Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-02-20

to him; but the reproof of profanity
was q duty he never neglected. So,
turning about, he quoted several texts
on the subject, and would have en-
larged upon them edifyiugly but for the
derisive shouts or the company in whose
midst he quickly found himself.
"Ha! hal" laughed one; jest hear the
old rascal!'
Satin reprovin', sinr' added an
other.
Whose hoss is that p queried a
third.
Whose horse ?" echoed the parson-
whose is ,chat horse ?"
"Why, that ERE you're mounted on. {"
Misp Why, this is my horse--Old
Job" answered the parson/ more and
more surprised.
Your horseT' exclaimed burly fell
low "You say that agin, an I'll
mash your mug. That's my boss as was
stole an you stole i'm, an his names
amt Job; it's Pete -,-----.--
The horse whinnied at the name, as
if turning States evidence against his
rider. r..
Git down, you old reprobater the
burly man continued. "Why, I've
owned that boss ever sence he was
foalded, an there's plenty here ken
prove it," IN
"Tbat's sor' chimed in several.
" Git down! git down! you tarnal old
thiefr'
A dozen revolvers were leveled at
him, and the parson felt constrained to
dismount.
"I assure you, gentlemen, the horse
is mine," he protested earnestly, "and
being a minister of the gospel, my word
should have some weight"
Minister of the-haw! hawp
The man who tried to repeat the
words broke down with laughter.
ga pretty minister you arew jeered
another, who, searching the parsons
person, drew pack of cards from one
pocket and an empty whisky bottle from
another.
Mr.. Pohick was dumbfounded,
There is some terrible mistake here"
was all he could utter.
" What say you gentlemen ?-is the
pris'ner guilty OF not guilty?'' sang out
the leader of the crowd.
"Guilty" they all said.
With equal unanimity it was voted to
hang him on the spot.
9" My friends, before taking a fellow
creatures life," pleaded the parson,
you should have clear and certain
proof"
"Proof''-what proof would you
haveY' replied the leader. "Wasn't
the hoss found on you-or you on the
hoss-which is the same thing in law ?
Come, string i'm up, boys!'
And the poor parson would surely
have ended his worldly career then and
there but for the timely arrival of an
other party.
In their midst was man in clerical
garb-none other than Mr.. Pohick's
companion of the preceding night--se-
curely bound on horse.
The new company was headed by
Deputy Sheriff we'll acquainted with
Mr.. Pohick.
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Pohick," said
the officer. "but, bless me, hardly
knew you in that rig!'
The parsons's eyes, for the first time,
fell on his garments. They were cer-
tainly not his own. Nothing could be
more upclerical than their cut and ma
terial. The cards and whisky bottle
were now accounted for; and when Old
Job, on whose back the other prisoner
was tied, greeted his master with his
old familiar neigh, the whole truth
flashed on the parsons mind. The man
with whom he had shared his room the
night before was horse-hief, who,
rising first in the morning, had not
only taken the parsons clothes for
disguise, leaving his own, but had
taken Old Job, who was far the better
horse, instead of the one he had recent
ly stolen--the Parson in his absent
mindedness, never noticing the differ
ence. ,,....s-.. ...
The thief was one we'll known to the
officers, who had been for some time on
his track; and when the Sheriff's depu-
ty, who knew Old Job as we'll as his
master, saw the former and the clothes
of the latter in the possession of a
noted outlaw, he feared at first that
murder as we'll as theft had been COM
mitted- and murder acould have been
committed but for his arrival in the nick
of time. s....
" Let it teach you to keep your eyes
open next time" was all the consolation
the parson got from Mrs. Pohick on
reaching home and telling her how near
he had come to being hanged-Ne,c
York Ledger.