The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-06-27

from the trap into which had fallen, for
/ fully realized the peril of my situation.
Once thought would deny my identity,
best story could for the occasion. But,
fortunately for me, finally concluded
that, as I had done nothing criminal,
would tell a straightforward story and
abide the consequences.
Accordingly / told them my name, and
also Just when and where and how / got
the horse. That was really what saved
effect.
ayes; just so, just so,' observed the
spokesman, dryly, when had finished my
story. And then turning to the crowd of
sturdy backwoodsmen that surrounded me,
he said:
story. What's your opinion of it?'
It's a lie! liev roared the crowd,
fiercely.
"'Well, then, what shall we do with
himY came next.
"Hang himn String him up.' Stretch
his neck for him!' These and other excla-
nations of a similar reassuring nature
were the quick and unanimous responses
which that question elected.
81 scanned the stern and resolute faces
of the men around me, but they were cold
and pitiless. 1t was too clear a case. There
wasn't a shadow of doubt about my guilt,
as they viewed the matter, and knew they
meant exactly what they said. These men,
you must remember, were not desperadoes,
but honest, Woodworking farmers; and, as
| a rule, peaceable and law abiding citizens.
| But they had suffered often in this way be-
| fore; and just as often as the law had failed
to protect their property, just so often had
| it failed to punish the thieves who robbed
| them.
| their man--as they thought-and had de-
| termined to take the law into their own
hands. But had hardly a minute to think
before the spokesman addressed me again.
"'Young man, said he, you've heard
our decision. If you have any prepare
ton to make, be about it, for you have only
| ten minutes to livev and he took out his
watch and noted the time.
"What did do? l didn't do anything
only think. What else could l do? If you
want to know how felt, can't tell you.
If you have never stood face to face with
the grim monster, as did then, you can't
imagine it, either. tell you, have been
one close call since then, but never any
thing that took the stiffening so completely
out of me as that did.
~ was limp as a rag. You may think
what you please-call me cowardly and
unmanly, if you will-but was thoroughly
| frightened. / opened my mouth and tried
| to speak, but the words died in my throat.
grew sick and dizzy, and l solemnly be-
| lieve l should have tainted dead away be-
| fore the ten minutes were up, if there had
not appeared upon the scene. in the mean
time. an unexpected deliverer.
"He was a rough-looking old fellow, but
| / could easily overlook that in considera-
ton of the service he rendered me. he
| lived near by, and. as / afterwards learned,
was well acquainted with most of my
would-be executioners. Joining the crowd
| just in time to hear me tell my name and
| my story, he had, up to this time, remained
a silent spectator; but now he elbowed his
! way to the center of the crowd and said to
me:
"sYer name is Thomas Watson, is it?'
"sYes, SIR said l, for there was some
thing in his manner that gave me hope and
revived me wonderfully.
"'What's yer fathers name?' was the
next question.
"Abraham Watson replied.
"'I thought so. l most knowed it, said
he. But did We ever hear the old man
speak o. Bill Price!'
ayes said 1. Il have heard him tell OF
saving the life of a man by that name,
while rafting logs on the Allegheny River.
"'That's 'nough! that man was mev ex-
claimed the old fellow, sententiously. AN
now, Thomas, reckon I'll never git bet
| bcT CudliCc W SqudIc up tudb dCCOult
right now, fur see you're in a mighty bad
perdicament, mighty bad.
can now, neighbors,' he said, turning
to the astonished and impatient crowd, 'I'n
sorry to disappint we, but I'll hev to do it
this time. Ye mustn't hang that boy
I've knowed his father ever sence l kin
remember-lived right 1ongside of him
half my life-an' never yet knowed him
to be guilty of a mean trick, an it don't
STAN to reason that he'd bring up his boys
to be hoss-thieves and liars, does it now?
l tell We the boys innocent! an we might
jest as well put away that rope, Neighbor
Harris, fur we won't git to use it to-day.
"'Now, I'll tell ye,' he continued, de-
cisively, Pm goin' to take the boy right
over to my house an keep him thar till to-
morrer noon. It's an easy matter fur you
to find out whether his story's true or not
Go back an see. IL tits, know We don't
want to hang him. If faint, why, then, III
turn him over to the officers of the law
but We can't hev him to hang nohow, an
that's the end on'tv -s,s.F-. n.f
"With that the old man paused and faced
the crowd, coolly and defiantly. But there
was no demonstration, other than suller
looks and few muttered imprecations.
believe most of his hearers had been con-
WINGED of my innocence, and were heartily
glad of the old mans interference. AT
any rate they allowed me to walk off home
/
then. suppose they stopped and verified
my statements as they returned; at al
events they troubled me no more, though
the old man kept me with him till the
next day noon, as he had said he would.
"There is but little more to tell. 1t wal
useless to think of buying another horse
for had not money enough; and, beside.
that, my overweening self-confidence was
all gone. For the first time in my life
realized that l was not as wise as might
be.
"There was only one thing left for me tt
do-go home and make clean breast of it
did SO; but o, how mortified and humil-
lated felt!
However, lived through it, and hav,
since come to the conclusion that the ex
perience was worth to me all 1t cost my
father; for learned that it isn't Away,
best to take advantage of another man..
necessity, and also, the Importance of ad
herring strictly to the truth at all times anc
under all circumstances.
"What did we do for team? o, w,
found a chance to buy a horse near home
One of neighbor Gordon's brothers hat
moved in from the East while was gone
bringing with him three horses, and father
I