Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-25
Saved by Lettcr.

Boston Commercial Bulletin: II occurs
to me Just here, however, to depict Il
truthful representation of Il California AZ
rest trial, conviction, appeal, and rover
sal of verdict, Or rather, verdict set
aside"
A man had robbed coach running be-
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 Il horse,
and struck a bee line across the coun
try toward q station where he could
get quick transportation To San Fran
| cisco, intending TO start for home by
steamer He belonged in Arkansas. In
the morning the horse and rider were
| missed. A party started in pursuit, and
in twcnty-four hours had his horse broken
down and him corralcd He saw his
| game was up, and cOolly waited the re-
suit. The party overhauled him at early
| dawn.
Good mornln' stranger"
Good mornin'."
Seen anything of a man about your
| size straddle of a sorrel mare loolin'
heap like the one you ride?'
No, 1 haven't"
That pretty good mare o yourn."
Yes, she was worth cool $500 but
she is a little winded now; saw mister,
| I'll give YOU $500 clean boot for that one
| O yourp and stop the deal"
He was making good bluff, and al
| though he knew that ne was recognized,
his offer would well pay for the broken
down horse, and he hoped that his money
would save him. He counted without
his host.
That's straight blind o. yourn, pard
and 1t strains us to come IN, but were
thar and hold you over. You look Il lit
tie played out. as well as the mare. Ii
you'll jest CIT down and join our little
party it II stretch your legs, and mebbe
you need strctchin' all over"
He blanched Il trltle, but obeyed in
dogged silence. The pursners all dis
mounted, and the spokesman approach.
ing, threw over his head a moose, and
passing the other end of the rope over
limb of tree that overshadowed them,
called the other members of the party
around him.
The culprit stood erect; not a muscle
quivering.
Now pard, is everything all right?
Does it fit your mock accordin' to Hoyie?"
"All right"
"Have ye anything to say why this lit
tie picnic shouldn't proceed"
"Have ye got any word to leave to yer
friends? 1t yer have, make it short for
we've got to break camp inside cr ten
minutes"
Then the stranger lifted his eyes from
the ground for the first time and looked
his self-appointed Judge and executoner
steadily IN the eye for n moment, then
drawing from hs pocket n crumped
letter spoke with "a slight tremor of
voice:
Perhaps you are n better scholar than
/ be- If you'll just read that. and be kind
enough to answer it I'll tell you what to
say"
The executioner had already passed the
coil of rope TO his comrades and they had
III, n 4.,t,s 10 l. and
as the party stood around ready to run
up the culprit at the first signal, he
opened it and read aloud;
b, Ark, Jan. 10, lS-.-My Dear Son
James; For long, weary months 1 have
waited for news from You since your last
you, James, and answer my prayer that this
letter may reach you, thanking YOU for your
ever thoughtful care of me in my old age. i
received the letter 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 California. When are you com
you would come back to me. May God pros
per YOU ana return NY dear boy 10 my arms
before die. From your loving mother
He began the letter in n strong, clear
voice, but before the closing words hls
reading was hardly audible, and Gears
stood in the eyes of the rough, strong
men who listened breuthless to its con.
tents. The rope had slaokcned until it
dropped from The hands Of his comrades,
and as the breath of morning rustlcd the
leaves of the trees above them, and
Gods sunlight shimmercd down
through the opaning bOughs, melting
their hearts to pity, the thoughts of cach
were busy bringing memories of their
boyhood days and q mothers loving
prayers. SilcEce for few minutes,
then, reverentiy folding the soled bin OF
paper, the reader passed it to its owner
and without q word slipped the moose
from his neck, In tones as gentle ms a
mothers he asked, Was you going
home, stranger:'
Yes "
"Good-by."
The stranger dared not tIust his voice
in thanks, but drew from his belt small
bag Of twentles and offered it to the lea
der
"Hoss."
t'Nu, no; take her and-goot by"
He mounted the mare and slowly