The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-05

] NT' lblllu ~ IliIlUk sur passed out bl INC
| hands of its finder.
Autumn brought an abrupt explanation of
! the mystery KHnaku Joe had been arrested
| for horse stealing. hut had with noble cundur
| confessed To- the finer offence II manslaughtor.
! That swift and sure justice which overlook the
! horse stcalcr in these attitudes was stayed II
moment and hcsitatcd, for the victim was clearly
| the mysterious unknown. Curiosity got the
better Of an cxtcmporc judge and jury.
' 1t was II fair fight. said the accused not
without some human vanity, feeling that TIN"
camp hung upon his words. and was sctt"dby
the man w was pcartcst and ivccst with his
weapon. We had II sort Of uupcasHntncss
over at Lagrange the night atorc ,long of
our both hcvn' II monotony Of four aces We
had IA clinch and stamp around. and when
we was separated IL was only II question of
shootn' on sight. He left Lagrange at sun up
the nest morning, and struck across a hit q
buckeye and undcrbrush and came upon him.
accidental like. on the Red Chief Road. |
drawod when | sighted him. and called ont.
He Slipped from his mare and covered him
self with her TANKS. reaching for his
holster, but she rarod and backed down
on him across the road and into the grass
where got in another shot and fetched him.
And you stole his mare - suggested the
Judge.
e. got away" said the gambler, simply.
Further questioning only ELECTED the fact
that Joe did not know the name or condition
of his victim. He was Il stranger in Lagrange"
1t was II breezy afternoon with some turbu-
lcncy in the camp. and much windy discussion
over this unwontcd delay of Justice. The sug-
gcstion that Joe should bee first hung for horse
stealing and then tried for murder was angriy
discussed, but mldrr counscls were offered
that the fact Of the killing should be admitted
only as proof Of the theft. large party from
Red Chief had come over to assist in Judgment
among them the Coroner.
Cass Bcard had avoided these proceedings
which only recalled an unpleasant experience
and was wandering with pick, nan and wallet
far from the camp. These arcoutrcmcnts as
l have before minated justified any form Of
aimlcSs idlcncss underline equally amlcss title
Of prospecting" He had at the end of three
hours relaxation reached the highway to Red
Chief, half hidden by binding clouds Of dust
torn from the crumhling red road ut every gust
which swept down the mountain side. The
spot had II familiar aspect 10 Cass. although
some freshly dug holes near the waysdc with
scattered earth beside them. showed the pres
enc" II II recent prospcctor. II" was struggling
with his memory. when the dust was suddenly
dispersed and he found himself again at til"
scene Of the murder He started; he had not
put foot on the road since the inquest. There
lacked only the helpless dead man and the con-
trlst,ng figure Of the alert young woman To re-
store the picture The body was gone. it was
true, hut as h" turned he bchcd Miss Porter Il
few PAGES distant. sitting her horse rs "ncr
g"tc and ob~crNant rs on the first morning
they had mot. suporstitous thrill passed
over him and awokc his old nutaEonism.
She nodded to him slightly. / came here
to refresh my memory she said, as Mr.
liornsby thought might be- asked to give my
evidence again ut Blazing star"
Cass carcceely struck an aimlcss blow with
his pick against the sod and did not rcply.
And you: - she lucr"d.
"Istumhcd upon the place Just now while
prospecting. or shouldn't lee here
Then it was you made these holes ~
NO" said Cass. with il-conccalcd disgust
Nobody but a stranger would go fooln' round
such IA spot"
He stopped as the rude significance Of his
speech struck him and added sur!iIy. Il
moan-no one would dig here
The girl laughed and showed SGT AZ very
white teeth in her square jaw. Cass avcrtcd
his face.
Do you mean to say that every mncrdocsn't
know that it's lucky TO dig wherever human
blood has been split
Cass felt a return Of his superstition, but h."
did not look up, l never heard il before, lie
said severely.
And you call yourself a California mincr?"
Il do"
1t was impossible for Miss Porter to misun-
dcrstaud his curt speech and unsocial manner.
She stared at him and colorcd slightly. Lifting
her renS lightly. sh" said: You certainly do
not seem Ike most Of the miners have met"
" Nor you like any girl from the East l ever
met" he responded.
What do you mean p she asked. checking
her horse.
What say" he answered doGcedly. Rea-
| sonablc as this reply was. it Immediately
struck him that it was scarcely dgniilcd or
manly. But before he could explain himself
Miss Porter Was gone.
He met her again that very evening Tho
| trial had been summarlly suspended 10y the ap-
pcaraurc of the Sheriff Of Caluvcras and his
! posse, who took Joe from that sci-constitutcd
trihuna. Of BLAZING Star and set his face south
ward and toward authoritative although more
cautious Justice But not before the evidence
Of the previous inquest had been read and the
| incident of the ring again delivered to the pub
| lie. Ii is said the prisoner burst into an in
| crcdulous laugh and asked to see this
mysterious waif 1t was handed to
| him. Standing in tho very shadow
Of the ga,lows tree-which might have
been on" Of the pines that sheltered the
| billiard room in which the Vigilance Committee
| held their conclave-the prisoner gave way to
n burst Of merrment, so genuine and honest
| that the judge and jury joined in automatic
| sympathy. When silence was restored an eX-
| PLANTATION was asked by the Judge But there
| was no response from the prisoner except II
! suhducd chuckle
81 Did this ring belong to you ?" asked the
| Judge, severely, the jury and spectators cram
| ing their ears forward with an cNpcctant smile
| already on their faces But the prisoners eyes
only spanked maliciously as he looked around
| the court
Tell us, Joe" said sympathetic and laugh
tor-loyiEg juror under his breath. Let it out
| and We'll make it easy for YOU"
| Prisoner" said tn" Judge, with return Of
official dignity, remember that your life is in
| peril DO you refusei"
zoe la2ily laid his arm on the back Of his
| chair with Ito quote the words Of an animated
Observer the air of having Christian hope