The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-03-10
A SWIM FOR LIFE;

S"Jt ohAAhhSAF ASl - . lAaSktHlAl-
wrong yonder, amt therc?"
Thus spoke a rough-looking miner.
on the outskirts of the cam, to n Mex
lean who was walking hastily past.
The stranger understood Int imperfect
ly the remark addrcss.d TO him. but
replied. Horses stole" and proceeded
on his way, his long spurs jingling at
every step.
The miner looked after him anxious
~, and when he had disappeared down
the hill, turn d towards the saloon. NUT
tering som,thing about horse-thicvcs
and hanging, and strolled. or us lie
would have himself said, 'loafrd" imto
the bar, where an excited assembly was
gathered.
''Wa'ull, they're gone clean away"
cried the owner of tho missing ami
mails; land my bosses nor donkevs
don't stray by nature. There's bin
some thieves around, you betr'
Like enough; but whose the manP
Howsomever. if we ketch him. gentle
men. We'll shoot him fair"
'Givo him a trial. and ropa him
that's the cure" said tic owner. land
now tew business. My treat, gentle
men. Drinks round, and her FL fol-
low the tracks a BIZ, and let you
know
Such an offer was not to be slightcd.
The drinks" having been fully nppre-
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.
was not unusually called, had that very
| r,o-ofn~ talyan h;o LNraoa 20 y,ta,
downstream, and left them in a safe
had been unfortunate in his prospect
ing. He was neither q~uick-witted nor
quick-tempered, though ready enough
with his six-shooter when circumstances
seemed to warrant its use. But for this
trait, soft" Smith would have been
stamped with a strong variation of the
term idiot" Z
He followed the tracks mechanically,
and after about half n mile, finding
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, tbon flooded
with melting SHOWS, no decided 10 re-
turn to the camp and enlist the vigil
ants in his cause. s 99H -
1t has never been correctly ascer-
tanned why demonstrating was thon. and
may DO still. regarded rs q worse crime
than the taking Of human life; but that
his was the case in the West is I'M
doubted. Many a rough digger was
permitted to add to the notches already
tut in the pistol-butt, but a horse-thief
was hunted down and executed sum-
narily. /
Notwithstanding a 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. Tho discussion as to who tho
thief might be was waxing warm when
voice cried:
Reckon some Mexican's had a hand
In this game"
This suggestion was at once adopted,
and Bill, the miner, said:
"Aye, then l can show him. I saw
him on the hill this morning. Did ye
notice any tracksP"
II did," replied Smith, eagerly.
Large boots, and spur marks, too.
That's the MANI
''Wc'll go forhim. Who knows his
placer"
Several present did, and ono man ad-
ded:
Hes a mighty quick shot, you may
depend"
Were mor- of us tan him." was
the answ Oi the leader. He can't
fix us all. Now, gentlemen, we must
proceed regular. Panel II jury, il you
please; but there is no use in wasting
time
Tho jury was quickly chosen. and in
order to avoid unnecessary delay, hors-
es were brought out, and the whole
party rodo through the driving rain and
tempest to the Mexican's hut.
Tho door was burst open, and before
the surprised occupant could use his
weapon hc was seized and bound. and
thrown helpless on the floor. Before
lie was disabled, however, he managed
to seize and retain n small knife, which
he thrust into his sleeve.
To his questions he got but scant re-
plies. The jury were ushered into a
small shed, and told to deliberate. upon
their verdict, after a few questions had
been put 10 the criminal, who protested
his innocence.
Ono bystander, more humane thar
the rest, volunteered to act as prisoners
advocate, and addressed the jury MS 0
matter OF form, for h eknew tho strang.
er's doom was sealed.
After a pause tho jury again retired,
and in a few minutes the self-appointed
Judge. knocking at the door, asked fol
the verdict. To the astonishment Of
the bystanders, tho answer was mo
gully"
A cry of joy escaped the Mexican; ar
exclamation of disappointment wa
vented by Ogden Smith. But the judg'
drew his revolver, and reckoning Il