The Sunday herald., 1886-11-07
SAVED AT THE Last MOMENT.
Tho letter Brought Hack Dear Dream
nnsl flsn I'm lnrll Was ErCHI.

tho tsettcr brOUEut BHCH UeNt
an0 the Cuiprtt was Frccd.
tBosion Commercial Bulle,n.l
man had robbed coach running he.
tween Stockton and Sonora, concealed 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
bee line across the country toward sta
tion where he could get quick transporta-
ton to San Francisco, intending To start for
home by steamer. He belonged to Arkan.
sas. In the morning the horse aud rider
we're missed. A party started in pursuit,
and In twenty-four hours had his horse broken
down and him corraled. He saw his game
was up, aud coolly waited the result. The
party overhauled him at early dawn!
"Good mornin', stranger."
"Good mornin'."
"Seen anything of a man about your size
straddle of sorrsl mare lookin' heap like
the one you ride ~
"No. haven't"
"That's pretty good mare o. yourn."
Eyes, she was worth cool $500, but she
Is a little winded now; say, mister, I'll give
you $500 clean boot for that one o. yourn
and stop the deal"
lie was making good bluff. and although
he knew that he was recognized, 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.
"Thats straight blind o. yourn, pard,
and II strains us to come IN, but we're thar
and hold you over. You look little played
out as we'll as the mare. II you'll jest git
down and join our little party it'll stretch
your legs, and mebbe You need stretchin'
all over"
He blauched trihe, but obeyed in dog
ged silence. The pursuers all dismounted,
and the spokesman, approaching, threw over
his head a moose, and, passing the other end
of the rope over limb of tree that over.
shadowed them, called the other members
of the party around him.
The culprit stood erect; not a muscle
quivered.
"Now, pard, ia everything all righta Does
It At your neck acco,din' to Hoyle f''
can right"
"Have ye got anything to sav why this
little picnic shouldn't proceed 2"
"Nothin'."
"Eave ye got any word to leave to yer
friends9 II yer have make il short, fol
we've got ter break camp inside er ten min
utes."
Then the stranger lifted his eyes from the
ground for the first time and looked his
self-appointed Judge and executioner steadily
in the eye for q moment; then, drawing
from his pocket crumpled letter, spoke
} with slight trsmor of voice:
"Perhaps you are better scholar thar
be. II You'll Just read that. and be kind
enough to answer it, I'll tell you what t.
; say"
The executioner had already passed til,
, coil of rope TO his comrades and they hat
drawn it taut. He took the letter, and, a;
the party stood around him ready to run NJ
the culprit at the first signal, he opened /
, aud read aloud:
b, Ark, Jan. 10, ls-.
MY DEAR Son JAMES: For long, weary months
have waited for news from You since your last KIM
letter to your old mother. God bless you, James
: and answer my prayer that this letter may reac
you, thanking you for yonr ever-thouRhtful cnre o
me In my old age. received the money, and 1t ha
kept me from sore need. But once more to loo
cheer my old heart than to possess all the gol
;, In California When are you coming home? Yo
promised me in the spring You would come hack I
4 me. May God prosper you and return my dear DO
, TO my arms before die. From you loving mother
!, He began the letter in strong, clea
!. voice, bu. before the closing words hi
!, reading was hardly audible, and tears stoo
= in the eyes of the rough, strong men VIII
:, listened breathless to its contents. The rop
u :. slackened until it dropped from the hand
= of his comrades, and as the breath of morn
y ing rustled the leaves of the trees abov
;, them and Gods sunlight shimmered dow
"a % through the opening boughs, melting the
= hearts to pity, the thoughts Of each wei
= ! busy bringing memories of their own 10!
- hood days and mothers loving prayer
~ Silence for few minutes; then, reverentl
~ folding the soiled bit of paper, the reads
passed it to its owner, and, without a wor'
:, slipped the moose from his neck. In tom
- as gentle as a mothers he asked: "Was yo
% going home, stranger ?"
:, EYES,"
~ "Good -bye.'
= The stranger dared not trust his voice
thanks, but drew from his belt sma
+ bag of twenties, and offered it to II
y leader.
"IIoss."
. "No, no; take her, and-good.
=. lie mounted the mare and slowly NOV
=. 20 away, while the party watched him out
20 20 sight, then turned and silently retrac'
no No their steps to camp. The court was a
=, ourned.