Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-03
lone of my twins, but,

mere, never mind, mother" ex.
claimed the lad, interrupting her, "get
some water and a bandage. / must
make haste and change these things
before the Hangtowners see me-"
So saying the lad hurried out of sight
into an inner apartment.
Soon afterward, the pursuing horse
men came up on one side, and Old
Buckeye with his boys on the other.
The Hangtowners had dwindIed away
in the chase to half score, while the
Phillips party consisted of six-each of
them, apparently, able to cope with two
ordinary men, at least, in a " free fight"
One of the boys, the youngest, was the
exact counterpart of the girl, Mary Phil
lips, and also of the lad who had saved
the life of William Prince. "Twins ?"
thought our puzzled here, "there seem
to be triplets!" Is h ri
The leader of the pursuing party, who
had been. principal ofticiator in the
tragedy on the hill. was tall powerful
fellow, one who had never owned horse
or mule in his life. He dismounted
and strobe up to the porch, where Prince
was sitting, pale and weak. $3.50
~ allow you'll ornament yon tree i'm
less than three shakes Of coon's tail.
So come out of that and be hung like a
gentleman" said the burly leaaer, at
tempting to seize the wounded man.
Island back" cried Dame Phillips.
stepping between them. SECT out!
you've no business here, Tim Petty.
This man is no thief, and that's more
than you can say for yourself. you big
brute!" a
Petty, however, was persisting with
an oath, in his effort to secure our he
70, when the courageous matron raised
the ponderous dinner horn and brought
it down with force that made HIM
stagger.
"Hold on!' shouted Mr. Philips,
rushing upon the porch. whats all
this about? Gentlemen, stand back!"
he exclaimed to the pursuers, who were
crowding in. Boys" to his sons,
keep the peace here. Wife, explain"
At this Juncture his daughter Mary,
looking flushed and excited, appeared
upon the porch walked to the side of
Prince, laid her hand upon his shoulder
with a gentle, protecting pressure, and
said: I" Father, look ut this poor, perse-
cuted young man, don't you recognize
him~ I ttsu to
"Whv, I'm blessed if it isn't the
young man that passed here this morn
ing and got drink of water from
you, Mary. Boys, wife, you all saw
him.! a., .,. 'i'
All OF Mr.. Phillips boys answered in
the affirmative. .t s.- 2
"And these honest gentlemen have
charged him. with mule stealing, of
which he is no more guilty than am.
They have Iynched four men to-day on
the same charge-innocent men, too, 1
believe, and would have murdered this
one, if he had not made brave strug-
gle for life and escaped their clutches"
continued the girl, excitedly.
Now, my friends" rejoined Phillips,
"let me tell you something. We were
all in the house when the young man
come up this path from the right. We
saw him when he first appeared over
yon knoll, about . mile away. He
stopped here and got q drink of water.
Sometime before this we noticed four
men and two mules coming along the
road on the left, directly opposite. 1t
was impossible for this young man and
the others TO have met to-day before the
animals were taken" .el a5.lf .t4
Mary, her brother, and Mrs. Phillips
confirmed this statement.
"And, gentleman" resumed Old
Buckeye, Il think there's been blood
enough split for one day, and two mules.
You had better 90 back to Hangtown,
and leave us to take care Of the young
man. miada iiiV dnit fet "a 70. l.l
That's just my opinion" exclaimed
Dame Phillips; go back and wash the
innocent blood ffom your hands If you
can"
The" gentlemen" were by this time
convinced that Prince was not exactly
mule stealer, and that they had. per-
haps, been little hasty in the ly,u hing
of the four travellers but Tim Petty,
who swore that Prince ought to be hung
for running ofwith the mustang belong
ing to the" peoples lawyer az
"If there is any more hanging to be
done, Tim Petty, We'll string you up"'
cried George Phillips, placing himself
in front of the fellow sect out, durn
you: get out and git"
The disappointed rufiian turned sui
lenly away toward his borrowed horse.
As he passed Mary, who still stood by
the side of Prince, he applied to her an
insulting epithet, for which the spirited
girl, ablaze with indignation, slashed
him full in the face with riding
whip. .- u
smarting with rage and pain, the bur-
" rascal doubled his bohy fist and struck
fiercely at the girl. SECS
But our hero interposed and received