Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-04-25

be near the gulch bout one in the morn
ing. 1t warn't easy to get at his story,
he seemed so uncommon scared but he
told US, at last, as he heard the fear
fullest screams in the stiffness of the
night. There weren't no shots, he said
but scream after scream, kinker muff1ed
like a man with scrape over his head,
an in mortal pain. Abner Brandon
and me, and few more, was in the
store at the time; so We mounted and
rode out to Scott's farm, passing through
the gulch on the way. There weren't
nothing particular to be seen there-no
blood nor marks of fight, nor nothing;
and when we gets up to Scott's house
out he comes to meet us fresh as lark,
'Hullo, JEFF I says he, mo need for the
pistol after all. Come IN, boys Did
ye see or hear nothing as we came home
last night p says l. No. says he; all
was quiet enough. An owl kinder
moaning in the Flytrap gulch-that
was all. Come, jump off and have
glass Thank ye.' says Abner. So
off we gets, and Tom Scott rode into
the settlement with us when we went
back"
can alfred commotion was on in
Main street as we rode into it. The
'Merican party seemed to have gone
clean crazy. Alabama Joe was gone
not darned particle of him left Since
he went out to the gulch nary eye had
seen him. AS we got off our horses
there was considerable crowd in front
of Simpsons. and some ugly looks at
Tom Scott, can tell you. There was
clinkin' of pistols. and | saw as Scott
had his hand in his bosom, too. There
weren't single English face about.
Stand aside. Jeff Adams, says Zebb
Humphrey, as great scoundrel as ever
lived, you hain't got Oh hand in this
game. Says, boys, are we, free Amer
leans, to be murdered by any British
er?' 1t was the quickest thing as ever
| seed. There was a rush an crack;
Zebb was down, with Scott's ball in his
thigh, and Scott hisself was on the
ground, with dozen men holding him.
1t weren't no use struggling, so he lay
quiet They seemed a bit uncertain
what to do with him at first, but then
one of Alabamas special chums put
them up to it. 'Joe's gone, he said /;
nothing amt surer nor that, an there
lies the man as killed him. Some on
you knows as Joe went on business to
the gulch last night; he never came
back. That ere Britisher passed
through after he'd gone; they'd had a
row, screams is heard 'mong the fytraps.
| say agin he has played poor Joe some
O. his sneakin' tricks, an thrown him
into the swamp. 1t amt no wonder as
the body is gone. But air we to stan
by and see English murderin' our own
chums guess not. Let Judge Lynch
try him, that's what | say Lynch
him 7 shouted hundred angry voices
for all the ragtag and bobtail O. the
settlement was round US by this time.
Here, boys, fetch rope and swing him
up. Up with him over Simpsons door J
See here, though, says another coming
forrards, let's hang him by the great
fytrap in the gulch. Let Joe see as
he'd revenged, if so be as he's buried
bout theer.' There was a shout for
this, an away they went, with Scott
tied on his mustang in the middle, and
mounted guard, with cooked revolvers,
round him; for we knew as there was
score or so Britishers about as didn't
seem to recognize Judge Lynch, and was
dead on free fight"
81 went out with them, my heart
bleedin' for Scott, though he didn't
seem cent put out, he didn't He
we're game to the backbone Seems
kinder queer, sirs. hangin' man to a
fytrap, but our'n were a reg'lar tree,
and the leaves like a brace of boats
with hinge between 'em and thorns
at the bottom"
1--WE passed down the gulch to the
place where the great one grows, and
there we seed it with the leaves, some
open, some shut. But we seed some.
thing worse nor that. Standin' round
the tree was some thirty men, Britishers
all, an armed to the teeth. They was
waitin' for US evidently, an had bust.
ness-like look about 'em, as if they d
come for something and meant to have
it. There was the raw material there
for about as warm scrimmidge as evel
seed. AS we rode up great red
bearded Scotchman-Cameron were his
name-stood out afore the rest, his re-
volver cooked in his hand. See here
boys, he says. you've got no call tt
hurt hair of that mans head. Yor
hain't proved as Joe is dead yet; and
if you had, you hain't proved as Scot
killed him. Anyhow, it were in self
defense for you all know as he was ly
ing III wait for Scott, to shoot him or
sight; SO | say again, you hain't got M
| 20 IL to bnrt tbat man. and what's more