The Mineral argus., 1885-07-09

wild piumS WHICH sne H1u 8atuereu.
We par took bountifullv. But once, Is
we sat eating. noticed that q slight
noise outside the cabin, made by one Of
my mules, caused my host to start uneas-
lily, and that he went hastily to the
door for look about
As soon as We had fairly finished eat
ing, he observed to me, confidentially,
that he hal promised "Alaggy" (the
squaw) to set her on her way to her
folks" that evening, she being DESTROYS
of returning to her tribe; and he asked
me il l would mind sitting by" in the
shanty. to look out for things, for an
hour and half, possibly, while he start
ell the Indian woman on her way.
Such request, involving no service
or trouble on my part, WAS not easily
refused to man who had Just furnished
me with good dinner. l assented.
made myself comfortable before the fire
in the shanty, for the night was rather
chilly; and Immediately Fairbanks, &C.
companied by the squaw, set of on foot.
An hour passed, perhaps more; night
had fallen, and il was quite dark out
side, the moon not having risen yet.
had hitched up my mules to tree ont
side. when my ear caught the gallop OF
horses feet coming momentarily nearer,
evidently o numerous party. "It's FAR
banks friends" l thought to myself.
getting up and walking to the open
door.
There, by the wavering reflections
cast out from the wOod-fire in the fire.
place inside, saw ten or eleven men on
horseback facing me, each with revolt
yer pointed straight at my head.
"Throw up your hands" cried o stern
voice from behind one of the pistols.
obeyed instinctively, resistance was
out of the question; had, I concluded,
fallen into the clutches Of road.agents.
"we've unpleasant business with you
my friend" the leader continued. "You
probably know what's coming-since
you've paid no heed to our warning;"
and he pointed to the placard on the
tree by the shanty.
l utterly failed to understand, or
gain so much as hint Of their mean.
ing. Even a. the leader spoke, they
ali spranz of their horses, which two Of
their number took to hold; two others,
stepping determinedly forward, seized
me by my appraised arms. one ON each
side, while the fifth, whipping lariat
from beneath his coat, threw moose
over my head which drew rather un-
comfortably tight and held so.
Inow saw that it was case OF pro-
spective lynching, and that I was prob
ably mistaken for some other man
Fairbanks, most likely. Immediately
and most vigorousl y demonstrated with
them.
"Whom do you take me for?" ex-
claimed Ii great heat. "What are
you hanging me for ?" etc.
''Forwardv the leader ordered; and
in the midst of my remonstrant out
cries, I was forced along, ont through
the willows TO the trail and thence on
ward TO crag beside 10, where two CO.
dars grew, overhanging the path below.
Ny shouts, my frantic denials Of hav.
ing been guilty Of any crime, anil my
vehement assertions that my name was
not Fairbanks, made not the least i'm
preston ON my captors, and were re-
ceived with nothing more than an in.
credulous laugh.
The leader now spoke again. "Al
Fairbanks, alias Henry Dothan, alias
OuhLleS OompOcAs uc Soiu SAo"iys sus-
placably, 1--WE know all about you. Mon
tana's no further use for We. We gave
YOU fair chance; and If You had been
disposed to be q decent man, none of
your old record would have been dug up,
though you were double-dyed criminal
when you came here. You robbed
sluices at Deadwood and Silver Gulch.
We knew all about ye when ye first
came here. But We gave you chance
for yourself. You would 60 on the old
road though. Last week you broke in
to camp at Bannock; and not a month
ago, you shot and robbed q miner not
two miles from here. Fact, we've let
you run altogether too long. II you've
any remarks to make, we'll listen-two
minutes"
Again protested that was not the
man, that my name was Stuart, that
had but Just arrived at Fairbanks cabin
and for o moment or two I hoped that
my frantic asseverations had produced
some effect. The leader tool lantern
which one Of the party carried and held
it close to my face. They looked at me
searchingly.
"This is Fairbanks fast enough I" one
said; the others agreed with him.
Don't waste your breath in use
less lies about yourself" said the leader
of the committee.
l thought Of home, and of my sister
the only living relative whom ! now
had. "If you will murder me" I ex.
claimed, "send my watch and my pock.
et-book to my sister. Miss 7. r. s..
Pennsylvania"
"Give that address again, please,
said the leader, taking out Notebook
and pencil. / repeated it and he wrote