The Dawson journal., 1886-12-16
SAVED BY A LETTER.

| 'CANAAOh - AARa ALtsNA LOOOO't q
coach running between Stockton
and Sonora, concealed the money
(all he could carry) about his
person, sought lodging not far
away, and in the night had risen,
stolen a horse and had struck
bee line across the country
toward station where he
could get quick transportation tc
San Francisco, intending to start
for home by steamer. lie be-
longed to Arkansas. In the
morning the horse and rider were
missed. A party started i'll pur-
suit, and in twenty-four hours
had his horse broken down and
him ccrralled. He saw his game
was up and cody awaited tho re-
suit. The party ,overhaulel him
at early dawn.
"Good mornin', stranger"
5000 mornin'."
"See anything of man about |
your size straddle a sorrel mare
lookin' q heap like the one You
ride?'
"Ne, / haven't"
"That's o purity good mare O
yurn."
eyes, she's worth cool five
hundred, but she's a little windod |
now; say, mister, I'll give you five
hundred clean boot for that one O
yurn and stop the deal"
He was making a good bluff,
aud although he knew that he
was recognized his offer would
we'll pay for the broken down
horse, and he hoped that his mon
ey would save him. He counted |
without his host.
"That's o straight blind o yurn, |
pard, and it strains us to come i'll,
but wore thar, and hold you over.
You look a little played out as
well as the!mare. If you'll just git |
down and join our party it'll
stretch your legs, and maybe you
need stretching all over.
He blanched q triGe, but obeyed !
in logged silence. The pursuers
all dismounted, and the spokes-
man, approaching, threw over
his head moose, passed the 9TH
er end Of the rope over tae limb
Of tree that ovorshadowed them,
and called the other members Of
the party around him.
The culpzit stood erect; not q
muscle quivered.
"Now, pard, is everything all
right? Does it fit your neck ac-
cording to Hoyle?"
"All right"
"Hqve you got anything to say
why this little picnic shouldn't
preceed?"
"Nothin'."
"Have yer got any word to
leave to yer friends? yer have,
make it short, for we've got to
break camp inside of ten min
utos."
The stranger raised his eyes
/, m the ground for the first time
and boxed his self-appoipted
Judge AMI exocut&ner steadily in
the eyes for moment, and then
drawing from his pocket a crurn-
pied letter spoke with slight
tremor Of voice: "Parhap5 you
are better scholar than | be. II
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 the rope 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 culprit at the first
signal he opened it and read
aloud:
b, Arkansas, January 10,
l8-. My Doar Son James: For
long weary months 1 have waited
for news from you since your last
kind letter to your old mother.
God bless you, James, and answer
my prayer that this letter may
reach you, thanking you for your
ever thoughtfal care OF me ia my
old age. | received the money
and it kept me from sore need.
But once more to look in your
face and feel that you were near
me would cheer my old heart
more than to possess all the gold