Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-02-07

and smiling, but was man of few words.
Cousin Jack added much TO his income BY
trading in hides Ranchmen living at a
distance sold their hides 10 him and Jack
sold them to traders who came around at
certain times in the wear. Harry White was
a partner in the business lie used TO 20
on a sort Of roundup and visit the ranches
all over the country. The cattle Of the
ranchmen roanied in vast herds over the
plans, protected only b. the brand of the
owner. Cattle stealing was frequently
practiced. Offenders in this respect were
shown no mercy. They we're convicted,
tried and executed only in the court of
Judge Lynch never blamed the ranch
men for this il was impossible TO guard the
herds IN the vast area over which they
trayers,d. and the cattle must be protected
in some way. Gil Mead was wealthy
ranchman. who lived abou, ten miles from
US. He owned the largest herd Of cattle on
the plains. They were branded with the
vowels of his name. T.. A., which could be
recognized anywhere lie always shipped
his cattle east TO his brother IN Chicago.
feared the man. lie was tall and gaunt.
with deep-set black eyes and low forehead.
His home was unhappy; his wife cross and
ugly. and his children wild and unruly.
This made him more than commonl, disa-
greeable.
think il IN the fall Of "a that Har-
~ White brought the big load of hides %
Jack Both we're much pleased a, thc bar
gain the, made. Harry gave glowing ac-
counts Of rev customcr-a ranchman
from Chicago. who had taken on an ahan-
doned homestead. He had purchased many
cattle from his cousin, Gil Mead and hoped
to rI,aI h.m IN the number and quality OF
hI, herd. Jack packed the hide, away 10
keep tail December. when We expected the
dealer.
One afternoon. no, long after this, Gli
Mead rode up to the house. looking very
agreeable and pleasant. \ couple Of s,rang
err. also ranchmen. we're With him. They
wanted TO look a, the hides. one of ,hc men
beng trader. Gil sald Jack vas III Den
Yer. 20 lik Nee and went 10 the barn vii.
them. The, looked tie hides over care
fully, and con,cr>e1 ia lna tones. Gil with
a suppressed oath Finally the, thanked
"a, cour'eousi, Aul took their leave
Hump no gnodec. ,A,l lIk krc. buf
hr wouldn't Say ANY more.
u ) O'clock that evening. when We were
a; supper. a crowG of twca,l five uf thirty
men rode up on hor,eback Jack came out
and n.ri them. inviting them iu To take sup
per. Iu h.- genrfou>. hoNp.thb.c way. They
wanted han 70 20 20 Denver with ih~tn.
There vas - hc mrci.u-: there uf import
aucc - ranChmeu The meeting would hc
AZ .. Tie, HID trough. with them an extra
hpt.e for jack MARY looked around far
lIA kec 10 help her. hut he had myst-rinu.-
h disappeared | family remembered scr-
n. III, bite, horr.dei face pecrins around
The barn at the horses noted the visitors
ate little The food seemed ,och,>c them
: me d! them watched Mar, and :te bah,
in a queer sor, # way Nten JACK. wa.
h., custom. Kissed hl> vi. and babies good
h,c. ON. Of the visitors. an o.d.sh man.
cough,d husA.I,. and >ati. "B,r.' # ! k.G
stan this The, all rode II JACK tLc
mclrlest 4 Ill., waving h,, hat tiil hr va.
out of .ish'.
Mhcu We were clearing up the Inu,llI
quantity al Gi>he.. Nik kce appeared IL fLr
rnl window aud br,kcn,l me. ! fl!lpactI
h'm but Ted Ma, VITA hlm. jchinI fhr
Iaru we're tile three horse, >ldI.r! SHtp
wa, With them. released from confinement
y acrc DE- had by,n secured from following
b., master.
"Foler en-" said Ted, 90 an c>c.icI wht,-
per. Nh, afraid tDr,tc uu 70 ,"al,-
thing.
~Wnat IT. YIN" said, ,,,Fri,. NO
;oo.lu: nov
For answer he twisted ms long pjg,aa
around hi, neck, tying II under hi- irfl sir
r a s.su.tican, manner
e.. hmm h,. tgt,rsr,i sft.tlyr tpx
"Oh. Mars. ,ohhet, remembering G.i
Mcll', ,.,tr And HI, strange actions. and
liul, seeing y Hat lik kcc meant II mu>t
lei, Mar,. >aic. wildly
Hump. no. ,4i! liA kre. Melee ,!ek.
and he closed NJ, ewes ~ a d.c.aNa, ,nr' NJ
manner 60 now too .a'cr.
We mounted.
.'Mother'l. think were gone 10 ride.
sad led a. We galiopei uScI the plains.
He va, death.v pale poor !Itil. fellow. bu,
be- ,at cree, aud firm. | saw b., father,
b.g Colts revolver sticking out IL hI> pulA
Ct lie wa, 4 determined boy. Even ~
N, despair. IN my ~.I hope lhAt Cuu!l
cling ID him. ana that tLcN would haze NJ
xiii me- first conid MT hr.p smiling AZ the
comicai figure l!k hee presented ua horse
back. III, loose garments lApprd III thr
Wind, M, .oEs yigt4ii tiyn uut behind. Anu
he hphhed up and dowu Ike kernel NJ
corn IN corn-hopper
Il was soft. warm n!shi. lighted only hy
the pale Noung moon aud thr lNlnkliug
stars We rode a. last a. our horse, could
gal.u,,. Shep Was close at our heels. W al
ahead. when We reached the top q. little
hill We saw the crowd OF hor>rmen. They
were riding toward Denver We gailoped
7 ath renewed zeal The, turned into /
cross road leading 70 Mead, ranch o.
thl, road Va, bridge o,e: Dry Gulch
which Was IN the spring roaring torrent
4 Bey ond the bridge. across the fields. Vas ID,
( ha,-stack Of Mead. where Vas stored .ut
| ticient to feed hi dom, ,,ic cattle through
the winter. We at last reached the turn il
the road. They were three miles in al
vance, riding rapidly. Ilk kee stopped a
the turn. Hump Can't catchee. Hange,
at bridge You soee," He turned his hors,
and sped across the field. deserting u
basel,.
We rode on. Ted and |. He was pal,
and still my cheeks were burning. W.
neared the bridge. The high mound b
earth before US hid Us from sight. W,
stopped our horses and listened. The mel
had lighted torches some we're preparing
rough galows under the bridge two wer,
uncoiling rope some held the horses Of th
Others beyond the bridge. The me-
were masked now, and could zee BY th
lighted torches that their number was N
creased Jack was very white and .ad, bu
he showed no fear
81 am innocent, gentlemen" he said
slowly, "hut | refuse to tell you Of whom
bought the hides"
understood him. Could Harry White b
a cattle thief? felt as if ! were goin
mad.
what shall We do?" whispered Ted
cooking his revolver
Suddenly bright red light illuminate
the heavens, followed By clouds Of blac
smoke and queer cracking noise. A vel
from the men-Gil Mead's voice above tn
rest. The hay-stack was on fire. II SCENE
to me in the glare around it that | could Sc
a foreign-looking human being vanishing
across the plain.
The men mounted their horses, Gil Mea
at the head, and set off across the fields at
mad gallop. They must save the stack
They left Jack, bound hand and foot. an
guarded by one man.
Shep. the wonderful dog, had kept By Il
until now, sinking in the dark shadow,
Now, gliding sideways and still, he reaches
4 4