Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-24

6tfuCluI6 - NOCnh 40 sea e-@e-t \
midnight. Once or twice he had tancled
be heard the tramp OF horse-hoots on the
far.off trail, and now it seemed to approach
nearer, mingled with the sound OF voices.
Gideon raised his head and looked through
the doorway of the loft. BE was not mis-
taken; two men had halted in the road be.
fore the house, and were examining 1t as II
uncertain If it were the dwelling they were
seeking, and were hesitating if they should
rouse The inmates. Thinking he might
snare the widow this disturbance to her
siumbers and possibly some ALARM ne rose
quickly, and, descending to the enclosure
walked toward the house. AS ne ap-
prosched, the men advanced to meet hlm,
and BY accident or design ranged themselves
on either side. A glance showed him they
we're strangers to the locality.
"Were lookin' for the preacher that lives
here" said one who seemed to be the elder.
"A man by the name o Killer, | reckonE y,
"Brother Hiler has been dead two years,
responded Gideon. His widow ana chill
dren live Eere." M,
The two men looked at each other. The
Younger one laughed; the elder mumoied
someI hing about its being three years ago,
and then turning to Gideon, said;
"PF'aPs you're preacher
II am" ~,
"Can you come to dying MANI
II will"
The two men again looked at each other.
But" continued Gideon softly, you II
please keep quiet so as not to disturb the
widow and her children while l get ny
horse" He turned away; the younger man
made a movement as if TO stop him, but the
elder quickly restrained his hand. He
isn't goin' to run away" he whispered
Look" he added, as Gideon moment later
reappeared mounted and equipped.
S"Do you think we'll be In timer asked
the young preacher as they rode quickly
away in The direction OF the tules.
The younger repressed laugh the other
answered grizzly, 81 reckon"
And is he conscious OF his dangerT
IL reckon"
Gideon did not speak again. Bat as the
onus of that silence seemed to rest upon the
other two the last speaker, after few
moments silent and rapid riding, continued
abruptly, "You don't seem curiousY =.
"Of what2' said Gideon, lifting his soft
eyes to the speaker. you tell me Of a
brother at the point of death who seeks the
Lord through an humble vessel like my
self. He will tell me the rest.
A silence still more constrained on the
part of the two strangers followed, which
they endeavored to escape from by furious
riding; so that in halt an hour the party had
reached a point where the tules began to
sap the aird plain, while beyond them
broadened the lagoons of the distant river:
In the foreground, near clump Of dwarted
willows, campfire was burning, around
which fifteen or twenty armed men were
collected, their horses picketed IN an outer
circle guarded by two mounted sentries a
LASTED cottonwood with single black arm
-xtended over the tules stood omlnously
gsinst the dark sky.
The circle opened to receive them and
closed sgaip. The elder man dismounted
nd, leading Gideon to the blasted cotton
wood, pointed to a pinioned man seated at
foot with all armed guard over him. he
looked up at Gideon with an amused smile.
You said it was dying man, said Gid
on recoiliug. :,
He will be dead man in half an hour,"
returned the stranger.
And you|
1--WE are the Vigilantes from Alamo. This
man." pointing to the prisoner, lis gam
bier who killed a man yesterday. We
hunted him here, tried him an hour ago
and found him guilty. The last man we
hung here, three years ago, asked for par
son. We brought him, the man who used to
live where we found you. So we thought
we'd give this man the same show and
brought you"
And if refuse?" said Gideon.
The leader shrugged his shoulders.
That's his lookout, not ours. We've given
him the chance. Drive ahead boys, ne
sdded, turning to the others; the parson
allows he won't take hand.
Zone moment" cried Gideon in deSpera,
lion, lone moment for the sake of that God
YOU have brought me here to invoke in be-
half of this wretched man. One moment
tor the sake Of Him in whose presence you
must stand one day as he does now" With
passionate earnestness he pointed out the
vindictive impulse they were mistaking for
divine Justice; with pathetic fervency ne
fell upon his knees and implored their mercy
for the culprit But in vain. AS at the
camp-meeting of the day before, he was
chilled to find his words seemed to fall on
unheeding and unsympathetic faces; 10
their gloomy savage enthusiasm for explr
atory sacrifice, he was Mortified to find the
same unreasouing exaltation that had
checked his exhortations then. Only one
face looked upon his, halt mischievously
half compsssionately. 1t was the priS
oners.
Yer wastin' time on us" said the leader
dryly; "wastin' his time. Hadn't you bet
ter talk to himY
Gideon rose to his feet, pale and cold
He may have something to confess. May
speak with him alone?" he said gently.
The leader motioned to the sentry to fall
back. Gideon placed himself before the
prisoner so that in the faint light Of tbs
rapp-fre the mans figure was partly hid
Den By bis own. You meant we'll with
,our little bluff. pardner," said the prisoner
"ot unkindly, bat they've got the cards tc
win"
"Kneel down with your back to me,
said Gideon in low voice. The prisoner
iell on his knees. At the same time he fell
Gideon's hand and the gliding OF steel be
hind his back, and the severed cords hung
loosely on his arms and legs.
When lift my voice to God, brother,
said Gideon, softly, drop on your face auC
crawl as far as you can in straight line
in my shadow, then break for the tules
will stand between you and their first fire.
Are you mad?" said the prisoner. ID
you think they won't fire lest they shoulC
hurt you? Man! they'll killed you the frs
thing"
$50 be tiff your chance be better"
Still on his knees, the man grasped Gid
cons two hands in his and devoured hin
with his eyes.
"You mean it?
IL do"
Then" said the prisoner quietly, "I
reckon I'll stop and hear what you've 60
to cay about God until they're ready"
You refuse to fy|