The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-18

an hour. and an hour ofiy to prepare for
death
As his doom was ,hus spoken, the poor
wretch was completely Overcome with
terror and disEnsy
~6,h, boys, ,ion't hang me, You musn' I
hang me- he cried Isteoussly. falling
suppliantiy on his knees 4 swear that
/ am innocent. ! call on God 10 witness
that intended to pay you for The cattle
Oh, have mercy. and don't hang me =
and he broke completely down and wept
like child.
Bot it was no use. There WAS no re-
lenting in the harsh stern faces Of his
cap,ors, no s1ffening Of their grim deter
nsinasion and nos syllable Of dissent
was uttered when our leader spoke again
and said.
Mercy from Us vou will not receive
You had best pray for it from year Ma
ker- In sn hours time you viii be in
His presenoe"
As Tom spoke the poor wretch gave
one desFairing Iook az 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 on the grass.
Il reckon we had better leave him by
himself for while boys. II he has any
prayin' to do, allow he kin do it better
witllou, an auiienee; - lets draw of a
pieee until his times up
This Hsoss opPortune and delicate sus-
ges,ion came from old lake IaPe, and il
was acted upon with alacriiy. We i'm
usediately moved off for distance Of a
hundred yauls or 80, and left the doonl-
Ell man alone TO make his final prepars-
tions for death Although We intended
to hang him We all felt that il was no
more than fair to show him every polite
ness and courtesy possible under the eiF-
ennlstances-
Shortly after ne rode of. Bailey rose
dejectesily 10 Isis feet. thrust his hand in
to his bosom, and drawing forth what
looked from a distance like letter. drop
ped upon his knees and pressed il again
and again to his lifs with impassionesl
feEvor Afterwari he REPLACED il in his
bosom, and bowiRe his head spent the
remainder Of his time seemingly in silent
PRAYER
When the time had finally expired
and We drew near the kneeling eulprii
TO finish cur dread work, he srose TO
meet us with an air 80 calm and gentle,
80 utterly changed that il astonished Us,
for We bad expected TO useet him with
iears. snpplieaiions aud struggles
he Offered not tine slightest resistance
when we boand his hands securely be-
hind him. and lifting him from the
ground placed him on his horse, and
drove with him down 10 tire creek bot
tom. where a scrae-y cottonwood had
already bean selected 70 serTe as gal
lows
Bailey was driven under the tree; the
noose Of lariat vas quickly placed
about his neck, and the other end thrown
across an orerhanging lirnb. and made
last to the trunk Old Lape had his
-quintv raised in readiness to bring il
down across the flank Of the doomed
mans pony atthe word of command; all
vas ready sor the fnai act, when Bailey
raised his head and spoke
Calling Toa Anderson to his side be
said; tom. viii you DO favor for a
diving man g
What Is II = was the gruff reply.
Il want ron TO promise 70 see that my
finally gets shat little property leaye.
They are poor, and viii need It badly,
Tom; 50. please promise. I know yoa1l
do II If you say you Sill
~Well, Bailey. III DO il, if that's all
you want You may reSi easy on thar
seorc; promise, answered Tom, in a
sofleaei voice.
Thank you. Tom: and nov just ore
thing more. pleas, continued tie prs
oner, eagerly. reach into iny bsissrn and
get the picture that's there, and let me
have one more Icok at my wife and chill
,iren before die
We all Of Us sal grouped about on our
ponies under the cottonwood during this
scene, and, as Tom Anderson complied
with Bailey's request, and, taking pirt-
ure from, the prisoners bosom held it be-
fore him 50 that be could lock at II. the
surrounding group Of rough cowboys be-
came utterly absorbed in the saene-
Not whisper was uttered, and the
noise Of the restless ponies. s. they
chaniped their bits or stamped isnpa-
;ienily upcR the greensEard, alone broke
the solemn stiffness.
With look of Hnsseakable tender
ness, Bailey glazed his eyes upon the
photograph, and held them there for
fully minute
Then his bead dropped suddenly upon
his breast. and, with a gr1an he cried out
in despairing tone
'-0h. boys, boys. lis bard to die and
leave them all alone; and to die in such
q way, too, Ii viii Kill poor Mari. If
she's not dead already know it VIII
He no longer looked At the picsure,
but Tom Anderson himself was gazing at
ii instead. Long and earnestly be looked
at il. but did not speak word Then he
handed It to old man I-ape. and II passed
from hand to hand until every nan in
the party had taken long look st Il
A sweet, gentle womau's face locked
ssniiingly forth from the midst Of the
card, while over each OF her shoulders
peepei 4 chubby face filled with childish
glee and innocence On the border Of
the card was written, in a clear delicate
hand. Come home soon, papa, were 30
lonely without yea
When the picture had gone the roan3s
and Tom anderson returned il reyeFent-
" to Bailey's bosom. the c1lprit rzisesl
his head and said.
.-It was for their sake boys, I drove the
cattle of in such hurry. / got word
yesterday that my wife was dying. and
took tie lifst Steers could end ia order
TO get the money 10 60 10 her. / Was
wrong. ! suppose. bat would have paid
you for every head took when came
back
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