Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-09-28
the proof, wounded the wolf in the

left fore paw. Here is the cut"
And, with these words, he tore the
bandage from the hand and exposed a
newly made cut.
There was a murmur of wonder from
the crowd and then Dick shouted:
Bring her out and tie her hand and
foot. Then fire the old hut and burn her
before she does more harm to u.s.
''What shall VIC do with the old one2"
asked one of the crowd.
Burn her, too" was the inhunIan
reply. ''Iet her stay where she is.
She cannot escape u.s."
The brutes now left the cottage. and
Dick, holding Marie with a grasp of iron,
led her on with him. Upon reaching
the open air he produced a stout cord,
and, in spite of her prayers and strug-
giles, was about TO bind her, when sud
denly he was hurled with great force to
the ground, and Alfred Tompkins, pass
ing his arm around the young girls
waist, cried:
''You contemplate cur, this woman is
my promised wife. She is no wehrwolfl
She shall not be harmed while | have life
10 protect her"
''The boy is madl Seize him, friends,
and save him from his folly"
The speaker was Alfred's father. The
young man had but just arrived, and had
come for the purpose of defending Marie
with his life.
But he was powerless TO contend
against such a crowd, whose excitement
and frenzy were becoming greater every
moment. Before he could reply to his
father, Marie was torn from his grasp,
and he was seized and held by four strong
men. All his efforts to release himself
were in vain, and he was forced to wit
ness the tragedy which followed, power
less TO help her whom he loved so deeply.
Marie was bound securely. The brutal
wretches into whose hands she had
fallen had no pity. Her beauty and
youthfulness only maddened them the
more, and to all her weeping, pleading
and praying they turned deaf ears. Led
ON by Dick Thayer, they were hurrying
with her to the flames, when 'Uncle
Eben" rushed up, almost out Of breath,
and exclaimed in a loud voice:
''Stop your brutality!"
The men paused, and the old patriarch
demanded sternly what they meant.
Alas! their meaning was too plain. The
cottage was already in flames, and the
shrieks Of the bedridden old dame were
heart rending. She had been left in the
burning building, and was being con-
sumod in it.
''She is a wehrwolf, Uncle Eben,'"
cried a score of voices. ave have found
it on her, and we mean to burn her in
her den."
''She is n human creature" cried
''Uncle Eben," land in the name of the
law and common humanity / command
you TO release herl'
There was a murmur Of disapproval
from the crowd.
.'She must die, uncle. You have no
right to interfere. She is not a woman,
but a wild beast, and has no soul to
save"
The men worked toward the flames
with their victim; but Uncle Eben sprang
between them and the fearful element,
and, lifting both his hands high over his
head, shrieked, in a tone which made his
hearers blood turn cold:
''ln the name of a crucified God, ]
pronounce this act the most heinous
crime ever perpetrated, and | swear to
name all the parties concerned in it to
the proper authorities"
This announcement was Il short by
the priest falling to the earth by a heavy
blow from the hand of Dick Thayer.
The crowd had moved back when Uncle
Ben began his statement, and the
wretches had released their victim.
Dick, however, lifted her in his brawny
arms, bore her quickly to the cottage,
and with prodigious strength hurled her
far into the burning mass. There was a
wild shrek as the flames closed around
her. and then all was still.
When Uncle Eben recovered, he went
in haste TO the authorities, and soon the
police were at the scene of the utrocious
crime. Dick Thayer was broken upon
the wheel, and several who had beer
prominent in the crime were hung.
Alfred did not long survive the terri
BILE tragedy through which he had passed,
His father, who really loved him, did al
in his power TO bring him back TO his old
happy condition; but to the last the
young man manifested toward him tn,
greatest aversion. Cincinnati Enquirer,