Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-11-03

first glance told Mr.. Armstrong they were
in deadly earnest, and his heart sank. ii
''Now, see here, men, cried he, AS lac
stopped the mare and stood up in the
blackboard, his voice trembling with cXS
citemcnt, ''you arc not going to hang that
boy:"
"You arc mistaken, Armstrong, for We
arc going to do just that" Was the deter
mined reply OF the leader, who stood on
one side of Ned and supported him, half
dead with terror already.
/ ''Save me, Jack"' he cried, raising his
arms with IN imploring gesturc-''save
me, for Ncllic's sakc"' :.
Mr.. Armstrong; sunburnt face tnrncda
, shade palcr, and he maze a movement Ia
get ont of the blackboard, then he stopped
/ and spoke ncrvOusly. =.
| "Now, boys, don't be so rash-take a
moments thought. You know hc must
! have been out of his senses when he did
! it, and he's not sober yet. Don't for
! heavens sake, turn him on In this hurried
way. Give him at least square deal and
a fair trial. I see" he added, pausins
and glancing at the crowd, "some here
who might, under the same influence, 10
the same thing tomorrow. For boys, he
| said, his voice shaking, ''we all know how
whisky will get the best of ~ at times, So
let me implore you not to be SO hasty. |
don't ask you to let him 20, but give him
! time and fair trial, and don't murder him
! in this way, for is nothing more nor less
| than murder" ..I
| Here Mr.. Armstrong paused for breath
! and the crowd kept silent, more impressed
by the carncStncss Of his manner than the
cloquence of his hurried words.. ..es,aF
"You all know" he continued, chow L
! nurscd him when lie was down with noun
tain fever, and how staked him when he
got we'll, and he's been my partner ever
! since and III be blamed if I'm going To
see him murdered without fight! Bnt,
boys, more than this, he's got sistcr--7an
only sistcr-coming on the coach this very
evening, and you know it viii be rough
| on her to know that he Is dcad-and such
adeath. 6,st think of that, boys, his only
| sister, who has been looking anxiously To
meeting him for months ., ... gt
Here Mr.. Armstrong; feelings over
| powered him and he broke of abruptly.
! The men looked in each Others faces in
| an undecided way, more, II must be said,
in sympathy for the feelings Of the owner
of the Pinta mare than in pity for the eul-
! prit. ...... l.f.i a. ,
Then yoicc-thc voice of the murdered
mans partner, who felt called npon to see
| his death avcngcd-sang out: ...
"Sam Golden's got wife and wochil--
drcn in the States a-looking for him"
Mr.. Armstrong glared at the speaker,
and the crowd turned again to their pris-
oner with their purpose renewed. .......
ats no use, Mr.. Armstrong;" quietly
said the first who had spoken, holding fast
toNcd'sarm. "You know yourself there's
been too much of this drinking and shoot
ing around this camp, and it's got to be
! stopped. It's clear case against yonr
pard. and hc might as well hang first as
last. and serve MS n warming 10 others. We
arc sorry on your account and wanted to
get the Job over before You could get here,
for we had an idea you might make trouble. ?
But I say again 10 is OF no use for We havo
| gone too far to weaken"
Mr.. Armstrong gazcd NJ the speaker
with flashing eyes, and reached lack for
his six-shooter, but an instant's thought
told him il was madness to resist somany.
-"well,n he said, quietly enough, ''lf it
must be, it must; but ~ ] am tho only
friend he's got, let me speak few words
with him and hear any message no may
have for his sister. You can't object to
that ?" '-e'r io il"F ''i i<''
-"Certainly not" was tho reply, and the
crowd fell back. 20 '". ~ II'' q .-+''
Then Mr.. Armstrong descended from
the blackboard. and laid his hand on Ne'l's
shoulder, and spoke few words In n low
tone; ;thcn, quick rs fash he caught him
around the waistwith the other land, and
, flung him on tho buckboard with tho case
Of giant. go '-'Fai''
"Whoop! Go IL, Pinta. Git" yelled
Mr.. Armstrong, all afame with excite
ment, and the little mare sprann forward
like as If she were passing under The string
A shout arose from the crowd, and n
scattering fusilade, and when the smoke
cleared away the little mare, the buck
board and the prisoner had Disappeared,
but Mr. Ar mstrong lay strctcledupon tho
ground.
At this unexpected result the versatile
feelings of the crowd all turned To SYM
pathy for the fallen man, aud no attempt
was made TO pursue the fugitive. Strong
and willing hands lifted him up and bore
him quietly and gently to the house where
preparations had been made 10 welcome
Nellie. ,-
When Mr.. Armstrong recovered con-
sciousncss the brown eyes that In fancy
had for So long peered into his hc',ff, looked
anxiousIy down IN his own, alisit their
brightness was somewhat dirnmcd, and
the sweetest voice in all the world said:
"Oh, Mr. Armstrong, know alr How
can ever thank you for what yOnaid for
him.' 'i9
"oh," said Mr. Armstrong ina very
feeble voice, takfik her hand IN his hfsi
lanSuid brown ohc, 'ft wasn't for him. IL
was for you'll ~ iAs -svysdE 7sysx
s ts1ri-s rs3a$ $uYgl +iaasil
Nothing was ever heard of tho fugitive
but the Pinta mare strayed into camp n