, 1875-08-15

Frank. He did not want the PRAYERS OF IN
'reyerend" member Of committee OF murdersra.
He wished his .eaferings ended a. soon ~
possible.
T. The reverend gentleman war a.tired In 8 full
suit Of 81 but>erput-' He had bard, I'D
prepossessing fscs !; there Vas little charity in
! the lines about Ills lips. He approached Frank
and asked him, Air you Kur-istian ?"
II hope 60" humbly answered POOR Frank.
| II tuI-nst that before you quit this miserable
world yen viii pnr-oclaim yourself
kur.istian- Bur~etheren, let Us pnr-
~ that our erring bu1-other may
be moved to confess bis ccr-ime and pur oclai1
himself = Kurlstian before it il too late"
gid flood Of pious /" oupcombe in Anasal howl
which grated terribly on poor Franks highly
strung nerves. It seemed to him interminable
1t was finally interrupted, however, and Frank
Was reused from the ststa OF semi i-unconscious
ness into which he was falling, by the arrival OF
horseman who rode into the c1rcle. Frank heard
the name JACK Eastman pronounced
jack Eastman Why, Jack and he were school
mates Years ago. The mans back WAS turned
TO Frank as he sat On biz horse talking to the
people around him.
Who is that man ?" Frank aaked Of N1bhs
Who 4as one Of the guard placed over him.
Ihe man that's just 1oda in?"
That's Jack Eastman, Vloe-Presidart Of the
Committee"
"W1a ron tell him, hks = good fellow, thst
"onlaAke to sny word to him ?"
Hcertslnly, replied Nibbs; aud he went and
spoke to the man hs called jack Eastman. The
Astef Immediately turned his horse aud rode to
"nere Frank stood ieaninR against the cart. It
Eas Jack Eastman, Frank old schoolmate, thank
posuse and hardship Of frontier life, but Frank
would have recognized him anywhere
What have you got to SAP to me ?" asked
Jack in rather hard tone.
jack, " cried Frank, ''is it possible you have
forgotten me2'
What! Why, it's Frank Staples! WIS. the
devil does al this ueap:"
ut mesns said Frank, ''that I an about to
be inside the innocent victim OF terrible mis-
take" He then told Jack his story in - tex
words "a possible
ITS devilish lucky I got back 80 soon,n
brethren OF tbs Committee. "Gentle.
men," continued he, this must be :
mistake. THIS man ia no horse-thie /
KNOW him and every one belonging to him. We
were raised almost next door to each other"
Vat Inference dat makes?" asked Dutch
Bill; Nhe dakes mein bony all de same"
~ tel you what it is, fellows. said Jack:
you're going too fast On this business. You
must take more tima."
This seemed to CAUSE considerable dissasisfac-
ton among the Vigilants. An excited discussion
vas interrupted, however. by the arrival Of Big
Stave's partv. bringing with them Franks blue
eyed. blonde-beaIded deceiver, and Little Phil
and the other stolen animals.
"Jscb," said Frank, ''there's nay horse, and
there's the man who stole him"
"fes, said Big Steve, "he's owned up. His
story" nodding to Frank, tbs O. E.
Stranger" said the horse-thief to Frank,
IT. played you mighty mean trick yesterday,
and I'm sorrg for it. :. l giess you've had hard
It amt too late to Keep 'em from h1ngin' the
wrong man."
After short consultation among the viei-
lants Tom Boggs informed Frank that his inno-
cence vas established To the satisfaction OF all
concerned. and ho Was tree to 90 wherever he
pleased.
Frank nodded in reply: he was unable to
speak. He staggered toward Little Phil, who
hailed him with joyous neigh OF recognition.
His overwroughs nerves gave way; he fell
against the horse and became inseneible.
When Frank came back to consciousness be
was lying on a bed in JACK Eastman's house.
Jake Glims1ey, Nibbs, and Jack were seated By
the bed.
II told yer he'd come to pretty soon, said
Nibbs.
How are you now, old fellow 7~ asked Jack,
taking Franks hand in his.
"A little weak, Jack, but pretty well-ssrong
enough to travel"
!. stufr." said Jack. "You're going to stay
With ME for month to come"
Frank shook his head.
why" said Nibbs. '.you amt going away
until you see the fun out p
''Thank you," replied Frank: II can't See
any fun IN It,. Tha joke came too near being
against me-
Jack tried hard to make Frank stay at least |
few days with him. But Prank wa7 inle11ble. |
Boggsvle Was hateful to him the air Of tho place
seemed to choke him. He left Boggsville about |
sunset the same evening. IA he rode out OF the !
village he saw the body OF the blonde-bearded,
b1ue-eyed horse- thief dangling from the limb OF !
kF,nT Tn&A III ~ hi
bow near be had come to dangling shere instead |
Of the thief. |