Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-15

shall not take you 70 jail, MK-
Plummer, but when / return to Little
Rock, shall he compelled 70 make :
truthful report
'sEf you want in my house I'd hang
you"
He gIared at me.
sfYou are fine man. You come up
here, maxim me believe that you cir 4
gentleman. Now you show that you air
3 wolf.
duty
ssBut man ken discharge his duty
without bein' . scoundrell"
Look herel Don't be 50 abusive in
your remarks.a
The little old fellow laughed. 81 am
in my own house, said he.
'sAnd am in house built of govern
ment logs said /.
.Isemme tell you something. fl for
this here union. / toated dag whar q
good many men was afeerd 10 60, and |
don't want no man to come around an
say that my house belongs to the gov
er'ment. So, when you 60 back TO
town you air goin' to tell them fellers
that old Pete oughter be put in Jail, air
your
Il shall offer no suggestions. shall
only make q report. The officials, who
are generally pretty well informed, may
take such action as they choose.
Some people mout call you brave, /"
said he, ''but call you fool"
why soi'
. Cause nobody but fool would
come up here like you've done.
my dear sir, could have been dis
honest with you and could have gone
home without telling you my business
The old fellow laughed again. LET
me tell you something. Us felIers amt
such fools as you think we air. We've
got a man in Little Rock that knows all
about the revenue business. Jest about
the time you get ready to start up here
made my Engagements to meet you. 1t
was our plan that you should come to
my house. Haw, haw. Comein boysp'
he called.
Several men, as rough men as have
ever seen, entered the room. Each man
carried gun. sprang to my feet and
drew my pistol. A powerful fellow
grabbed my arm.
''Put up your pop, bub,n said he,
taking my weapon. ''Set down thar"
forcing me on to q bench.
Hes very nice lookin' chap, Jack, I"
said old Pete, addressing the man who
had taken my pistol.
''Yas, young rooster, sort o. spring
chicken. Lige, did you fetch the
rope9"
"Got her right here. "
'Young teller, said old Pete. what
have you got to say fur yourselfan
No use in denying it, was scared. /
am not brave man. had, with rea-
sonable courage, fought Indians on the
plains, but to be hungl It was awful.
What have you got sayG" repeated
old Pete.
"This is an outraged exclaimed.
ssFellers, said Jack, 'she's gettin' a
little.too active. Reckon we'd better tie
him.
They tied me. 1t was useless to
struggle.
''Set him up agin' the wall, Jack, said
old Pete. ''Now, I'll get the jug an Wen
commence to enjoy ourselves. We amt
hung Teller sence we strung up that old
chap what come pokin' roun' some time
USOs OOOA OAN ACttCt9 JOO.
One of the men threw the rope over q
beam. The awful cord dangled before
me. With admiration we read of men
who have faced death on the field Of
battle, of men who have risked their
lives to save the lives of others, but can
any of US admire the poor wretch who,
elyly entrapped, is stranglcd to death in
the wilderness2 / gave to each face an
eager look, but on no countenance could
/ see light of pity"
s'Gentlemen. said /, fare you going
to murder me2'
The house shook with an uproarious
laugh. The jug was passed from one to
another
Probably YOU do not realize that /
am representing the government of the
United States. If you hang me, GER
tain death awaits you all. You cannot
60 so far. you cannot find place so re-
mote
That's all right, said Jack. tWe
know all about jestice an the United
Sites We've been in both sections of
the country, haw, haw"
Gentlemen, / have done you no
harm.
s'Sorter like the ole song o. the rag
man that said to the bagman--won do
you no harm, /" replied old Pete. ''Oh,
you amt done as no harm, an we don't
low that you shall. Bows, tell you what
well do. Well lay down an take nap.
When we wake up, we'll tend to the
gentleman. Hand over the Jug"
In despair looked upon the men who
lay on the floor. That they would hang
me had not doubt. The jug had pro-
longed my life but could not save it. l
had never been very religious. had never
been known as man who turned fire.
quently to the efficacy of prayer, but in
imagination claspinR my hands, could
not clasp them in fact-I poured forth a
prayer that would have done credit to
a revivalist I don't know how long
the men had slept. probably three hours,
perhaps not more than three minutes,
when one OF them turned over and
looked &C me. His face did not ap-