Connecticut western news., 1886-07-21

away from him, and he would sadly shake shis head and turn away. One day, when he had been with us about six weeks, I entered the tent and saw the surgeon cutting Joe's hair, which was very long and unkempt.
 "say, I'm right about this fellow,' announced the surgeon.
 "How2"
 "Why, I've had an idea for a month past that he lost his memory through some injury to hls head. Here's the trouble. He has received blow right here, and portion of the skull is press' ing on the brain. I'll warrant he was as quick-witted as anybody before this hurt"
 '.How long ago was it inflictedT'
 "A year or more. An operation by skilful surgeon would restore him to his right mind."
 While that may be so, the chances for it were extremely dubious. We were charitable as far as our means would all low, but we were all poor. When Joe had been with us about two months Q miner was one night robbed of his little hoard then second was robbed of his provisions third had his revolver stolen and men came to us and de- clared their belief that our Joe was the guilty person. We could not believe this, but agreed to watch him. For several nights we took turns at spying, but, while he did not leave the cabin, another theft was committed. For Q month we were completely upset by the mysterious doings around us. On two occasions some one prowling around at night was fired on, but he got safely away. In spite of all we could say the suspicion kept growing that our Joe was the guilty party. We let men into the cabin to see that he did not leave his bed, but it so happened that on those particular nights no deviltry was committed. It was suggested that he be driven out of the camp, and when we re- fused to countenancc any such step, two- thirds of the camp held aloof from us, and reports were circulated to our detri- mcnt.
 One morning miner, who was SUD- posed to be the richest man in the camp, was found weltering in his blood. He had discovered man in his tent the night before, and had boldly clutched him. In the struggle he had been stabbed in three places, and was severely though not mortally wounded. The sur- geon was called to dress his hurts, and in his presence and that of dozen others the wounded man declared that he had recognized his would-be assassin as our Joe. All of us had slept soundly that night, and while we believed in Joe's in- nocence, we could not be positive that he had not left tho cabin. The miners knocked off work and went growing around and about 10 o'clock in the forenoon { rush was made for our cabin. They had determined to hang Joe. The three oi us got out our revolvers to defend him, and the angry mob was held at bay on the slope for few minutes. We ha6 placed Jos inside, and had noticed tha he did not seem a bit alarmed. Whil, we were holding the mob and parleyine Joc climbed out of window on tn, other side and was running away wher they caught sight of him. Such actiol seemed conclusive of his guilt, and pur suit was instantly made and hot fir opened. Joe ran straight for cliff about thirty feet high, and as he reached the brink he threw up his arms and wen over. We picked him up off the rock below seemingly dead, and the revenge o
 the crowd was satisfied. An hour later
 when the surgeon announced that Jo
 still lived, there was some growing, bu
 no one interfered with US as we bore tn
 bruised and broken body to our cabin
 It seemed to me that he was completel
 smashed, although he had no large bone
 broken.
 On the third day afte; .he acciden Joe opened his eyes, and we saw that h
 was conscious. Twenty-four hours late
 he asked the surgeon where he was, wha
 had occurred, and why Davison was no there. Then we all knew that our Jo
 had got his right mind back. It was week before we questioned him. The we learned all l told you at the outset The last thing he remembered wa counting that money in Chicago. Fe two years he had been like a man in h
 sleep. When the camp got hold of a
 the particulars everybody was Miller friend, and particularly so as the re' thief was finally discovered and punished Miller remained with us until spring, an then set out for the mines on the Uppt | Arkansas with some of our boys. In | camp not twenty miles from us he sa and identified Davison, who had bee there for year. The miners would ha, lynched the fellow, but he cut sticks te rapidly, and week later his dead bod was found in 2 gu!ch two or three mil away, where the Indians had tumbled : after securing his scalp.-Neao Fork Su | Knew the Climate. He was brought into the Police Cou