, 1875-08-15

The pear-headed little man collapsed
Bill went On with bis story: "tell, some die
be shdeals mein bong: nud I sees him no mor'
pack: und Nipps he say, f,lli, here's your c1aas
eyed blug ! und he gives me de bonY, put h
keebs de sattlo aud pr1the-"
;. That aia't got nothin' to do with it." inter
rupted Nibbs +" the saddle and bride warn
yourn."
.:Vel, dey pees on meiu bony." .
Tom Boeea' boot-hoe1 struck tho counter will
crash, and cut Of the eud OF the sentence.
" Order!" be shouted. '.or II! hev to throw
some q you cusses out q the winaes' p~na :. nr
asked the Secretary.
.'Vell, knows NIGHT moro apout dat"
; Prisoner, do you want to oross-e1amina the
witness ?" asked Judge Boggs.
mo. pir," was Franks answer.
WHO'S thu next witnes52"
"Me," said NibDs.
"The evidence shall be g1Tan. etc., eto."
$50 help me- God!"
Howl away, them"
t. The Committee allowed that me and Jake
wuz to .ake the northern trail after the animals
wuz stole. We fust struck. tracks at the stage
station, whore two fallers tuck dinner. One OF
'em, mounted on fine sorreI started right after
dinner. T'other one, who rode glasa-eyed
calico pony, had only left fe" moments before
We got thar. So Jake and me We put spurB to
our horses aud lit out after him. We recognized
the pony. from the station-keeper's description,
to be Bills old nag. We soon kem in
sight a the priz'nur thar maxim the Aveli-
eet tracks be could out q the four legs under
him.. We hailed him, aud be turned round and
seed Us. and he didn't go no slower, kin tell
stopped him, aud he turned round aud fired
right at us. We got up to him before be could
fire ag'in, and tuck him. Then he told us 4 dog
goned fool-story, as how t'other one stole his
horse and left him this I'm, and how be wuz
agom' after him then But va told him it wuz
lie KEN to the ranch On calico, and t'othar one
Was mounted On sorrel."
4 timid member Of the jury mildly suggested
that what the station-keeper said WAS only hear
say. Judge Boggs decided that, as the station
keeper saw the prisoner come in on the pony.
his story was not hearsay. He asked Frank If
be wished to cross-axamine the witness.
Frank said: "The witness states that + fred
at him. He has my pistol. Let him produce it,
and it will be seen that no ehot was fred from
it,
The pistol was demanded and produced.
There were six loads in it: it had not been dis
"Weil, that beats cock-6ghtin't could has
sworn on ten-foot Bible that I heard the
report and the witz of the bullet, said Ntbbs.
Judge Bo8gs decided, however, that a. the
cap had been snapped it wasn't the prisoners
taken for the dead.
"Next witness"
"Here !" said Jake Grimsley.
Jake's story was much the same as Nlbbs', ex-
cept that he had heard no report and no wblz Of
bullets. Frank declined to ask hum any ques-
tons.
"Any more witnesses I"
NO more.
II would suggest, said the tfmfd but evident
y conscientious juror who had made the objec-
lion in regard to hearsay evidence, that DO
proof has been offered that the prisoner has
stolen any property, nor has the stolen property
been identified"
:ommot1on. It vas remarked that the
:iu1id juror was always s'crotchety" and
- nottonsl that there was "too darned much
nv about this business"
Tom Boegs gave the counter three vigorous
sicks. He Jumped to bis feet and roared 'Si-
ence!" The hubbub ceased. ''TlI make it
,ersonal matter" shouted Tom, with the first
nan that talks before his jaw is wanted. Justice
must be done accorain' to Hoyle. Let the prop
3rty be brought in and identified"
Dutch Bill MAS sent for his pony, and immedi-
ltely returned with the animal. Tho glass eyed
'ut his head in st the door, stared. snorted, and
'tarted back af1ighted. dragging Dutch Bill pre-
:ipitately after him. The Judge WAS informed
hat all efforts to induce the property to appear
or Identification were fruitless. i
'Well," said Judge Doges, it the pony won't
;ome il, the jury will have to 60 out TO see the
>ony.h
The jury went out, and presently returned.
Bill, " asked tho Judge. j" ls ths pony the jury
'een your pony"
''Ies, shoodge."
"Eibb's and Jake. is it ths sans pony you
ound in company with tha prisoner7"
at is." Il
.'Prisoner. have you anything to say7"
Very little. do not acknowledge the right !
4 any such gathering as this TO try me for any
hing, or to pass sentence on me-"
Ffank then told bis story plainly and in as few !
sords az possible. |
''Now, look here, my friend said Bosgs,
even it this yere cock-an abull story wuz true,
wouldn't make no difference. The law aln't |
made for the protection of derned fools, and |
eaVe it to the Committee it there could be a |
lei der fool than you wuz, accordin' to yer own !
howin''
THAT'S SOP" in chorus from the Jury.
haVe nothing further to say" returned |
rank. :" except that I protest against every !
hing you have done and everything you may |
NOW, then, gentlemen OF the jury, to settle |
bis matter without any more talk, sich OF YET as
u q opinion that the PRISONER il guilty will say
"Ay!" in chorus from the Jury, aud
oices from all parts Of tho room in addition,
"The contrary, No.".
A dead silence.
"The ays hey it; Pr1s'nes, you'll be hung to-
loffoW at Let's see: what time would be
'ost convenient to everybody"
I'm sgoln' over on to Mulberry Creek in the
otntn' after ducks, said one, land I mayn't
. back before eleven"
= Id like to hev crack at 'em myself" said
EDGE BoRgs.. How will noon do?"
First rate!" said several voices.
"Well, then, you'n be hung Tomorrow at
oon, Wind and weather permjttin'."
Jedge said an Irish Vigilant who had an
'ered to the name Of Dan OConnel1, 'rd 1otke
~ the prlz'nur Wau QUESTION:
All right, Danl Fire away. nv boy"
- frlz' 'nur-r," said Dan, 1ooEing very soleunly
Frank, "are yez rsudy fur to doy?"
" No, answered Frank.
Dan turned toward Tom Boggs, and with the
r OF one who makes m Irresistible expostula-
IN. "3edge," said he-" Jedge, is it right
+ to hang man whin he's not ready fur to
" nan+' said Tom Boggs, "you're bigger fool
an Thought you Wnz, and that's sayin good !
al. 1t don't make id bit OF difference
1ether he's ready OF not; he's got to swing,
ID no" 1 m ready for hand at whisky po-
The. crowd dispersed. and Frank Eas taken
ck to Jake Grimsley'a''
CHAPTER III,
- SUPPOSE you're pretty we'll played aftet to-
"o1a. Said Jakd to Frank after they had