New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-11-03
SAVED BY A LETTER.
i Thrilling Scene in Califor.i. Are,

It occurs to me just here, however,
to depict truthful representation OF
a California arrest, trial, conviction,
appeal and reversal OF verdict, OF
rather s'verdict set aside"
A man who robbed a coach running
| between Stockton and Sonora. con.
cealed the money, all he could carry.
| about his person, sought lodgings not
far away, and in the night had risen,
stolen a horse and struck a bee line
across the country toward a station
where he could get quick Transports
ton to San Francisco, intending to
start for homeby steamer. He belong
ed in Arkansas. In the morning
the horse and rider were missed. A
party started in pursuit and in TWEEN.
ty-four hours mad his horse broken
down and him corraled. He saw his
game was up and coolly waited the re.
suit. The party overhauled him at
early dawn.
"Good mornin' stranger"
"Good mornin'."
"Seen anything of a man about
your size straddle of a sorrel mare
lookin' heap like the one you rider"
"No, / haven't
''That's a purity good mare O.
yourn.'
eyes, she was worth a cool five
hundred, but she is a little winded
now; say, mister I'll giveyou five hun
bred clean boot for that one O. youru
and stop the deal.
He was making q good bluff, and al.
though he knew that he was recog.
nized his offer would we'll pay for the
broken down horse, and he hoped
that his money would save him. He
counted without his host.
'"That's a straight blind O. yourn,
pard and it strains us to come in, but
we're thar, and hold you over. You
looked a little played out as we'll
as the mare If you'll Jest get
down and JOIN our little party it'll
stretch your legs, and mebbe you need
stretching all over"
He blanched a trife, but obeyed in
logged silence. The pursuers all dis
mounted, and the spokesman ap-
preaching, threw over his head a
moose, and passing the other end over
q limb of a tree that overshadowed
them called the other members of the
party around him.
The culprit stood erect; not mus.
| Gle quivered.
"Now pard, is everything all right?
Does it fit your neck according to
Hoyle?"
"All right"
"Have we not anything to say why
this little picnic shouldn't proceed?"
"Nothin'.'
"Have We got any word to leave to
yer friends? If yer have, make it
short, for we've got to break camp in
side err ten minutes"
! The stranger raised his eyes from
the ground for the first time and look
ed his selt-appointed judge and execu-
toner steadilyin the eyefor a moment
then drawing from his pocket a crum-
pied letter, spoke with slight tremor
OF voice:
| perhaps you are a better scholar
than l be. If youth jest read that,
and be kind enough to answer it I'll
tell you what to say"
The executioner had already passed
the coil 1ope to his comrades and
they had drawn it taut. He took
the letter, and as the party stood
around him ready to run up the cul-
prit at the first signal, he opened it
and read aloud:
B, Ark, January 16, IS. Ny dear
| son James: For long weary months have
waited for news from you since your last
| kind letter to your old mother. God bless
you James, ana answer my prayer that
this letter may reach you, thanking you
for your ever thoughtful care OF me in my
old age. l received the money, and it has
| kept me from sore need. But once more
to look into your face and feel that you
were near me would cheer my old heart
more than to possess all the gold in Cali
tornla. When are you coming home? You
promised me in the spring you would come.
back TO me. May God prosper you and re-
turn my dear boy to my arms before die.
| From yourloving mo other.
! He began the letter in a. strong,
| clear voice. but before the closing
words his reading was hardly audible,
and tears stood in the eyes of the
rough strong men who listened breath
lessly to its contents. The rope had
slackened until it dropped from the
! hands of his comrades, and as the
breath of sslorning rustled the leaves
of the trees above them, and Gods
sunlight shimmered down through the
opening DO lghs, melting their hearts to
| pity: the thoughts OF each were busy
! bringing memories of their own boy
| hood days and a mothers loving
prayers. Silence for few minutes,
] then reverently foldingthe soiled bit
OF paper, the reader passed it to it's
owner and without a word slipped the
moose from his neck. In tones as gen.
tie as a mothers he asked: WAS YOU
going home, stranger"
EYES"
"Good-bye."
The stranger dared not trust his
voice in thanks, but drew from his
belt a small bag of twenties and offer
ed it to the leader.
"Hoss.'
..No; take her and-good-bye."
! He mounted the mare and SLOWLY
moved away, while the party watched
him out OF sight, then turned and ST.
| I1v,% lev