The Morning herald., 1876-05-15
THE WRONG MAN.

Grass Hollow was In great sta,e OF ex-
cisment. Ford's tkoroug hbred colt was
missing, and the whole town was up in
arms to pursue the thief and secure the
return of the fastest horse in all that
region. Fast!--it was heeter than the
wind, and for a short distance would out
run locomotive under full head of
steam. Black Eagle was horse with
pedigree. So everyone said, but no one
seemed to know what that pedigree was.
1t was current in Grass Hollow that the
prosenilors Of Black Eagle had pressed the
sands Of the desert OF Arabia, and won
cups in England, and great purses on
Long Island in the early days Of the Amer
lean turf.
There had been no such excitement in
Grass Hollow since John Chinaman had
appropriated to himself the property Of
Caucasian, and thereupon taken sudden
departure for the bright land of the here
after, There was rapid mounting OF
horses-the heetest in all the Hollow
and, with the promise to bring the "scal-
iawag" back, the incensed frontiersmen
and miners rode away in pursuit of their
human prey.
Th. second night afterwards they re-
turned, the whole posse riding into town
Yelling at the top ofthcir voices. They
rode in a body up to the door Of the "El-
Dorado" the most popular saloon in the
place and the leader who seemed to act as
Especial guard over the captive, who was
bound hand and foot to the glossy black
sleed, cried;
Here's your menagerie! Come out and
zee the animal!
Thereupon Tom Vance, the proprietor of
thegrocery, the NEST important man in
the town, came out, and to the inquiry
well, Tom, what shall we do with the
prlsoner?" replied.
"WelI, gentlemen, it is for you to decide.
You know what's been the custom here
In these parts. Grass Hollow is down on
horse-thieves-"
THAT we are |" exclaimed the mob in q
chorus.
81 am no thief" said the man found on
the black horse, speaking for the first time
Everyone laughed, as if this were very
good Joke, and the saloon-keeper remarked
That's not very good story in man''
mouth when he is mounted on another fel
ler's horse.
Gentlemen" said the prisoner calmly
circumstances are against me. This is
terrible mistake. / beg of you not to b.
too hasty, but give me an opportunity t,
prove my innocence. shall not at all ob
ject to being detained until it is arparen
to you ALL"
He spoke 40 calmly and deliberatel,
that his words made good Impression il
his favor, which was Immediately destroy
dby the rumseller, who said;
You are right, young man-this is
terrible mistake. There's alters some
thing wrong when you catch man a-strad
Ole Of another mans horse, even if he ha
got white face, and looks like Sunday
school teacher"
who are you, and where did you com
1rom% asked bystanaer, mounted on
mustang and armed with q breech-loadin
rifle
The prisoner hesitated for a momen
anu then he answered:
IF am to be tried without Judge 6
Jury, aad hurried out Of the world b
Judge Lynch, it is not necessary that yo
should know anything Of nae. 1t is nj
necessary for man to give much informs
'io' as to his identity to bis murderers."
=, Just you look here" spoke Tom Vane
SHARPLY. 1--WE amt no murders, We ain
you hoss-thief. We are peaceable, Law
abiding citizens" J.
!; The prisoners blood was up, and injl
d'ciously he re.orted:
4, You are nothing but q pack of c,
i,hroats. Ii you had your just deserts,
HS'' OF you would bs wearing prison sui