Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-02
PARIS, MAINE. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1875.

/ III uiS iiSub HNhu luz iuNNi'O', a.
could see, was oi the most uninviting
character scarcely an article of furniture,
and lighted by lamp which. void OF
glass. flared on the window.ledge.
told my case. and sullenly bidding
me tnrn my horse into The corral by the
side OF the horse. aud then enter, he
moved away. Whom had secured my
steed in The inclosure, and the door Of
the shanty swung TO ibchind me. | was
almost sorry had not chosen TO sleep
with The wolves in the mountain gulies.
Ny host was silent and sullen, showing
very plainly his intention not to talk /;
presently, however. he said: Guess
you'll want supper. There's water in
that pail; there's whiskey ia lhnt bottle /;
there's beef in that locker. You cant
have nothing else"
said. which was partly true. that !
was too tired to eat. certainly could
not have eaten or drunk in his dirty hOy.
cl, on Of such uuinyiiing food, especially
with 50 lorbidding ruIlian .or my com
panion.
Then you'll wan, 20 go to Sleep. he
said, roughly, andikicked a bun lie apart,
disclosing couple OF buffalo robes, with
two rude pillows. There you are. Go
TO bed, then"
1t was OF no use be.rayng any fear,
and he was evidently giving up his bed
10 me, so lay down, and in short time
was doing. when ! WAS aroused by hear
ing the tread Of horse, and then tie
door opened. | half rose from my bed,
And, to mY surprise. saw enter the
man whom had met at midday on the
mountain. lie recognized me, too. but
said nothing distinct.
well, how is it. Joe?' said the other
man, With very serious. If not anxious
look.
Bad" said my friend. or joe
very bad. It's all correct
"And are lhey-are the boys"-begau
the other.
Yes" said Joe, filling up the pause :;
they may come to ow-perhal S
10 night We shall have to yamoose.'
They conversed in uudertone as they
SAT on their nde stoo's by the low wood
tire, chewing OF smoking. occasionally
drinking from a whiskey bottle; their
discourse seemed very grave and dis.
Yuielng and lro II a word OF two caught.
and from their glances. | fsncied they
We're often referring 10 me. At last, in
spite OF myself. | Iell asleep. and lired rs
| was, might have slumbered ill morn
ing, but tremendous crash awoke me,
and rising. | saw that The door had been
burst open and that the shanty was lilling
with strangers all armed. while Joe and
his comradc had drawn suddenly 10 my
side of the room. Ga the instant half a.
dozen men surrounded them and took
their firearms.
"Hollo!H - exclaimed one of the uew
corners. rs he caught sight oil me, "who
is this Are there three ia the gang9"
All eyes being upon me. although did
not quite understand the situation. ! ex
planned briefly who was; and the ac-
count seemed satisfactory.
NOW, Joe Blakely, and you, Phil
Marll. reckon you know why we have
come ?" said the man who seemed spokes
man.
"Guess we do" said Joe, in his usual
apatheiic tone.
You expected visit" continued the
man. I'VE have heard all your Dragging
agin the vigilantes-"
Never said so" interrupted Joe.
| was amazed a, these words. Here
was | in the presence OF the promptest.
most terrible tribunal OF modern times,
aud | OWNED only too clearly their errand.
The yigilantes. OF vigilance committee,
as may be known. is u self constituted
body, which. in the remote parts OF The
United States. springs into spontaneous
existence 10 remedy 10 rough fashion
the monstrous defects OF the defective
courts o! justice. Acting without. and.
Il, r.. l.. IaKa Of lasu ,lo,a
mitlees, though doing things roughly,
help materially TO make life endurable
for well disposed citizens. Without the
sense of justice which these vigilant and
self constituted bodies exercise, the great
western wilderness. with their sparsely-
settled population and feeble judicial
administration, would not be tolerable.
| soon understood the purport OF the
visit, as addressed to my host. You've
been terror 10 this here neighborhood,
continued the spokesman; you've stole
horses aud cattle for more than two years
past. and tried 70 put 1t all on The Indians
You have murdered men and this here
traveller would never have seen daylight
again if we hadn't come on. You got
the Jew from Santa Fe into your shanty,
and robbed and killed him."
mo. Captain !" burst out Joe; al bar
that. don't deny the bosses, nor the
cattle; and may hev killed man or
two; so may hev Phil; but never
touched the Jew. nor killed man in my
own shanty and this here traveller should
have gone his way safe man" Then