Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-11-13
ing branch Or upheaying root and she fell
wish such force as to render her insensi-

roof, he let himself to the ground, and
went off in his usual vagabond fashion
Long after nightfall he came home
bringing with him an unfortunate chick.
en-, whose neck he cut clumsily, and then
cooked the pullet for his supper. The
feathers he burnt, partly for fuel, and
partly to get them out of the way.
Surprising that Maddy was at home
and asleep, he threw himself upon his
bed, and slept till morning: till, in fact
he was wakencd by loud knocking a,
the door.
It was Farmer Grant who met him, and
who rccciled from the appearance he pre-
sentcd, with q look Of unmistakablc ter.
ror.
"Fcr mercy's sake, Jed Uran, what
have you been doing2' he cried.
"Nothing," said jed,
"Do you know there's blood on you1
hands? Whose blood is it, Jena" asked
| the farmer, solemnly.
Now the boy had stolen the chicken
from Farmer Grants hen coop, and the
question confused him.
IL cut myself last night: I suppose,
he said surlily.
''Whcrc's your sister," asked the farm.
er. "She's always at the house for milk
at six, and now it's almost nine"
'Shc's asleep up stairs" said Jed,
startled at the lateness of the hour.
"Call her, then," said the farmer, stern
ly.
Jed disappeared and came down pres
emily, "She amt there he muttered.
"She went out this morning, suppose.
She was there all night" he added.
Farmer Grant stepped inside. There
was blood on the hearth b]ood-stains on
the floor. The farmer kept silence and
went home with sense of horror upon
HIM, fully confident that the young fel.
low had murdered his sister.
AS soon as possible news was sent to
the authorities, and Jed was arrested and
put in confinement. The day passed slow
ly, but the little community was stirred
to its depths at the cnormity Of crime
probably committed in their midst.
As the time wore on, and Jed persisted
in his innocence,-whilet the farmers tes-
timony seemed to redouble his guilt, for
Jed, IN his terror, had told more than one
lie,;-the people became excited. The
next day, near nightfall, Jed was taken
from his place Of imprisonment by an
angry mob, and preparations were made
to hang him without the benefit of
judge or jury.
There was nothing to restrain the popu-
lar fury, Jed had made himself obnoxious,
while Iaddy was pretty girl, who hsd
won fr;opI, opd +bo o,fbor.+;o, ,,o.o
miles away.
As for jed he begged and implored for
his life, even with tears, protesting that
hs was innocent. Nobody believed hilns
The words that the farmer had heard,
the blood on his hands, his previous bad
character, rendered all his prayers for re-
lease useless.
''Hang him up" cried excited voices,
Jcd's face was the hue of death, and his
limbs refused to support INN.
II did not kill her! I am innocent!'
he cried, in Grcnzied ords.
Eyes, he IS innocent!' echoed voice.
"IIe is Innocent" exclaimed voice on
the outside of the crowd, and turning
they saw Maddy herself, her face pale,
her hands outstretched.
She had been found but short dis
lance from the road by a villagcr who
was going to neigboring town, and he
having q vehicle, had taken her back to
her home. The neighbors told her OF
Jed's danger, and, although suffering
from pain she had at once gone to his
rescue.
Sucn cry OF joy as went up then from
Jed and the assembled crowd, suddenly
arrested III their terrible work, is seldom
heard.
ooh, Jed I'm so glad," gusped Maddy,
and tainted in his arms.
In the wild reaction that followed too
much could not be done for the brother
and sister so wonderfully rescued from
death: and am glad to add that from
that day there was an improvement in
the lives of both.