The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-01-07
A SWIM FOR LIFE;
Western Episode.

y the remark addressed TO him, but
replied. "Horses STOLE" and proceeded
on his way, his long spurs jingling at
every step.
The miner looked after him anxious
y, and when he had disappeared down
the hill, turned towards the saloon, NUT
tering something about horse-thieves
and hanging, aud strolled, or ms he
would have himself said, 'loafedn into
the bar, where an excited assembly was
gathered.
"Wa'all, they're gone clean away"
cried the owner of the missing ami
mails; "and my bosses nor donkevs
don't stray by nature. There's bin
some thieves around, you bet'
Like enough; but whose the manp
Howsomever, if We ketch him, gentle
men, wen shoot him fair.n
Give him trial, and rope him
that's the cure" said the owner. "And
now tew business. My treat, gentle
men. Drinks round, and then I'll fol-
low the tracks bit, and let you
know"
The drinks" having been fully appre-
ciated by all present, at the expense OF
their health and brains, the owner of
the missing beasts departed TO follow
the trail, which led towards the canon
up the river.
Ogden Smith, or Soft" Smith, as he
was not unusually called, had that very
morning taken mis- horses to water
downstream, and left them in a safe
place pending their disposal. Ogden
had been unfortunate IN his prospect
ing. He was neither quick-witted nor
quick-tempeled, though ready enough
with his six-shooter when circumstances
seemed TO warrant its use. But Tor this
trait, Soft Smith would have been
stamped with strong variation of the
term idiot"
He followed the tracks mechanically,
and after about half a mile, inding
they still led up towards the hills, he
returned; and as he strobe back, breath
Ing vengeance against his spoilers, he
noticed human footprints on the far
Their side of the trail--heavy boot and
spur marks. He felt inclined to track
these again, but knowing the trail
would lead to the river, then flooded
with melting SHOWS, he decided TO re-
turn to the camp and enlist the vigil
ants in his cause.
1t has never been correctly ascer-
tanned why DEMONSTRATING was then, and
may be still, regarded as a worse crime
than the taking OF human life; but that
this was the case in the West is un-
doubted. Many a rough digger was
permitted to add TO the notches already
cut in the pistol-butt, but a horse-thief
was hunted down and executed sum
marily.
Notwithstanding gathering storm,
the men in the saloon, as soon as they
heard Ogden Smiths report, deter
mined to do vengeance on the criminal.
The sufferer, meantime, met with much
sympathy, and dust (gold-dust,
which passed for currency was freely
shaken into Ogden's hat in the bar
room. The discussion as to who the
thief might be was waxing warm when
a voice cried:
'Reckon some MeXican's had hand
in this game"
This suggestion was at once adopted,
and Bill, the miner, said;
aye then ! can show him. saw
him on the hill this morning Did ye
notice any tracks?"
81 did" replied Smith, eagerly.
Large boots, and spur marks, too.
That the maup'
wen 90 for him. Who knows his
placer
Several present did, and one man adj
dcd
Hes a mighty quick shot, you may
depend
We're more Of us than him." was
the answer OF the leader "He can't
fix us ALL Now, gentlemen, we must
proceed reg lar. Panel jury, if you
please; but there is no use in wasting
| time"
The jury was quickly chosen, and in
order to avoid unnecessary delay, hors-
es were brought out, and the whole
party rode through the driving rain and
tempest to the Mcxican's hut
The door was burst open, and before
the surprised occupant could use his
weapon he was seized and bound. and
thrown helpless on the ilDr, Before
he was disabled, however. hc managed
TO seize and retain a smgll knife, which
he thrust into his sleeve.
To bis questions he got but scant re-
plies. The jury were ushered into q
small she'd and told TO deliberate upon
their verdict, after few questions had
been put 10 the criminal, who protested
his innocence.
One bystander, more humane than
the rest, volunteered TO act as prisoner
advocate, and addressed the jury as Q
matter Of form, for he knew the strang.
cr'S doom was sealed.
After pause the jury again retired,
and in a few minutes the scf-app0inted
judge, knocking at the door, asked foI
the verdict TO the astonishmont OF
the bystanders, the answer was "NoI
guiHH"
A cry of joy escaped tho Mexican; an
exclamation Of disappointment was
vented by Ogden Smith But tho judge
drew his revolver, and reckoning tc
the committee, replied calmly;
Gentlemen, you'll have TO do better
than TINT Try apain: and this time