thief. Hes in my charge
now, and nobody must offer no violence
to him, unless by the committee orders.
you've pretty good saddle, said
Nibbs, as he unsaddled the pony Is it
yoara or your chnms ? he asked with a
| rogueish leer.
Mine answered Frank. When the
scoLndrel who is the canse ofmy trouble,
changed horses. he didn't change saddles. ,
Il spose,' said Nibbs, might have
the use of it until-a-you need it !?
You amt likely to need it very soon you
know
'Yon may use till need it, said Frank
who saw he had better make a virtue Of
necessity 1t struck him, however, that
if Nibbs were one OF bis judges he might
be biased by the reflection that If Frank
were acquitted, he would reclaim the sad
die.
Here, Bill, take yer pony
Dutch Bill, who by thus time had pick
ed himself up, came Toward, rubbing his
most prominent points -
Il claims dat sattle ees on mine pony
ven he be shtoles.'
You want another slmble, that's what
you want said Nihbs; and I'm derned
if don't give you oneiit you don't take
your old pony and clea cut
Supper was ready whcn they entered
the house, and the table was pretty full.
Frank was told to SIT down and eat
hearty Another member of the Vigil
ance Committee of Boggsville relieved
Jake and Nbbs in charge of him. The
sentinel stood over him while he ate, and
q Frank astonished himself by making
= y, .r,.-r.- ,.,s--~ .4szsssa stssrss-s
. After he had eaten-stronger ana more
| hopeful He smoked cigar he had lett,
and was soothcd by the dreamy weed,
After everybody had had his posteG-
nal smoke, there was some consultation
in a corner Of the room, and then the
guests dispersed Nbbs told Frank his
trial before the Vigilance Committe
would take place Immediately IN the city
hail., and they had better walk over
there pretty soon He conseled Frank
for being disturbed so soon after supper,
bv assuring him that it couldn't take
long. no how
Frank was conducted by his guard,
Nibbs and Jacob Grmsley, to the city
hall, crazy structure of boards-a mere
shell, without booring or window frames.
1t was dimly lighted bv a few very dirty
tallow candles. which flckered in the
wind, and, ominsus sign, wrapped them
selves all around with winding sheets
There was considerable number OF
people in the hall when Frank and his
geardians arrived, but il was some min
vi es before they commenced business.
A tall, red headed individual in shirt.
sleeves and pipe in mouth, entered
Nibbs told Frank it was Tom Boggs, thu
Chairman Of the Committee. who was te
preside as Judge in his case His APP
pearance was not such as to inspire
Frank with much confidence in his lega
knowledge.
Tom Boggs took his judicial seat on {
chair raised on an old counter at one enc
of the room He called the assembly to
order by three knocks on the counter will
his boot heel The other members Of thu
Committee, with the exception of jake
and Nibbs, compose the jury, and sat OF
the counter on either side of the Judge
The Secretary Of the Committee acted a:
Clerk of the Court
Mr. Secretary, what's the indictmen
agin the prisoner ? asked Judge Boggs
Horse stealin' answered the Secretary
Lets hev the witnesses, said the
Judge. Dutch Bill was called.
Now, Bill said the Judge, yeu tel
the truth, s'help yer God, and don't b'
long about it. jest tell us what yer know
and don't tell us aothin' you don't know.
10 help mein Gott' said Bill unc
how can | dell vat l don't know
shoodg !?
We'll, don't 90 on jawin', but tell u'
what you know about this yerc business,
said Boggs, rather testify.
Vat | knows? Some tam scoundre
he shdeals mein bony,'
Don't be so free with your dams be
fore the court" said Boggs, in an angry
voice It's contempt, aud II he damned
if stand it,
i means no contempt, shoodge.' sait
Bill penitently.
AN right, then Go ahead !
One of the jurors--a little man with {
head shaped like pear, and light peak
ed beard-now rose, and with a counte
nance that denoted some very importan
communication, said with impressive sol
emnity:
| sMr prae;Ient hafore wa prnoard an,