Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-07-11

visited, eVinced but little OF tnaC Whole
souled fraternal sociability which gener
ally characterizes the lordly riders OF the
range. This made him very unpopular
and with the exception of an old Mexican
herdsman, who served him in the capacl
tv of;cow.boy. he had few friends and nc
intimates. =,
We are entirely too ready to believe the
worst of any one whom we dislike, and
cowboys are no exception to the rule.
So when, one autumn afternoon, blg
Smith, the boss herder of the circle bal
ranch, came laundering up the dug-out
with his pony all afoam, and, calling me
outside, told me that Bailey was running
off q bunch of steers in which there were
lot Of strays belonging to other ranchers
and that the boys had gotten wind OF it,
and were organizing pursuing party tC
catch and hang him for cattle thleving, l
didnot doubt the accused mans guilt.
Ten minutes later had belted on my re-
volver, saddled my pony, and was gallop'
ing like the wind for the appointed rem
devious, all too ready to take my part in
the anticipated "hanging-bee."
We were wild, rough looking set who
met that evening at the 2-X ranch, and
started Que on poor Bailey's trail. To tel!
the.truth, we were most of us as wild and
rough as we looked.
There were fifteen in the company alto.
gether, for the most part owners. or part
owners, of ranches, and the rest cowboys.
We were all we'll mounted, and each was
armed with knife and revolver, while
from every saddle horn hung the ever
present lariat, the all-important item, next
to his pony, of a cowboys equipment.
Tom Anderson, a strapping Missourian
who ran the 2-X brand and who was the
acknowledged master-spirit OF the range,
fellsnaturally into the lead upon this occa'
sion, as he did upon all others where IN
trepid daring and unyielding tirmness
were required. go
Tom was what the cowboys call "holy
terror.n He did not know what fear was
but, though relentlessly fierce and cruel
when enraged, he had heart that was
tender as child's in some of its moods.
He was lion in both looks and nature,
and we all admired him, and generally
submitted without question, to his leader
ship.
Our party rode over sixty miles that
night, and just as it began to grow light
next morning we came up with Bailey.
He and his old herder were engaged IN
cooking breakfast over their campfire
when we appeared upon the scene, and we
did not wait for them to finish their meal
before explaining our business.
Fierce and haggard from our hard night.
ride, we were an ugly-looking crew, and II
was little wonder that poor Bailey looked
scared as he rose and timorously greeted
us with "Good-morning, gentlemen!'
as we advanced and drew up around the
fire.
No one answered his salutation; it was
received with grim, ominous silence.
ssJust take care of him, boys, while l
ride out to the cattle and see that there is
no mistake about the strays. We want to
be certain he's guilty. before going any
further" said our leader; and as he spoke,
he and several others of the party started
toward bunch of cattle that were grazing
upon the prairie not far off, while the rest
of us kept guard over Bailey, who had
now grown pale as death, and was tremo'
ling in every limb.
In moment Tom and the others return
ed, and, as they approached, Tom said
"It's true boys. There's dozen strays
in tie lot, and no mistake" and turning
without more ado to the covering culprlt
he added with harsh abruptness tna'
was simply terrible: i'You, Bailey, are
cattle-thief, and we have come after you
to hang you. You knew the law OF the
range when you broke it, so you mus,
abide by it. You shall have an hour, ano
an hour only, to prepare for DEATH
AS his doom was thus spoken, Bailey,
poor wretch, was completely overcome
with terror and dismay.
80 boys, boys, don't hang me! YOU
mustn't hang me !" he cried piteously, fall,
ing suppliantly on his knees. 81 swear
am innocent! I call on my Maker tC
witness that I intended to pay you fC.
YOUR cattle. Oh, have mercy, and don'1
hang me ~ and he broke completely down
and wept like child.
But it was no use. There was no re-
lenting in the harsh, stern faces of his cap
tors, no softening of their grim determi
nation; and not syllable of dissent was
uttered when our leaderepoke again. and
said sternly:
"Mercy from us you will not receive
You had best pray for it from your Maker
In an hours time you will be IN his pres
ence"
AS Tom spoke, the poor wretch gave one
despairing look at the unrelenting faces
of the men grouped on their ponies about
him, and, meeting with not sign of pity
fell with hopeless groan, face downward
upon the grass.
81 reckon we had better leave him by
himself for awhile, boys. If he has any
prayin' to do, allow he kin do it better
without a aujience ; so let's draw off apiece
till his times up"
This most opportune and delicate sug
gestion came from old Jake Lape, and Il
was acted upon with alacrity. We i'm
mediately moved off for distance OF 6
hundred yards or so, and left the doomed
man alone to make his final preparation:
for death. Although we fully intended te
hang him, we all felt that it was no more
than right to show him all the politenes:
and courtesy admissible under the circum
stances.
Shortly after we rode off, Bailey rose de-
iectedly to his feet, thrust his hand into
his bosom, and drawing forth what looked
from distance, like letter, dropped up
on his knees and pressed it again ano
again to his lips with impassioned fervor
Afterward he replaced it in his bosom
and, bowling his head, spent the remain
der of his last hour seemingly in silen
prayer.
When the time had finally expired, ane
we drew near the kneeling culprit to tinisf
our dread work, he arose to meet us with
an airso gentle and clam, so utterly chang
ed, that it astounded us, for we had ex
pected to meet with tears and supplica
tions and struggles.
He offered not the slightest resistance
when we bound his hands securely behint
him, and, lifting him upon his horse, drove
with him down to the creek bottom, where
q shaggy cottonwood had already beer