Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-07

directly | stood on my lcet nnlettercd
What docs this months outrage -
knocking down and garging Unite
States ollicor?' ! exclaimed looking from
one evil face 10 another.
You will soon learn,n replied one o
the men. And then they withdrew L
the door and held conversation in whis
pers, one of their number passed out
came back in about five minutes. anC
then the four approached me.
"Well, can you explain your bruta
conduct now ~ inquired.
You are to be conducted to No. |. tC
wait until the Tribunal OF Seven assem-
bles, and then you are to be tried ioI
your lie !"
So spoke the leader of the party. M
evil. faced fellow, whom | would not have
cared to meet on the open highway, in
broad daylight. / looked from one Ic
another, but each face was evil, unreada.
ole and stern.
But 1 won't CO." replied. II have
had enough OF this nonsense, and | now
propose TO return 10 The theatre. Nor
mons or Gentiles, you will think twice
before you stretch out a hand 10 stop
met"
They had removed my revolver before
taking of the handouts. and was con.
sequentIy without weapon. l stood
clcse 20 one of the chairs, and as | saw
that they were about to rush, seized it,
whirled it aloit, and sent one OF them to
The floor. The others rushed upon me,
but beat them back, knocked another
down, and rushed to the door.
it was locked. As turned, the four
closed in on me, despite my blows, and
they soon had me down. Tuey did not
gag me again, but one of them seized my
foot and dragged me through hall,
opened door and was hauled into a
room not over ten feet square.
1--WE vii! call FOR You at midnight !"
spoke one of the men, and the door was
shut and locked.
There was no light in the cell, but tho
light from window hall block away
strea'hed in and allowed me 10 see, first,
that my only window was barred and
grated until u mouse could hardly have
Ct out or in; then, the walls were thick
and massive, and the door aS solid as
iron.
took in all these things rs rested on
my elbow. and closer inspection when
| rose up only proved how well had
seen tried the door. the window,
sounded the walls. tested the floor, and
sat on the stool with conviction that
must remain u prisoner 50 long rs my
caplors saw tit. 1t was easy to under
stand the game which had been played.
The unknown had got me ont OF the the
atro on purpose to trap me. and ii was
also easy to understand that was in the
power OF the "Avenging Angels" and
that escape from their clutches was u
matter scarcely to be thought Of.
could not bear the idea that | was a
prisoner. and | made the round of the
cell. again. hoping that the door oil the
window might be made.to yield. The
door was too stout 10 be attacked, but
determined to give the bars trial. !
had no tools to work with, but there was
the stool. | pulled out leg, searched
over the lattice work until found spot
to suit, and then inserted the leg. The
bars went back O trihe as | sagged
my weight upon the stick, and
there was loud snap, and the leg was
broken.
"Ha ha! hal" laughed voice out
side the door. and then l knew that one
of the men was standing sentry. He
knew | would seek escape. but he knew
that | could not.
sat down on the floor, sick at heart.
What did they mean by the Tribunal OF
Seven-tbat mysterious committee who
were going TO put me on trial at mid
night? | had been in the Mormon
country long enough to know how to
answer the question 1t meant that
seven Mormon dignitaries were to give
me the farce of trial, condemn me as
an enemy of their religion and social
habits, and then hand me over to the
Avengers TO be murdered!
1t seemed an age TO midnight. made
no more efforts towards regaining my
liberty heard no sound from street or
building, and was almost glad as the
door was at last unlocked, and | was
conducted to the judgment.room.
felt a chill rs / looked around. Six
masked men occupied the six chairs,
and the seventh one sat behind the table.
A chair was placed for me at his left
hand. | sat down, and for moment
not a sound was heard. The seven
masked men and the four Avengers
were Us motionless rs statues. A bell,
sounding as il in the cellar of the building,
struck one, two, three-eleyen. twelve,
and 1 could think of nothing but funeral
procession as | counted the strokes.
Prisoner, stand up!" commanded the
masked Judge, his voice being loud and
stern.
i was at first determined to resist ali