The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-04-26

lenting in the harsh, stern faces of his
captors, no softening Of their grim deter
mlnstion; and not q syllable of dissent
was uttered when our leader spoke 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 presence"
AS Tom spoke, the poor wretch gave
one despairing look ~ the unrelentine
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.
II reckon we had better leave him by
himself fur awhile, boys. If he has any
prayin' to do, I allow he kin do it better
without aujience so lets draw of
apiece till his times up."
This most opportune and delicate sug-
gestion came from old Jake Lape, and
it was acted npon with alacrity. We
Immediately moved off for distance of
a hundred yards or 90, and left the
doomed man alone to make his final prep
arations for DEATH. Although we fully
intended to hang him, we all felt that
1t was no more than right to show him
all the politeness and courtesy admissible
under the circu instances.
Shortly after we rode of, Bailey rose
deiectedly to his feet, thrust his hand
into his bosom, and drawing forth what
looked, from distance, like a letter,
dropped upon his knees and pressed it
again and again to his lips with impass-
Toned fervor. Afterward he replaced it
IN his bosom, and, bowing his head, spent
the remainder of his last hour seemingly
in silent prayer.
When the time had finally expired, and
we drew near the kneeling culprit to
finish our dread work, he arose to meet
us with an air 80 calm and gentle, so
utterly changed, that it astounded US,
and supplications and struggles.
He offered not the slightest resistance
when we bound his hands securely be-
hind him, and, lifting him upon his
horse, drove with him down to the creek
bottom, where scraggy cottonwood had
already been selected to serve as gal
lows.
Bailey was driven under the tree the
moose of lariat was quickly placed
about his neck, and the other end thrown
across an overhanging limb and made fast
to the trunk. Old Lape had his "quint"
raised in readiness to bring it down
across the flank of the doomed mans
pony at the word of command; all was
ready for the final act, when Bailey
raised his head and spoke.
Calling Tom Anderson to his side, he
said "Tom will you do favor for a
dying man?"
"What is it ?" was the gruff reply.
81 want you to promise to see that my
family gets what little property l leave.
They are poor, and will need it badly,
Tom; so, please promise. / know you'll
do it if you say you WILL"
"Well, Bailey, I'll do it, if that's all
you want. You may reat easy on that
score; PROMISE" answered Tom, in
softened tone.
"Thank you, Tom and now just one
thing more, please" continued the pris-
oner eargerly, reach into my bosom and
get the picture that's there, and let me
have another look at my wife and chill
dren before die.
We all of us sat grouped about on our
ponies under the cottonwood during this
scene, and as Tom Anderson complied
with Bailey's request, and taking pic
ture from the prisoners bosom held it
before him 80 that he could look at it,
the surrounding group of rough cow
boys became utterly absorbed in the
scene
Not a whisper was uttered, and the
noise of the restive ponies, as they champ
ed their bits or stamped impatiently upon
the green sward, alone broke the solemn
stiffness.
With a look of unspeakable tender
ness, Bailey glued his eyes upon the pho
tograph and held them there for fully
minute.
Then his head dropped suddenly upon
his breast, and, with groan, he cried out
in despairing accente
go boys, boys! it's hard to die and
leave them all alone; and to die in such
a way. too! 1t will kill poor Mary, if
she's not dead already; l know it will !"
He no longer looks at the picture, but
Tom Anderson himself was gazing at it
instead. Long and earnestly he looked
al it, but did not speak word. Then
he handed it to old man Lape, and it
passed from hand to hand until every
man in the party had taken long look
at it.
A sweet, gentle woman's face looked
smilingly forth from the midst of the
card, while over each of her shoulders
peeped chubby face filed with childish
glee and innocence On the border of
the card was written, in a clear delicate
hand "Come home soon, papa we're
so lonely without you.
When the picture had gone the rounds
and Tom Anderson returned it reverent-
ly to Bailey's bosom, the culprit raised
his head and said:
sit was for their sake, boys, drove
the cattle off in such hurry. got
word yesterday that my wife was dying,
and l took the first steers could find in
order to get the money to see her. 1t
was wrong, suppose, but would have
paid you for every head took when l
came back"
Like a flash Tom Anderson's knife was
out of its sheath. A quick stroke, and
the rope about the prisoners neck was
severed. Instantly Bailey's pony bore
him aside, and in his place, facing the
crowd, on his mustang sat Tom, with
uphfted hand and his eyes fairly blaz-
ing with fierce excitement, while we were
too much amazed to either speak or
move.
"That man speaks the truth - he
II Uu, rox.or ;o+op1o1 IN sfoal